Spring Performance Prep Class and Showcase!

Click here to read our March Newsletter!

Spring Performance Prep Class Series Starts the Week of March 19th! 

Join us for our Spring Student Showcase Performance Prep Class and show!

In this is a seven-week class session, beginning the week of March 19th, you will meet weekly to work on creating and choreographing a piece on your apparatus of choice!

After the seven weekly classes, you get to debut your new act in our showcase happening the weekend of May 5th and 6th.

Experience on your apparatus is required. Come with tricks and sequences in mind that you would like to incorporate into your choreography. Please note this is not a learn-new-skills type of class. Your coach will be there to assist you in creating flow between your tricks and sequences to compile a new piece of artistry!

You may miss up to one class and make it up during an Open Gym.

Classes start the week of March 19th

Performance Prep with Lynn – Sundays 10:30am – FULL

Performance Prep with Alissa – Sundays 1:15pm 

Performance Prep with Kristen – Tuesdays 5:45pm – FULL

Spring Student Showcase – May 5th and 6th, 2023

Schedule Performance Prep Class

 

February Studio Updates

 February Studio Updates

Open Gym StudioFebruary Studio Updates. We are officially in the depths of winter. Lucky for us our studio is cozy, warm, and full of plants. Come escape the winter and move with us!

Early Morning Classes & Conditioning!

For all you early birds, we added two morning classes just for you!

Aerial Yoga with Josie – Wednesdays 8am
Aerial yoga incorporates the asanas (postures) of yoga while using the aerial sling. This class is suited for the regularly practicing aerialist or acrobat as a rejuvenating, gentle conditioning practice. It is also suited for a beginner aerialist looking for a light approach to aerial or for anyone interested in a yoga practice. This is not a tricks-based class. An introduction to inversions in the sling or on another aerial apparatus is helpful, but not required.

Early Morning Lyra or Rope with Alissa – Thursdays 8am
Grab your morning beverage and start your day on a Lyra OR Aerial Rope. We’ll explore sequences and moves that have similarities on both or that have nothing in common. You get to pick which of the two apparatuses you want to be on. All levels welcome!

And we’ve added a couple new evening classes too!

NEW! Aerial Conditioning with Anja – Thursdays 5:45pm
A full body workout designed to increase active flexibility, strengthen and stabilize your core and increase mind body connection to keep you safe and aware in the air. This class will be ground based with occasional use of apparatus for drills. No aerial experience is necessary for this class, it is open to all levels, beginner or advanced. Modifications are provided for every drill, whether it be to make it more accessible, or increase intensity.

Beginner Handstands with Katie – Fridays 4:30pm
This class is designed for people who are interested in handstanding but don’t know where to begin. In this weekly class, we will focus on drills to strengthen our core, shoulders, and stabilizer muscles needed for finding that perfect handstand line. These drills will be interspersed with breaks for stretching and technique discussions.

UPCOMING!

Hula Hoop Workshop/Classes
Keep an eye out!

Purchase Class Pack Here

Sign Up for Classes Here

Circus for the Broken Hearted Workshop

In this very special workshop local psychologist and aerialist, Dr. Sherry Walling, will help us explore how physical movement and artistic expression can support our wellbeing and emotional healing.

The integration of circus and healing has generated some interest in the larger community.

***There will be a film crew on site for this workshop. By participating, you consent to your image being included in the filming. Any interviews or personal sharing are completely optional.***

Sign up for Circus for the Broken-Hearted

Memberships

Check out other training options with our membership program! It includes all open gyms, acro jam, handstand happy hour, and dedicated member training times. Read more here.

 

January Class Updates

Happy New Year!! January Class Updates

January Class Updates. We are so grateful for each and every student that comes into the studio. We hope to continue sharing our space with you and creating the amazing community that is Stomping Ground!

Newly Added Classes & Class Times!

Want MORE CIRCUS!? We do too!! Which is why we’ve added several new classes to our weekly schedule! AND we’ve added more class time availability for some of our more popular classes.

Beginner Intermediate Silks with Kristen – Mondays at 3:30pm
Duo Aerial with Lynn and Kristen – Mondays at 7pm
Handstands & Flexibility with Kristen – Tuesdays at 1:30pm
Aerial Yoga with Josie – Wednesdays at 8am
Beg-Int Silks Foundations with Coco – Tuesdays at 7pm
Early Morning Lyra or Rope with Alissa – Thursdays at 8am
Aerial Conditioning with Anastasia – Thursdays at 5:45pm

Monthly Handstand Happy Hour – Last Friday of every month at 5pm

Purchase Class Pack Here
Sign Up for Classes Here

Rope Palooza is rescheduled for Thursday, January 26th at 7pm!

Pic of Grace by Clockwork SteveLooking to spice up your rope practice? Look no further. In this workshop, we’ll go through a variety of moves including slack drops, half releases, and static poses. This workshop is for intermediate/advanced students with a regular rope or silks practice. Students should be comfortable with inversions and be regularly practicing basic beat pathways (bell, pike, and scissor).
Click here to sign up!

Memberships

Check out other training options with our membership program! It includes all open gyms, acro jam, handstand happy hour, and dedicated member training times. Read more here.

 

December Pop-Up Classes

December Pop-Up Classes

Acro Coaches Katie Capistrant and Dylan Porteguese by Clock Work Steve Photography

Check out our December Pop-Up Classes! Throughout December, some of our regular classes will be replaced with pop-up classes with some of our amazing instructors! A lot of these pop-ups will be in lieu of our normal class schedule, so sign up to try something different! Choose from a plethora of subjects including:

Intro to Straps
Rope Palooza
Rope is Fun
Above the Bar Spanset Lyra
Lollipop Lyra
Duo Aerial
Experimental Partner Movement
Basic Floorwork Concepts
Floorwork Choreography
Belay for Days
Silks Theory
Beginner Circus

Each pop-up class is $25. You may use your class packages to purchase these one-off classes.

Purchase Class Pack Here
Sign Up for Classes Here

Also, check out Handstand Happy Hour with Lynn!

Bored of working on your handstands alone in your living room? Us too! Come hang out at the studio and work on the ever-elusive handstand with friends. All levels are welcome! Not a class, just an open gym dedicated to handstands. There might be games… or after handstand cocktails at Norseman. $10/Drop-In

Click here to read more!

Check out other training options with our membership program! It includes all open gyms, acro jam, handstand happy hour, and dedicated member training times. Read more here.

 

Aerial Training Membership Opportunity!

Open training in the studio!

Aerial Training Membership Opportunity!

Need more training time? Consider becoming an SGS member! 

We are opening up memberships to intermediate/advanced students and pre-professional and professional artists! To qualify, you must have been training on your apparatus for more than a year and be comfortable training without coach supervision.

Members can sign up to train aerial or ground skills during member-exclusive training times and are welcome to come to Open Gym and Acro Jams for no additional cost. There is no limit to how many trainings you attend throughout the month. Train as much as you want!

Training times are flexible. Just let us know what days and times you’re interested in; we will work to accommodate your schedule and add training times that work for you. Training times may change from month to month due to class schedules. Please note that classes and workshops get scheduling priority.

The cost is $110/month or $100/month if you commit to a minimum of three months. There are a limited number of memberships are available. Email or message us if you’re interested in more information and applying! Email us if you are interested.

Current Member Training Schedule

Check out all our classes!

Sign up for class here->

Beginner Aerial and Handstand Classes

Photo by Sky Wild Photography

Not sure where to start or never tried circus? No worries, check out our Beginner Aerial and Handstand Classes. Try the various aerial apparatuses we offer or give handstands a try. No experience required!

Beginner Aerial Classes
Fridays at 11 am & Sundays at 10:45 am
New to circus arts or returning after a long break? This is the class for you!
In this beginner-level class, we will focus on the basics: getting strong, learning the lingo, and trying out the various apparatuses. This is a great introduction to the world of aerial performance by teaching you how to apply the new dimension of vertical space. Let’s play with the X, Y, and Z axes!
Sign up here ->

Beginner Handstands Class
Tuesdays at 4:30 pm
This class is designed for people who are interested in handstanding but don’t know where to begin. In this weekly class, we will focus on drills to strengthen our core, shoulders, and stabilizer muscles needed for finding that perfect handstand line. These drills will be interspersed with breaks for stretching and technique discussions.
Sign up here ->

Check out all our classes here->

Featured Student of the Week – Elana G

“I started training in 2015. I love the positive, encouraging community at Stomping Ground. Kristen is a terrific teacher, and the students are so supportive of each other. Everyone is there to cheer each other on, work hard, and have fun. Plus, it’s the only strength training I’ve ever looked forward to!”

-Elana

Tissu or Lyra – The Great Debate

You’re probably aware that aerial arts involves acrobatic dancers and athletes performing stunning and awe-inspiring feats high above ground. 

But as a student, you may be wondering – what exactly counts as an aerial art form, and what are the different ways to learn them?

There are a wide variety of aerial apparatuses which have a variety of names – aerial fabric (also called tissu or silks), aerial hoop (lyra), trapeze, hammock (sling), and rope (corde lisse) are some of the most commonly taught apparatus at any circus studio, though you may certainly see others offered. 

At Stomping Ground Studio, we offer classes in two very different aerial apparatuses – aerial tissu (or silks) and lyra (aerial hoop). 

If you know you’d like to try out an aerial class but are debating exactly how to get started, we’ve got some advice. 

Below, we’ve collected some of the key features of training in both tissu and lyra so that you can decide which is a better fit for you. 

Lyra

First off, let’s start with a brief definition. 

Lyra – or aerial hoop – is a metal ring (most frequently made of steel). They might be wrapped in a soft tape or left bare, with metal exposed. They also come in a wide variety of sizes, perhaps barely big enough for your body to fit through or large enough to comfortably accommodate multiple performer’s limbs and torsos. Lyras are most commonly rigged as either single or double point, meaning that the hoop’s central overhead anchor is either from one spot or two. 

What people like

Making bendy shapes with your body. Lyra is a great apparatus for showcasing flexibility. The sturdy metal structure offers something solid to hold onto while its circular shape allows limbs to press or extend at a distance from each other.

A chance to rest. Because there is a “bottom bar” – the part of the hoop that is closest to the ground – you can always come to a seat in the lyra to take a little breather in between poses. This sets lyra (and trapeze) apart from many other apparatuses that simply hang in one vertical line. 

Ability to partner up. Lyra is one of the most common aerial apparatuses that you’ll see used in duo performances. Specially sized lyras made for two people are widely available, and partner lyra technique is taught in many studios. 

A quicker learning curve. It’s possible to learn a wide repertoire of lyra skills in just a few classes. This might make lyra a good fit for you if you are interested in learning Instagrammable poses or creating choreography for a performance right away.

Spinning! For some of us, spinning is downright fun! Plus, it can also make for a great featured element in a performance. Though you can spin on a vertical apparatus, the job is much easier on a lyra simply because there is less material weighing you down towards the floor. 

What people don’t like

Metal is hard. Though the firm metal of the hoop does help to give you a solid grip, it also takes a little time to build up the right callouses. And you will need those callouses. Lyra can be tough on your hands, knees, elbow pits or any other body part that presses into the hoop. Be prepared for some weird bruises!

More static, less dynamic. We firmly believe that any apparatus can be used dynamically. However, when you’re just starting out, the way your body will be moving on a lyra will be different than on a vertical apparatus. If you love the feeling of moving through space and swinging your limbs around you, you might prefer the dynamic movements that are well suited to vertical apparatuses. 

A quicker learning curve. While learning a lot quickly may be a perk for some, it can also lead to boredom for others. Most of the new shapes and techniques you will learn on a lyra will come up front, and be expanded and perfected over time. 

How to progress

Train your flexibility. We recommend a combination of active flexibility (lifting or lengthening areas of the body with your own strength) and passive (sitting in a stretch for an extended period of time). With greater bendiness, you’ll be able to take lyra shapes to their fullest potential. 

Spinning tolerance. Spinning does not come naturally to everyone. If it makes you feel a little queasy or uneasy, take it slow and try to build your tolerance over time. Learning the dance technique of “spotting” or training yourself to focus on a fixed point on your body can help. 

Strengthen your hands. Holding onto a metal circle for minutes at a time can get exhausting. Work on improving your ability to grip by holding weights (or even full grocery bags) and stretching your fingers and wrists often. 

Try different types of lyras. There’s a lot of variety, so be sure to expand your horizons, if you’re able. You may find that you only like taped lyra and don’t like gripping bare metal, or vice versa. You may prefer a single-point to a double-point. But you’ll only know if you try!

Tissu

What people like: 

An athletic experience. Because you cannot take resting poses as easily as on a lyra, many people find tissu a more challenging athletic experience. If you enjoy cardio or endurance sports, this may be a good fit for you. 

Dynamic movement. A vertical apparatus, like tissu, has a movement all its own. Fabric can move – or be moved – in any plane, in any direction, fast or slow, like a whip or like taffy. Students that enjoy moving with their whole bodies in a variety of movements seem to appreciate this about tissu. 

Solving puzzles. In order to perform many moves on aerial tissu, your body has to move one way, at one time, towards a place, and arrive in a certain way. Learning fabric can be sort of like a logic puzzle for your body. For many students, the best part of a tissu class is trying to figure out all the different pieces of a new move – or, eventually, creating their own wraps and positions.

What people don’t like: 

A steep learning curve. Tissu can be a particularly intimidating apparatus to learn. It’s vertical (no rest breaks), requires endurance (which you may or may not have lots off), and it’s slippery (requires good grip strength. While there are several fundamental moves and shapes on tissu, learning just the basics can take several classes, weeks, or months. You may not always leave your first classes feeling like the champ you are. 

Considerable upper body strength. To do pretty much anything on fabric, you’ve got to have a strong upper body. Your core must stabilize you, and your arms, back, chest, and shoulders have to work to pull your entire body weight against gravity. It will certainly be built over time as you continue your training. Students rarely come to their first class able to complete a full pull-up, so don’t sweat it!

Going upside down. Some people love it. And some definitely don’t. Unlike on lyra, where there are many shapes you can make while keeping your head pointing up (or at least sideways), one of the fundamental skills of tissu is gaining comfort with inverting, when your head is the lowest part of your body. If even the thought of this sends you into a panic, you should expect to take things one tiny step at a time. 

How to progress

Increase your upper body strength. One of the best possible things you can do to improve your skills on vertical apparatus is to get better at pull-ups. Hang from a pull up bar. Hold yourself at the bar with bent arms and with straight arms (shoulders engaged). Hold yourself and slowly lower down. Repeat until you can pull yourself up. Then repeat, repeat, repeat…

Challenge your comfort with going upside down. If inverting makes you nervous, start to play with going upside-down in slow, safe ways. Have a friend spot you in a handstand or headstand or do them against an empty wall. Try out a slow-paced aerial yoga class, and allow the aerial sling to give you all the support you need to tip back. 

Everything on both sides! When you approach tissu, it’s often to one side of your body. Your teacher may have you climb, tie in your foot, or hook a knee on one side. Do it on the other side too. For the folks in the back – DO IT ON THE OTHER SIDE TOO. You may see many advanced aerialist who can perform a beautiful skill on their right but UGH what’s that on the left? You may be a beginner, but you don’t have to be lazy! Do both sides. 

Pay attention to theory. As you are learning wraps, pay attention to not just how to get to them but also how they work. What is keeping you locked in? What doesn’t work? The more you pay attention to the puzzles behind the moves, the more you’ll be able to experiment and pick up new skills as you progress. 

When in doubt… Do both!

While many people may find they have a preference between one apparatus or another, the beginning of your aerial education is the perfect time to try several. 

At Stomping Ground Studio, you can take a class in tissu or in lyra OR try a mixed apparatus class where time will be split between the two apparatuses. 

Whichever you choose, we recommend a minimum of three classes within three weeks to get the best feel for the apparatus that works best for you. 

Stay tuned for more tips on getting the most out of your first aerial class!