There is a lot of chat popping up right now about the validity of Certification programs in aerial arts. In the US and the UK (where Paper Doll Militia is based), aerial arts currently lacks a governing body or regulatory organization for standardization. (For example; The International Gymnastics Federation or other similar agencies for sports) In the circus arts industry, literally anyone can offer a ‘Certificate’ program. So at the end of the day, what value does it even have?

Let’s talk about it! We’ve had many conversations about this topic amongst ourselves and with our community. In this blog, we’re looking at some of the most common questions and concerns that we see with the idea of “Aerial Certifications” and sharing our perspective.

Unfair Advantage and How to Navigate It

Basically, Aerial Certifications are the Wild West right now. The implications of this kind of free-for-all means that inconsistencies within the industry contribute to an inherent unfairness. Certificate programs vary widely when it comes to duration and content. Price points also show a similar lack of uniformity or standards. All of this raises concerns about the potential scenario where someone with a certificate from a weekend crash course might appear more attractive on paper to a studio than someone with years of valuable teaching experience but lacking a formal certificate.

Meanwhile, gathering the momentum and infrastructure required to create an overarching regulatory body feels like an insurmountable problem. In the meantime, let’s think about how to work with what we have, rather than being miffed about what doesn’t exist.

There are always ways to make yourself look better on paper, in ANY industry. What we do in aerials is hands-on. The quality of our instruction most directly impacts 2 very important categories of people; YOUR STUDENTS and THE STUDIO(S) you work for. That’s who actually matters, not any governing body with a stamp of approval.

But if that’s true, then is a certificate meaningless?

We believe that anytime you pay for education, the goal is the knowledge and experience, not the piece of paper you receive at the end of it. Whether you’re looking to enhance your teaching skills or seeking re-inspiration as a veteran teacher experiencing burnout, enrolling in a Teacher Training course—certification or not—can be a valuable endeavor. And anytime we commit to our craft the people who benefit would be ourselves, the studio we work for and again most importantly, our students.

Opting for a program solely for the sake of getting a certificate might fulfill that specific goal. However, if you don’t soak up the learning experience, you’re missing out on a truly enlightening journey and essentially spending money for a mere piece of paper. In such cases, we say, save your money and skip it!

I’m feeling pressured by the fact that the younger teachers are getting certified, but I have years of experience and don’t feel like I need it.

Experience speaks volumes! If you feel confident in your craft and don’t necessarily seek additional input but would like acknowledgement for your years of dedication, consider articulating it on paper. Detail your experience and emphasize your value as a teacher to both current and potential employers. Get specific! Share this information with prospective students as well. Incorporate it into your social media profiles, website, or CV for greater visibility.

Example for someone with 5 years experience:

• Extensive Teaching Tenure: Accumulated 5 years of dedicated studio teaching experience.
• Specialized in Adult Instruction: Successfully conducted 3 weekly classes tailored for beginner adults, fostering a supportive environment for their aerial arts journey.
• Expertise in Youth Education: Facilitated 2 weekly classes specifically designed for children, demonstrating adaptability and skill in engaging with younger learners.
• Advanced Instruction: Provided advanced aerial instruction through a weekly class, catering to the needs of more experienced practitioners with progressive skill acquisition techniques

I’m not teaching yet, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for a teacher training program or not. Should I have more experience before starting a program?

A reputable program will have clear parameters on joining the course. This can be with an audition video and/or or proof of experience. If you meet the requirements, then you are ready! Conversely, if the program doesn’t have any defined entry standards, we’d advise you look further into the program to ensure it provides quality training. Programs that accept participants without specific criteria may compromise their commitment to quality in their core values.

Remember, you don’t need to be an expert to begin the journey. Everyone’s journey and timeline looks different. Start by learning coaching skills (these are DIFFERENT than the skills of an aerialist) and begin to teach only when you’re ready. We believe that a Teacher Training course and/or Certificate can be a huge support for new teachers just starting to grow their wings.

I’ve been teaching for YEARS and I am interested in professional development, but I’m worried the course will be too remedial and I’ll be bored and broke from having taken it.

Totally fair! Ask the providers a little about the course content, requesting samples or details about the curriculum. A provider willing to share insights demonstrates a genuine concern for their clients. Assessing the information they provide can also give you an idea of the course’s depth. Additionally, connect with individuals who have a similar level of experience and have taken the course; they can offer valuable insights to help you determine if the program is a suitable match for your needs.

How do I choose a reputable program?

We believe that one of the best ways to identify quality in an unregulated industry is through word of mouth. There are exceptional teachers and programs available, offering both in-person coaching and a multitude of online options for skill enhancement or certification. The choices can be overwhelming, so we encourage you to reach out and ask your peers about their favorite programs and the reasons behind their recommendations. If you know someone who has completed a program, connect with them and ask about their experiences. What aspects were beneficial, and were there any elements of the program that didn’t meet their needs? Gather information from the people, not the marketing.

Make sure you’ve considered all the details; the duration of the program, the topics covered, the assignments, the availability of personalized feedback, and whether there is a pass/fail system or if everyone automatically passes. This thorough examination will empower you to make an informed decision based on the specific attributes of each program.

Are Certificate Programs just taking advantage of people financially?

Another concern some people have is that some of the Certificate Programs are taking advantage of an unchecked situation, by offering a certificate that doesn’t have much meaning or quality content, but just offer a basic course for high prices that win you a bit of paper.Do your research on the program you are interested in taking to avoid sinking your money into a program that doesn’t deliver.

What’s the difference between a Teacher Training and a Certificate?

Every program is different. We can only speak to our own program about this one. Our Teacher Training Program is a 50 hour course; per level / per apparatus. This is the educational component of what we offer. The course is packed full of information and hands-on training, to equip you with an arsenal of information and tools. If you complete the program, you receive a letter of completion. (Not a “Certificate”)

The Certificate Program is an additional 25 hours.This is the practicum component, where you practice and apply everything that you learned in the training, under guidance. As part of this, you submit a video of you teaching a full class, receive feedback and repeat the process.

We do not require you to complete the Certificate Program in order to take our Level 2 Teacher Training, as not everyone wants to do this extra step.

If you advocate for certification, why is it presented as an optional add-on? In other words, why offer it as a choice?

Some individuals and studios value the piece of paper stating the word “Certificate” It took us several years to decide to offer this option, because in order to give out a Certificate we felt strongly that this needed to include a real assessment.

The Teacher Training has four stages of assessment

1. Gaining admission to the program, which requires an audition video and a minimum of one year of experience.
2. Demonstrating proficiency of all the skills without any advisories.
3. Participating in all the Zoom calls that cover teaching practices
4. Successfully completing all quizzes on the written materials with a passing grade

However, these steps alone are insufficient to thoroughly evaluate someone’s teaching ability. In real-life scenarios, we encounter diverse situations, and students can exhibit unpredictable behavior. As teachers, we have to be prepared to respond with care and genuine interest in our students while delivering high-quality content with creative, technical, and practical advice.

The 25 hours of the Certificate program consist of observation hours—watching others teach and providing reflections —mentorship hours, and practice in both assistant and lead teaching roles. The culmination involves teaching 2 one-hour-long classes, with written and video feedback provided by us.

Only after a comprehensive assessment can we confidently issue a certificate.

As a studio owner, how can I verify that someone’s Aerial Certificate holds its weight?

ANY aerial certificate should have an easy way to reference a breakdown of the completed training and requirements of its Certificate Holders. This may be found on the provider’s website, info packet, or even social media. If the certificate provider does not have this readily available, that’s a sign that it may not be a comprehensive or reputable program.

Here is a recap and our opinions in short

• The industry is currently unregulated.

• A Teacher Training and/or Certificate program can be a huge support for new instructors

• We advocate for continuing education, even for instructors with lots of experience, if the goal is to learn more, delve deeper, or find re-inspiration.

• Not everyone necessarily requires a Certificate.

• Exceptional teachers exist without formal Certificates.

• While possessing a Certificate doesn’t automatically make someone a great teacher, the type of course taken can reflect a commitment to the craft.

The post To Certify or Not? appeared first on Paper Doll Militia.

“Should I use rosin?”

“Should I advise my students for or against it?”

“My studio doesn’t allow rosin at ALL. Is this normal?”

You may already have strong opinions about the matter. We’re not here to stand on a soap box one way or another, but we are happy to share our perspective on this (often) very heated discussion topic…..we have a lot to say about it!

Why would an aerialist choose to use rosin in the first place? Rosin is a grip aid and helps you and your students feel more confident and safe hanging from their hands.

❌Rosin off-limits❌

Now, let’s get into the buzz about studios banning rosin and why they’re doing it. The main concern we have heard that studios and instructors have is that using rosin can lead to dependency. When students become reliant on rosin, they may find it challenging to feel confident in the air without its assistance. In essence, it becomes a crutch that hinders the improvement of their grip strength.

Does this argument hold its weight? While we agree that it’s possible to overuse rosin and develop dependency, we also think it’s important to acknowledge that all bodies are different. We’ll say it again for the people in the back.

All bodies are different. This includes the skin that encases them! If you have dry hands, and you have cold hands (no sweat is going to come no matter how hard you work) then you will have slippery hands. And this is exacerbated enormously if you are training in a cool, dry environment. Some people have the opposite problem, where their hands sweat so much, the apparatus becomes like a slip ‘n slide. If working on bar apparatus this would be where you might use chalk, and sometimes people also use ‘dry hands.’

Ballerinas use rosin on the bottom of their ballet slippers to give them the desired amount of grip on the floor. Violinists rosin their bows to create the sound they want. A grip aid is just that, an aid, a boost, an enhancement. Just because someone has slippery hands, does not mean that they have weak grip. We allow grip aids in all our classes and retreats for this reason.

🌱How we like to use grip-aids

There is something to be said for grip aids becoming habit-forming.  It’s easy to slip into the habit of applying rosin before every turn. This can become a sort of dependency, potentially based on some fear, but mostly habit. 

We do like to be mindful of our rosin use (or any other grip-aid), and try to skip applying rosin before doing basic skills and conditioning. We feel that a little rosin, applied sparingly can go a long way IF you do have adequate grip strength.

Since grip strength is the core reason why some studios and teachers ban grip aids, let’s address how to strengthen grip in the first place. We shouldn’t solely focus on the hands and forearms; we need to look further up the arm to the shoulder. Studies have shown that a lack of grip strength can indicate injury or weakness in the shoulder girdle. So yet another reason to work on your prehab injury prevention shoulder exercises. Here is one of our favorites!

Serratus Shifting – Shoulder Stability Exercise

This video comes from our Remote Teacher Training. Did you know we have an hour long FREE Taster Course Available? If you’re interested in getting more of a sneak peek at the program, CLICK HERE

Spray Rosin vs. Dry Rosin?

Spray rosin can make you feel like spiderman, but sometimes it can make a film on your hands that becomes no longer sticky, making it so that you have to apply and reapply. We personally get more lasting results from dry rosin.

What about on ropes, ‘cause we can’t wash them?

Some covered rope owners do not let anyone on their rope with rosin. The claim is that it wears out the rope faster. Because spray rosin can leave a film, it can make a rope feel a bit gummy after copious amounts have been used on it over a substantial period of time. It may break down the rope cover eventually. But our suspicion is that the stickiness creates more friction on the apparatus and more tug on the textile and that is what causes the wear. We have no science to prove that point. However, from experience we have noticed that dry rosin on ropes will make your ropes more grip friendly but less sticky. So dry is our preference on equipment as well.

Rosin Allergies Anyone?

There are some studios who don’t allow rosin because one or more people in the community have an allergy. In our opinion, this is a totally valid reason to ban it from your studio. If this is the case in your studio, a good alternative is to spritz some water on your hands before climbing. (especially when training in a dry climate) Some other alternatives are to have designated apparatus, separate areas or rooms designated as rosin-free zones. (depending on the severity of the allergy of course)

Final thoughts

Using rosin is not cheating, and should not be mistaken for fly tape; it’s not merely sticking you in place. Instead, it prevents sliding so that you can focus on the skill at hand. Personally, we try not to rely on rosin by default, or out of habit, but use it strategically when it makes a difference between sliding and maintaining a secure grip, especially when working on more challenging skills. 

Whatever your personal relationship to rosin, we believe it’s important not to stigmatize it. We can never know the personal and medical background of a person, including all the reasons why it might serve as an important resource.

Written by Sarah Holmes & Rain Anya – Co-artistic Directors | Paper Doll Militia

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The post To Rosin or not to Rosin? appeared first on Paper Doll Militia.