Aerial Instructions

with Rain Anya & Saffron Van Rossem

Saturdays October 5, 12 & 19th

In Zoom-land!

Join Rain Anya and Saffron Van Rossem in a 3-part online workshop series as we delve into concept-driven aerial choreography. Drawing from our current aerial theatre project, Homeostasis, which visually represents the human nervous system through rope and explores the “fight, flight, freeze, and fawn” responses, we’ll share our methods and discoveries.

*Prerequisites for choreography workshops: Ability to remain in the air for two minutes, and invert multiple times in the same sequence and familiarity with fundamental wraps on the featured apparatus.

**These workshops are designed for intermediate/advanced aerialists, offering tools to build your skills set and elevate your aerial artistry. Each session is $50 (ZOOM live or replay), or get all 3 for $120 with all proceeds supporting the Homeostasis project. Use the coupon code “all3please!” at checkout.

Can’t make it, but still want to support the project?

 Choreography Workshop on Aerial Silks | Surge: Fight Mode

With Rain Anya

Apparatus: Aerial Silks

Saturday, October 5th @ 2pm EST

In this workshop, you’ll learn a complete piece of choreography, including floor work and unique sequencing that incorporates musicality and theatrical layers. The choreography, created by Rain Anya, embodies the “fight” response within the nervous system. You’ll gain new skills and techniques and add layers of intention through movement quality and extraneous movement. Rain will also provide insights into her creative process, offering valuable artistic guidance for your own work.

Cost: $50 usd (live workshop or replay)
Only 8 slots available for the live workshop

Height requirement: A minimum of approximately 13 feet / 4 meters

 Choreography Workshop on Aerial Sling | Soar: Flight Mode

With Saffron Van Rossem

Apparatus: Aerial Sling

Saturday, October 12th @ 2pm EST

In this aerial sling workshop, we will dive deep into the body’s flight response, exploring one of the survival tools the nervous system uses to find safety. You’ll learn a flighty choreography created by Saffron Van Rossem, integrating theatricality with intricate choreography, and explore ways to use the aerial sling to weave narratives of release and transformation. Saffron will also provide insights into her creative process, offering valuable artistic guidance for your own work.

Cost: $50 usd (live workshop or replay)
Only 8 slots available for the live workshop

Height requirement: A minimum of approximately 13 feet / 4 meters

 Creative Workshop on ANY apparatus | The Stories of the Body

With Rain Anya & Saffron Van Rossem

Any Apparatus

Saturday, October 19th @ 2pm EST

Experience the powerful effects of integrating somatic and theatrical techniques on aerial equipment. Our bodies communicate stories through posture, movement, gestures, and expressions. By developing a keen awareness of these elements, performing artists can harness storytelling’s transformative power on stage. This workshop will guide you through structured creative exercises to refine your aerial voice and ignite your imagination, while also exploring the healing potential of somatic practices.

💡 These workshops are designed to push your creative and technical limits, giving you tools to elevate your aerial work and enrich your personal style. Remember, this is art, not therapy—but it will inspire growth!

Cost: $50 usd (live workshop or replay)
Only 8 slots available for the live workshop

No height requirement for this workshop

Sign up for all 3 workshops for $120 USD. Use the coupon code “all3please!” at checkout

Any Apparatus

It’s simple; good form equals efficiency of movement, the illusion of effortlessness, endurance and aerial longevity. In this workshop, we will approach the fundamentals of aerials with an obsessive-like attention to detail, otherwise known as “dorking out.” Using the trapeze, fabric, and rope we will be focusing on precise body awareness, foundational skill progressions, strength building techniques, and injury prevention. Designed for all levels, this is a great workshop for newbies; also excellent for the more seasoned aerialist who has a desire to refine their quality of movement, fluidity, and develop the tools to expand their skill set more easily.

Rope

This workshop focuses on the expanding on the fundamental building blocks of aerial rope. We will delve into quintessential skills like toe climbs, momentum drills, strength conditioning, and sequencing.

Silks

For the aerial silks students wishing to expand their skills repertoire. This workshop will feed you new and exciting climbs, wraps, and drops; or aerial candy.

Silks

In this workshop we will be exploring the exciting world of split tissus. All climbs, wraps drops, and sequences presented in this class will come from split tissu, but this is not your run of the mill “double crochet” material. This class is fast paced and will cover a broad range of material. Bring something to
document material with.

Pre-reqs: *All participants should understand basic double crochet material and have a solid double knee climb.

Multi-Apparatus (or preferred apparatus)

The Vertical Theatre Method is an investigation of aerial arts with the focal point of theatricality and authenticity of both movement and content. The Method has been in development since 2007 by artists Rain Anya and Sarah Bebe Holmes. This workshop is a performative based workshop exploring the expressive nature of aerials using improvisation, physical theatre, musicality, character, and exercises in stage presence. Layering your aerial work with creativity and content, we will work with with techniques for expressing human emotion and storytelling within the movement. Looking at creative approaches to building an act or performance piece, this workshop is for students who feel comfortable on an apparatus enough that they can explore beyond the tricks.

Silks

In this intermediate / advanced workshop, you’ll learn inventive drops that also highlight the choreography of wrapping into the drop itself. Take your fabric drops to a whole new level of artistry. We’ll be working up to the drops through progressions, walk downs, and understanding of the wraps, so that all
participants can approach the material with safely and confidence.

Prerequisites: Comfort with inversions (without cheating!) in the air multiple times, knowledge of basic aerial drops, and the strength to be in the air for 5 minutes at a time

Sling (Hammock)

In this intermediate workshop we will focus on three major components of mastering the art of slinging…momentum work, creative transitions, and of course, spinning. Come get some new inspiration on what this limitless apparatus as to offer. Leave with new sequences, drills, and fresh ideas on how to take your sling work to the next level.

Silks

An exciting look at longer sequences where we explore limitless choreographic options that all stem from one origin wrap. Through this discovery process you will learn advanced fabric theory techniques and find unique body shapes as you follow the never-ending string.

Rope

This intermediate / advanced workshop focuses on material that lends itself to seamless transitions and “rope flow”. As we explore non-traditional ways in and out of familiar wraps, the choreographic nature of rope will become more and more accessible. You’ll be able to take some fun transitions with you from the workshop, and also leave with a better sense of how to discover and create your own innovative pathways on rope.

Multi-Apparatus (Apparatus of choice)

In part 1 we will be working with creative sequencing and focus on guiding you through the process of discovering your own pathways and innovative choreography. In Part 2 of this workshop, we work on finessing, stylizing, and musicality. The workshop will end with an in-class performance with your peers. This workshop can be tailored to any aerial apparatus.

Rope and/or Silks

This workshop will utilize both silks and rope, using momentum as a foundation for adding dynamic movement into your skill set. This workshop covers a broad range of dynamic techniques which will help you salt and pepper fanciful flair into your movement vocabulary. We will move away from static poses and into a world where circles and levers rule.

Silks

In this workshop we will look into the directionality of tricks on aerial silks. We will be taking a forward rolling drop and turn it into a backward rolling drop and vise versa. This is be digging into fabric theory to understand how wraps form the direction of movement. Great for getting new fun material and
building up a better understanding of aerial silks.

Silks

Wheeldowns, Helicopter, Windmills, whatever you name it, this skill harnesses some of the quintessential body mechanics in aerial arts. Learning how to control all the elements of a sideways rotation, and make it look gorgeous is a skill every aerialist should have in their tool bag. In this workshop we focus on the technique and muscular engagement of the skill, in addition to playing with speed, wrapping theory, and choreographic ways in and out of your
wheeldown.

Rope and/or Silks

With attention on beats, swings, swivels and drops you will feel momentum as well as theoretically break it down to understand how it works. Learn to use momentum to your advantage in order to spiral and dive effortlessly up and down the equipment.

***Students for Vertical Momentum should be comfortable hanging from straight arms with very engaged shoulders. If you have shoulder issues, contact us ahead of time to see if this workshop is for you.

Multi-Apparatus / Duo and Ensemble

Come with a partner or on your own, ready to work with new people. These workshops focus on artistic creation and expression in the collaborative process with aerial silks. We will be exploring partner movement, concept work, and visual imagery with the silks on the ground and in the air.

Duo Silks

Come with a partner or on your own, ready to work with new people. These workshops focus on artistic creation and expression in the collaborative process. We will explore duo vocabulary on aerial silk, with specific work on creative basing positions as well as possibilities with tension and transitions.

Silks

A fun and intricate silks workshop featuring material that lends itself to spirals and fluid, curvey movement, we will also be exploring the body techniques involved in executing this style. Learn how to free up your spine, curve into the silks, and connect one movement to the next in a flowing style that will
transform your relationship to the silks.

Flexibility

Whether you’re an aerialist, an acro-yogi, dancer, or just a movement enthusiast, this class will provide a different way of strengthening and stretching. The exercise target functional strength as it relates to circus arts. We will bring you through a series of stretches on your own, with props and with partners.  We will work with care, isolating muscle range needed for healthy movement and extension, using muscular resistance to train your muscles to gain strength with length.

*This workshop can be taught as a full body focus or divided into two workshops focusing on different segments of the body: Part 1 Splits & Straddles and Part 2 Shoulders & Back.

Multi-Apparatus (apparatus of choice)

This intermediate+ workshop is structured similarly to a dance class: we all learn the same “combination,” set to music, with precise choreographic flair! Learning others’ choreography helps to build a strong repertoire and have a variety of movement options within your toolbox. You will come out of this workshop having new material and performative tips for giving it some style.