29 April 2012

Flying Fun

Well for the last few days i have been indulging in some 'flying fun' with the accomplished aerial trainer Mike Wright. Amongst other fun flying skills, we have been working on the petite volant, AKA mini flying, which is pretty much the same principals as flying trapeze only with a smaller rig, where instead of a net we use crash mats for safe landings. Flying of any sort is a thrilling experience and i cannot even begin to describe the amount of enjoyment and pleasure i feel when i am participating in such activities.

Mike Wright is a full time aerial tutor at Circomedia, Bristol's centre for contemporary circus and physical theatre, where i began my circus training in 2004. Circomedia is one of the UKs leading institutions for the study of circus arts and my time there was instrumental in setting me on the career trajectory which i am still following today. To find out more about circomedia see HERE where incidentally you will stumble upon an image of me on the homepage, dangling in the air, with my legs spread, in some purple tartain trousers.

Circomedia was one of several centres where i trained in performance and circus theatre (back in the day) and it is very much due to the comforting support of Mike Wright that i got anywhere at all within that particular institution. He was a great inspiration and his loving and gentle teaching method (a mixture of cajouling and compliments ) led me to all the various flighty experiences i have encountered over the subsequent years since my training. So it goes without saying, that it has been a pleasure being under his instruction once again.

More importantly, Mike also runs Above and Beyond, the only grande volant (big flying) troupe in the UK, which has been running for over 15 years, and engages some of the countries toughest aerial artists. Performing all around the UK and internationally at festivals and events, Above and Beyond's aerial shows truely are a demonstration skill and hardwork, combined with incredible performance capabilitis. To find out more about Above and Beyond, and to see some of the artists in action, see HERE

So here is Mike, the gloriously camp purveyor of all circus wisdoms!


And here he is again, in action, during his days of travelling the globe as part of a flying trapeze troupe, as i said before gloriously camp!



Wow!!! what a dude...

And here is a little clip of me working on a layout to catch on the petit volant, the next thing will be to master the return, that means getting back from the catcher to the platform where i started.


Here are some pictures from our session, strating with Niels, he was the guy responsible for catching us, one after the other...again and again and again.

Niels


Me working on my Handstand
various configurations


Our safety belts, all lined up and ready to go.

Shveta and Seamus hanging out on the Cradle




And lastly here is a little video of the girls workin out their abs!






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