Coach
Rachel Barringer
Rachel Barringer is an aerialist and contortionist based in New England. She performs on aerial hoop, silks, rope, multi cordes (12-strand vertical apparatus), and aerial straps. Rachel also performs duo aerial hoop with Caroline Wright as “Duo Shadow.” She performs with companies including the Boston Circus Guild, Extraordinary Arts, and Cirque de Light. Recently Rachel completed a contract performing aerial hoop and contortion with the Shanghai Circus in Branson, Missouri. She also coaches aerials and contortion/flexibility at Commonwealth Circus Center in Jamaica Plain, MA, Esh Circus Arts in Somerville, MA, and L’Eglise du Cirque in Natick, MA. Her main coaches include Jacob Skeffington (handstands), Serchmaa Byamba (contortion), and Michael Lanphear (aerial straps). In addition to being a circus performer and coach, Rachel is also a cellist and occasionally performs around Boston. She is also a proud mama of two rescue chihuahuas named Morty and Bamford and a fabulous old cat named Lisa.
Teacher Bio
Rachel teaches a combination of active flexibility, passive flexibility, resistance/partner stretching, and dynamic stretching. Each week we vary the theme between legs (splits, straddles, etc.) and backbends. You don’t necessarily “need to be flexible” to take a contortion class – we go over many drills and skills to help increase your flexibility and strength. Students can always stick with the basic drills or they can then work on “projects” such as contortion handstands, leg scales, chest-stands, etc. We finish class with conditioning – abdominal work and pushups.
