Aerial Acts
Trapeze
Trapeze acts are one of the symbols of the circus that everyone
recognizes. The trapeze itself, often called a "trap" by circus members,
is simply a metal bar attached to cables which allow it to swing freely
through the air. Although the trapeze acts differ dramatically in their
routines, the basic bar is about the same although it may be wrapped or
taped differently and in some cases may have balance weights on the ends.
In the FSU Circus, there have been several trapeze acts over the years
including ba lancing trapeze, double trapeze, flying trapeze, swinging
trapeze, and triple trapeze.
Double Trapeze
Double trapeze can be mastered early in one's circus career and expanded
with continued practice. A double trap team is composed of one man and one
woman. As the man hangs from or balances on a stationary trapeze, the
woman performs tricks such as standouts, toe hangs, somersaults,
changeovers and catches. The team also performs a log spin, in which the
man hangs from the trap in a neck loop while holding the girl parallel to
the ground with his feet, then starts spinning on the loop and lets go
with both hands. A lever is also a mainstay of the act. A neck loop is
placed around each partners neck, then he hangs from the trap with hands
in two other loops, starts the girl spinning and slowly lowers himself
into a lever, hopefully, a straight one parallel to the ground. Double
trapeze is an act which teaches coordination between the partners plus the
basics of working over a net.
Flying Trapeze
Flying trapeze is the premier act in almost every circus. Many different
flying tricks have been successfully performed at FSU as the skills,
techniques and preferences of performers have changed. At home show, there
are usually two flying teams, one performing above each of the two
outside rings. A flying frame, hung from the main poles near the top of
the tent and guyed out with exacting precision, is used to perform the
flying act. From the flying frame are hung a pedestal board at one end
upon which the leapers stand between tricks, a free swinging trapeze at
the opposite end upon which the catcher sits then hangs for each trick,
and a second trapeze (the "fly bar") in the center upon which the leaper
swings from one end of the frame to the other. The basics of flying
trapeze involve a leaper swinging on the fly bar from the pedestal board
high above the net, building up speed for a full swing forward and back,
then launching himself into the air on a second swing to perform a trick
while flying across to the catcher. The catcher ideally grabs the flyer
at the peak of his swing from the other end of the flying frame and then,
while holding the flyer with his hands, continues his swing in the same
direction that the flyer was heading to build up the momentum. The catcher
then reverses his swing, heads back towards the pedestal board, and
releases the flyer towards the fly bar which has been dropped towards him
by one of his teammates. The flyer grasps the fly bar and returns to the
pedestal board to style, while the catcher sits up on his own trapeze
before repositioning himself in his "catcher's lock" for the next trick.
The more complicated the trick, the earlier the performer must leave the
fly bar in order to have enough time to complete the trick before reaching
the catcher. Flyers must work almost daily to achieve the timing and
coordination needed to consistently throw a catchable trick.
Swinging Trapeze
Swinging trapeze is an individual trapeze act. Although a few men have
performed on the swinging trapeze in FSU Circus history, the act is
usually performed by women. It is an act that features strength, agility
and grace while flying through the air high above the net. Swinging trap
acts start out with a basic first-year routine, then are personalized by
each performer to suit his or her own particular style. All acts feature a
variety of different types of tricks: knee hangs, falling backwards off
the t rapeze at the peak of a swing to catch by the ankles (a "standing
back"), jumpoffs from the trapeze at the back of a swing to catch by the
hands, etc. More advanced performers add a variety of twisting tricks such
as a twisting ankle catch, straddle kick, or hocks off or perform toe
hangs or heel hangs.
Mexican Cloudswing
The Mexican cloud swing is performed over a net on a smooth, thick,
cloth-filled rope about 1-2 inches wide with no loops or hand holds. The
Mexican aerialist must "pump up" her own swing; there is no rigger to pull
it for her during the routine. It takes a lot of strength and technique to
swing the Mexican high enough to do the more complicated tricks. The girls
usually start out their routines by wrapping the rope around both feet and
leaping at the audience as in the climax of cloud swing, but there are no
keepers or special ropes to hold her in place. lf she points her feet,
she'll go right into the net. Although each routine varies with the
individual performer, other tricks include knee hangs and toe hangs, the
"crucifix" in which the girl drops down from a standing position to catch
the rope under her arms while holding them straight out from her body, the
"hammock" in which she reclines on the Mexican as it swings, and other
acrobatic tricks in which she drops from the rope to catch by her ankles
or a knee. Advanced performers sometimes add heel hangs, neck hangs,
reverse crucifixes, and barrel rolls. The act finishes with a dismount
into the net, usually timed to surprise the audience. Especially effective
is the "standing suicide" dismount, in which the Mexican artist pumps up
the swing just as she has been doing all along then suddenly releases the
rope and dives forward through the air with arms outstretched before
making a quick turn to land on her back in the net. This is not a trick
for the beginner.
Cloudswing
Cloud swing is an aerial act which is performed without a net. A cloud
swing is simply a rope attached at each end to a crane bar or other
rigging to form a loop, or swing. The performers fasten themselves to the
cloud swing with and or foot loops, then are pulled through the air by a
rigger standing on the ground. Cloud swing girls perform dislocates,
splits, pop offs, and other acrobatics at different points during the
swing, then sit on the rope for a few moments while the puller builds up
momentum for the next series of tricks. Sometimes a puller will put so
much muscle into his job that a girls foot may actually touch the top of
the tent. At the climax of the act, each performer attaches a short,
tightly coiled rope above each ankle and tightens it with a keeper. The
puller builds up the swing until sufficient height is reached, then the
performer leaps up and out at the front of the swing towards the audience
as the ropes unravel behind her. This usually results in a good scare for
the parents who have never seen their daughter perform. After the
performer swings back at the end of the ropes and styles, the puller slows
the cloud swing, the performer stands up between the ropes and does a
split style, then other riggers lower the rigging to the ground.
