Actor's Gym - Aerial 7&8, Circus 7&8

Aerial Day 7

I was so excited for Week 7 because we were going to work on Spanish Web again.  I had been waiting since the first time we tried it to revisit it.  We worked on the hand routine we had learned the first time, but today we were allowed to try a foot routine.  The foot web is when you put your foot through the loop and hang by an ankle rather than hang by a wrist.

This is a video we got of my first time doing foot web:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMsKrjf4uCo

Spanish Web became even more of my favorite after learning foot web.  I love how the other parts of my body can take over and not be held back by me feet or my back for once.  It's very freeing and very comfortable for me.

Circus Day 7

On Circus Day 7, we worked on tumbling as normal, and then split into our groups.  This time, however, we split up in one group to work on the hand routine and the other to work on the foot routine.  I went with foot routine group to try again.  Unfortunately, the rope burn you get with Spanish Web makes it painful to work for long periods of time.  I would do it all day long if I could.  After web, our group worked on Rolling Globe.  Rolling Globe is still just as difficult as it was the first time.  I was a fine at it, but it is a very nerve racking ground skill.

Aerial Day 8

On our last day of Aerial, we worked on duo trapeze.  At first, I was disappointed that we were working on trapeze again instead of something like lyra or silks, but after we started working on the duo trapeze, my disappointment went away.  It was so much fun.  I loved all of the partnered arts we learned.  It was a lot of fun to work with a partner and learn how to listen and adjust to how they moved.  It's things like this that I have been interested in since my dance days.  While others were working on trapeze, the instructors had a lyra down that we could work on, which I loved.  It gave me one last chance to revisit it one more time before the end of the session.  Another girl and I kept practicing the duo lyra routine, so I was a happy camper.

Here is a video of the duo trapeze routine I learned with Chris:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCRdGSSqgm4

Circus Day 8

On our last day, we did our usual tumbling moves: somersaults, backwards rolls, dolphin rolls, handstands and handstand roll-downs.  This time, however, we went in lines of four across the floor and we did the moves all together in time to the music.  That was a neat exploration of ensemble work, which we really hadn't looked at during my time there.  We then worked on the same duo trapeze routine as the day before, which was fun to have another shot at.  After trapeze, we brought some silks down and did synchronized silk knot routines together, which was also interesting.  However, with the different skill and strength levels in the classroom, some couldn't keep up with others, but it was still interesting to explore working together and creating a group piece.  It was a good way to end the session.

Overall, my experience at the Actor's Gym was priceless.  The classes reopened a door that I thought was closed for a long time.  I had really missed dance and movement, and these classes gave me an opportunity to learn a new form of dance that doesn't allow my physical handicaps to keep me from doing what I love.  It was a really special summer for me, and it changed my perspective on my body and its capabilities.  I have caught the Aerial Arts Bug, and I cannot wait to find a way to continue training in this new and exciting art form.