3

Seeking Balance Through Double Trapeze

PREFACE

My interest for the topic derived from the research into Theme Parks that then lead me into Circus. This is such a great topic that has endless opportunities for possible designed outcomes. I’ve looked into different sub-topics of Circus, for this publication I’m exploring the relationship it has to BALANCE.

When starting this project I didn’t realised that Bristol had a national reputation as a ‘Circus City’, the circus scene has become extensive and varied. Bristol is home to many circuses: Circomedia, The Island, Invisible Circus, and others such as Creative Common who are normally by Temple Meads for 3 months a year.

The next show I booked a couple of months in advance; on Friday the 28th of February 2014 I went to AN AERIAL TRIPLE BILL: MUALLA/ELSEWHERE, FOOTNOTES & HUHU performed by Ilona Jantti. She performed three pieces from her current innovative aerial repertoire; it was a fascinating combination of animation, circus and dance. This show was an inspiration; simple animation combined with well-timed tremendous aerialist skills.

On the same day a month later, I managed to get two for one tickets to THE FRIDGE. This show was about a scientist/ juggler that lives in a fridge; it combines circus skills, physical theatre and set design of the character.

I would like to add how interesting and eye opening this great experience has been. It has given me a new hobby, skill and a different design perspective on balance. I want to thank Jono for being such an enthusiastic tutor who always looks out for his students: encouraging and supporting them to do their best. I would also like to thank everyone that has supported me throughout this project by making me more knowledgeable of the subject and those people who answered my surveys and interviews.

I started this journey in 2013 at Circomedia, a drama school for circus performers, and a school for physical actors. Circomedia rose out of the ashes of Fool-time, Britain’s first ever circus school – and ever since has attracted students from all over the world. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some students who joined for a short while during some of classes.

As part of the research I decided to gather information by getting involved, through interviews and visiting some shows in the area, such a ‘DON’T DRINK & DANCE’ at the Creative Common. Also at the beginning of my investigation another very imaginative performance I visited was LOGIC OF NOTHING by Pangottic Circus-Theatre on Wednesday 30th October 2013. Matt Pang performed at Circomedia (St Paul’s Church) through a non-verbal act he explored the relationship between man, circus and contractions. It was a show full of laughter with a blend of clown, juggling, magic and invention.

Soon enough I found myself involved in a mixed aerial class in Kingswood Foundation, Bristol. I started to document the process of learning a new skill through a 5-week programme of mixed aerial classes, such as: trapeze, silks, rope and hoop. During each session the purpose was to learn the basics and give me a chance to practice one aerial each week; in the last class we got the chance to try the four aerials at once. This gives a better understanding of the requirements and a chance to show your abilities as each week something different is expected. At first the anticipation to get started was unbearable. I was so nervous about putting my self in a new environment. Not knowing who to expect, questioning if I had the strength and what the first class was going to be like. Now it all seems like meaningless worries, I was stressing about a stress free exercise that a strongly recommend.

After the completion of mixed aerial most of the people in my class were leaning towards the ‘Silk’ classes, which made me think twice about my choice. In my opinion ‘Silk’ is a beautiful performance but personally I thought ‘Trapeze’ and ‘pHoop’ were more interesting to engage with. Also you can relax (have a break) once you are in a confortable position in comparison the ‘Rope’ and ‘Silk’ where I always feel on edge and tired.

Since then I’ve completed two blocks of Double Trapeze with Jono Ayres at the St. Paul’s Church. This location is more convenient as I live in Stokes Croft, the classes were on Sunday Mornings for two hours instead of one before. During the course of these classes I’ve collected materials including: an interview with Jono, videos whilst doing some tricks, photos of the progress and notes. From the videos I made some stills so I could create some artwork for the publication. I’ve been gathering all this information to make people more aware of the Circus/ Circus in Bristol.

About the Journey

Towards Double Trapeze

Interest

Research

Inspiration

7

Circus | Bristol | Circomedia

9

A trapeze is a short horizontal bar that hangs by ropes (page 8) or metal straps from a support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, swinging or f lying, and may be performed solo, double, triple or as a group act. To get you more familiar with the different types of trapeze here is a brief description of each.

Static

Static trapeze refers to a trapeze act in which the performer moves around the bar and ropes, performing a wide range of movements including balances, drops, hangs while the bar itself stays mostly in place. The difficulty on a static trapeze is making every move look effortless. It is like dance, in that most people of a reasonable level of strength can get onto the bar for the first time and do the tricks but an experienced artist will do them with much more grace and style.

TRAPEZESwinging

Swinging trapeze (or swinging single trapeze) refers to an act performed while the trapeze swings. The performer builds up swing from a still position, and uses the momentum of the swing to execute the tricks. Usually tricks on a swinging trapeze are thrown on the peaks of the swing and involve dynamic movements that require precise timing. This act requires a great deal of strength, grace, and flexibility.

Flying trapeze refers to a trapeze act where a performer, or “flyer,” grabs the trapeze bar and jumps off a high platform, or pedestal board, so that gravity creates the swing. The swing’s parts are the “force out” at the far end of the first swing, the beat back and the rise “seven” as the performer swings back above the pedestal board, and then the trick is thrown at the far end of the second swing.

The performer often releases the bar and is caught by another performer, the “catcher,” who hangs by his or her knees on another trapeze, or sometimes on a cradle, which can be either stationary or also swinging. Flying trapeze is generally done over a net, or occasionally over water.

Flying

Multiple trapeze Triple trapeze refers to a number of different shapes and sizes of trapeze, including double trapeze, triple trapeze and larger multiples designed for use by multiple simultaneous flyers. Shaped trapezes are apparatuses that can take virtually any shape imaginable.

Washington trapeze (also known as head trapeze or heavy trapeze) refers to a variation on static and swinging trapeze where the aerialist performs various headstand skills on the bar, which is typically much heavier than a normal trapeze bar and has a small (about 4-inch round) headstand platform on it. The trapeze is supported by wire cables rather than ropes, and the apparatus will often be lifted and lowered during the act.

Dance trapeze (also known as single-point trapeze) refers to a trapeze used by many modern dance companies in aerial dance. The ropes of the trapeze are often both attached to a single swivel, allowing the trapeze to spin.

Washington

Dance

Multiple

TYPES.

Double trapeze (also known as the French Trapeze) is a variation on the static trapeze, and features two performers working together on the same trapeze to perform figures and bear each other’s weight. It can also be performed swinging, in which case the act is called “swinging double trapeze.”

Double

11

Pike Position

Arrow

5 week | £65 | Sundays | 10:30- 12:30 | St Paul ’s Church

Double Trapeze with Jono Ayres

x2

13

In this class you will learn the basics of Duo Trapeze. Newcomers will build strong foundations and a firm knowledge to apply to more advanced moves later on. Those with some experience already will tighten up basic skills, and then look at further challenging and dynamic tricks. The class is geared towards the needs of each individual student, with a relaxed, informal atmosphere.

Jono will push where appropriate in order to allow students to reach their full potential. Just because it’s doubles, it does NOT mean that you have to already have a doubles partner. However, if you do come with a friend, working with a specific partner will allow you the pleasure of zoning into one person’s particular rhythm and technique. However Jono the teacher can always fill in as a base, and there are normally enough flyers to go around. Five week course: £65 for a course consisting of five two-hour lessons.’

In the class there were around 12 of us; 2 helpers who go around the 2 groups that got divided depending on experience. Everyone else in the class had done trapeze before, on the other hand I had only done 1hr of each aerial. This knocked down my confidence at first but as the class processed I started to feel more on ease. Most of the time the first steps include going into Hox position, this is when our hands are on the bar by lifting your legs over in-between them and keeping them straight under the trapeze. What I’m finding the hardest is lifting myself of the ground. It is intimate and sort of embarrassing working so closely with someone else that I only just met.

My hands are always moist so I have to keep using the chalk powder to dry my hands. It is basically a tiny sock/bag full of chalk powder that by slapping on my hands a couple of times, it makes them dryer for a little while.

First of I must say, this is definitely a work out and stretching properly before and after is essential. On Monday (the day after the week 1) I was aching on the top half of my body but I like to think it was because of the Christmas break. On the other hand I made sure I stretched my top half more on week 2.

One thing I’m concern about is a tight pain in my chest on the walk home after both classes so far. Perhaps this is due to the lack of exercise I do or the way I stretch.

I didn’t think trapeze would ever feel as rough as the rope, in the way my hands feel. I have callus and keep feeling the need to constantly stretch my fingers after the class. The hard skin is getting thinker and starting to slowly pile. This is cause by the repeated friction and pressure when holding onto the bar.

After warming up we proceeded to do a set of conditioning exercises on the trapeze, and then we re-cap on last week. Newcomers like me start to build strong foundations and a firm knowledge to apply to more advanced moves later on. Those with some experience in the class tighten up basic skills, and then look at further challenging and dynamic tricks. The class is geared towards the needs of each individual student, with a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Jono will push where appropriate in order to allow students to reach their full potential. Today I didn’t have breakfast before class, I soon as I got home I had 3 boiled eggs on toast.

Base – Person hanging from the trapeze holding the flyers

Flyer – Person who does the tricks whilst holding on to the base

Week 1

Description

Week 2

Next Timehttps://www.circomedia.com/static-trapeze.html

My plan is prepared a set of questions to ask Jono on next Sunday. Including questions about his role, previous experience and upcoming events.

After the completion of ‘Mixed Aerial’ classes in Kingswood, I decided to continue the development by going into ‘Double Trapeze’ in St. Paul’s. This time around I felt a lot more confident to be going into a new environment with different people. As before I was hoping to get a mix abilities class so I wouldn’t feel left behind.

As I walked into the studio the class was already doing a set of warm up exercises. So I signed my name on the sheet and joined them a few minutes later. Jono (main tutor) is very enthusiastic and full of energy; this makes the environment more relax as he starts short conversations with the group whist stretching.

15

...Yes for one of my projects I was thinking about doing it with helium balloons. Letting the helium balloons represent people on some of the trapeze or hoops. So for that I was wondering if I could come in earlier next Sunday with my helium balloons to film it?

Ohm, should be ok next Sunday…

Do you have a class by the way in the morning?

It was just a private class.

I was going to say, at what time do you start?

I got here at 8 o’clock this morning or about 8:30.

It sounds like a long day.

Yes it is, yesterday I was here 9:30 – 7:30

Does it get tiring for your body?

You get used to it.

Ok, first of all what I was going to say; what’s your creative job title?

01:00 min

What is my creative job title? Ohm, I have 2, my one for Circomedia is ‘Youth Circus Coordinator’ and also I guess ‘Freelance Circus Instructor’.

Do you work anywhere else then?

I do the 2 people that are out in the hall, run a company around called ‘Head Dolls’

Over the summer I work in New York at French Woods Performing Art.

Oh nice

They are

How long is that then?

3 Months

17

We have a little show for the 6 -10 years old. Called the Junior Circus and there would be 70 – 100 kids. And the rest will have the ‘Big Top Circus Show’.

They must be so good when they start that young.

Yes exactly because they are so fearless. A little bit of technic and they are so willing to do it.

They probably just want to play with it as well.

It looks like a giant climbing frame, the big metal lighting rigs go up from the floor then back down, they loving climbing up and down that.

They climb up there?

I wish my parents put me into it when I was younger.

How old were you when you started then?

Yeah tell me about it, there is a reason why I am an instructor and not performing.

What circus? I was 23.

Did you start from scratch at that point?

Yeah, I did a performing arts degree.

02:00

How old are the kids?

That’s really young as well 6.

They range from 6 to about 17 sometime 18 – 20, if they want them back at that age.

So do you do it every year?

Yes, I’ve been every year since 2009.

I’m a Senior Instructor there; basically help put the show together. We have 600 kids on one show.

TEA!

Arrow

Arrow

19

21

05:00 min

06:00 min

And a couple of years ago I decided, this is what I want to do.

It sounds like a good job.

What’s your favourite trapeze move or position?

Uh, good question. For static trapeze, which is my speciality: it will have to be the neck hang. Just because it is; like I said, I don’t really perform that much but when I do this is one that is very impressive and not many people can do.

So you literally hang.

Yeah you just hang from the back of your neck. You place the back of your neck of the bar and arch your back, and then you take your hands off the rope.

Hanging from one heal nothing else, hanging from one toe.

One toe?

Well one foot.

Haha one toe

That would probably be really hard.

04:00 min

What made you go into it?

When I was 10 I really enjoyed theatre and that’s what I wanted to do.

But I wasn’t enjoying performance as I used to. So I started looking into maybe I will enjoy the writing side more and then I didn’t really enjoy that either.

So I got a chance to go to the states and do the Captain America Programme. And I ended up in the Circus department because the theatre department was full. So they asked if I would be happy in the Circus Department, that’s how I went into it. I loved it and really got into it. I was quite good at it so I kept on doing it.

And you started then doing it full time?

Back packing, wherever I went,

So I did a degree in theatre with specialisation in Physical Theatre.

I’m really bad with names. So could you remind me of some of the positions we’ve learned so far like the?

23

So how many hours do you spend here?

Circomedia in general, probably about, I’m not sure really. I do 4 hours on Mondays, 8 hours on Tuesdays.

Is not just full time every day?

I have to keep training, so if I’m not working

You still have to do something.

07:00 min

08:00 min

The very first move the base learn is catcher’s lock. Which is where their legs are locked over the ropes, they squeeze their knees together so they can hang upside down for the flyer which is you; to hang beneath them without pulling them off the bar.

The very first move learnt was the bird’s nest, where you have your feet on the shoulders and you’re pushing your hips through making that nice arch shape. Then you learnt the split, where you bring your leg down and end up splitting your legs. The arrow is when you come threw and make a nice arrow shape along one arm. Then you learned the Charlie Chaplin … it’s also known as a candle stick in England. Charlie Chaplin is a more fun name. Last week we were looking at the sleeping beauty, which is also known as the coffin.

Which one is that?

It’s when you were laying across the feet, head back looking to the ceiling. Today we are going to be looking at swan ups or base ups.

And what are they?

That is, you have notice that we have been having the flyer go up first.

Oh no, you are going to bring us up?

Is a trick, basically where the base is hanging on catchers look and swings up the flyers, you kind of have to climb up a bit but it is done in a swinging move.

You guys make it look so elegant. Haha

I train...

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27

14-02-09-11.31

10:00 min

09:00 min

So is that something you sell tickets for and people come to see the show?

But it might be that we just open it up for the parents. Right now I’m trying to figure out the details with the office, and make it a little show. And we can sell tickets but it might be a little show where everyone can come along a see what the youth circus does. And we might even turn it into do a little bit of a workshop and maybe a workshop afterwards so everyone can get involved.

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I’m a duty manager so I help organise events here at the church, when we have production on. So I might be doing that, so I’m at the church a lot and because of the youth circus coordinator position. I help run the community circus…

They are all between 15 – 18, Poppy and Alice and there are about 8 kids in the flying trapeze troop and we are going to put flying trapeze show which hasn’t been done yet.

11:00 min

Yeah because I was surprise of how much there is.

29

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31

14-02-24-02.21

Hands-On Balance is the name given to the process of recording the physical changes of the hands, bruise and minor injuries that occurred during the two blocks of double trapeze (10 weeks). The main issue is the repeated friction and pressure on your hands when on the bar; this starts toughening areas of your hands. In theory the changes would be greater after a longer period of time until your hands start getting used to it. Calluses starts becoming part of your life to the extent that you stop noticing it.

No major injuries occurred as precautions are taken to maintain everyone’s health and safety. Don’t be afraid to try any aerial practice, though every once in a while you might come across a new bruise that you hadn’t spotted. The photographs were taken in different locations, mainly during and after double and on white walls. There are also photograph evidence of a couple of other people who were involved.

HandsOn

Balance

–

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14-03-02-11.49

14-03-05-13.55

14-03-11-19.50

14-03-17-09.47

14-02-15-13.30

14-02-09-11.31

14-02-24-02.21

Here are a selection of photographs taken during February - March 2014.

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14-03-29-12.29

14-03-28-12.29

14-04-01-11.11

14-03-25-11.33

As well as photography the changes on my palms, I thought it would be interesting to observe my right foot. This is because during a mixed aerial on Tuesday 11th March I decided to climb as high as possible to see if I had improved my strength since December, this was my second time on the rope. Double trapeze has improved my strengths very quickly; I went from being able to pull myself 2-3 times (hardly nothing) to climbing around 3 meters.

14-03-26-00.02

14-03-19-12.19

14-03-21-12.41

As you can see on the photo taken on 14-03-29-12.29 the scar on my foot had gone back to normal. Until this Tuesday when I took a couple of friends to mixed aerial and I made the same mistake. I decided to test my strength on the rope and managed to remove the top layer of skin on the scar. It started to bleed a lot and it went back to being sore. See image on the next page.

37

after.. .

14-04-14-12.35

14-04-16-11.38

14-04-16-11.38

This week it was pretty busy and the low trapeze were taken so I decided to try something new with the girls. The hoop which is very similar to the trapeze but I found it harder to keep still whilst getting on a doing the tricks. Never mind that, we managed to hurt our backs whilst trying to sit on our lower back. I have a friction burn from trying to get lower whilst already on the hoop.

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41

13:00

What’s your favourite song/ music to train to?

Uhm, ufff, probably uhm. Oh that’s a good question.

Well I noticed you always have music on which makes it quiet good.

I’m a bit of a nerd, well quiet a big nerd. I really like training with the Doctor Who music.

(Loud laugh) haha, I didn’t expect that.

Called ‘I am the Doctor’ by Andy Murry or Peter Murry. I can’t remember his name. It’s quiet a pink music.

I will put it on to warm up to; there are a couple of songs. There is one called ‘Bullet’ it’s quite a funky one and how you like me now. Songs with a bit of funk that have a nice beat.

We should have it on in the last class.

If you were stuck in an island, which 3 objects would you take with you?

I’ve had this conversation a few times.

12:00

As soon as you look, it’s like oh whoa!

Yeah that you don’t really noticed until you start looking for it. I was like OMG Bristol has so much to offer.

It’s right there. I lived about 2 minutes from here in the summer. Eh, what do you do for fun?

Circus… haha

Haha, yeah?

That’s a tricky one.

Because your job is really fun.

My job is really fun; my training covers my work, it covers my social life. I train with my friends; we try to complete challenges. That’s how I push my self to the limit and try really complicated things.

It’s nice that you can mix them all together.

I like to watch TV

So you should be ready for it.

Originally I said a trapeze, and then a laptop that came with a solar charger and unlimited iTunes download.

43

14:00

15:00

That’s all right.

As long as there is Internet there but I assume there is Internet everywhere these days.

So trapeze, laptop and unlimited download.

You should say Internet because then you can go on YouTube.

I could just go on YouTube and watch things.

Have you had any accidents of major things that have happened related to Health and Safety?

That happened to me or?

Just in general or when you’ve been teaching as well.

Two have happened to me, I’ve separated my collarbone and I’ve had all the mussels in my leg seas up and lock. Neither of those were my faults; they were actually people that I was working with, I don’t say messed but they messed up, a little bit.

One was just doing the double routines and someone got the trick slightly wrong and stood in the wrong place. Instead of standing on my neck they stood on my shoulder and it pushed the collarbone and it separated the mussels around the collarbone.

And the other one was a flying trapeze accident and someone really did that trick wrong and hit me whilst I was in the catch bar and knocked me off the bar and my legs seas up in shock.

Is this because these were people you didn’t work with often or a genuine mistake?

One of them was my half brother; he was goofing and just got the timing a bit wrong.

No one touchwood has injured themselves really badly when I’ve been teaching. I’ve been around when other people injure themselves; it kind of comes with the territory. You can be as safety conscious as you want, always try to keep an eye on everything, make sure everything is good and you always try to make keep everyone safe. But there is always a limited chance…

I always wonder if it puts people of a little bit, are they scared to get back on after?

Whenever someone is with me and they have a bit of a fall as long as they are ok I tried to get the to get up again. Otherwise you get into that habit of ‘oh I’m scared of that trick’. And you want to try to get over that fear straight away.

45

17:00

18:40

Is the same if you nearly drown in water and don’t go back in, you develop a fear of it?

And in one sentence, what would you say to people to encourage them to come to this class?

If you are looking for a brand new way to get fit, get into shape, enjoy and meet some new people; then circus is a fantastic way to do it. (Kind of 2 sentences) In my opinion it is more interesting that going to the GYM, it’s new, it’s exciting, is becoming a very big. It’s actually becoming a lot bigger and a lot more people are doing it as a recreational sport.

It’s more interesting than just doing yoga.

And other things come into like aerial yoga. I mean you need to be asking yourself that question.

Oh yeah, I’m enjoying and I’ve been telling all my friends about it. Everyone seems shocked because they had never heard of it but wanting to do it.

Exactly, so it’s always good to get people to come along and try it for the first time because a lot of people just think they can’t do it.

Yeah I have a friend who I’m bringing with me to one of the Tuesdays drop-in classes. I kept going on about it so my friend said she wanted to try it.

People can be amazed at what they can achieve, they think it must take years and years of practice but you can always start learning it and you are never to old to. I started when I was 23, and now I’m teaching it.

Yes you are good! I thought you started were you were a kind like everyone seems to.

My girlfriend on the other hand, she was a national level gymnastics over in California. So she was doing gymnastics since she was like 5 years old, late into her teens so she had a huge advantage it come a lot quicker to her to assess the situation and know what to do with the body. On the other hand I had to learn to do that…

Learn the basics

Yeah and it can be learnt

My friend made fun of me, I told her what I was doing and the first thing she said was: ‘Is it that something you are supposed to start when you are kid? And I was just like ‘Thanks, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear right now.

But yeah, thank you for your time.

That’s ok.

We probably should go warm up.

16:00

47

49

Pike

51

Leg to leg

53

THE END

55

Patricia A. Eijkemans