Adult Classes

Trapeze

A trapeze is a steel bar hung from two ropes. It is a foundational aerial apparatus that invites students to move over, under, and around the ropes and bar to perform movements and tricks. Never been upside down before? No problem. All skills will be learned in safe progressions that move at an appropriate pace for each student. Students will begin on trapezes rigged closer to the ground, and will progress to working higher in the air as they develop confidence and strength. All trapeze classes will incorporate lessons for strength, creativity, and coordination as well as injury prevention.

View All Level Prerequisites

Important Info

Level Prerequisites for Trapeze

Level 1

Open, no prereqs.

Level 2

Students must be able to get up to sitting on the bar without help. Students must also be able to do a pull-over to hip hang from the ground without help. They must have confidence executing standing poses on the bar and must be able to hold a tuck-up with bent arms in the ropes for at least 10 seconds.

Level 3

Students must be able to invert under the bar and in the ropes without help multiple times throughout class. They must be familiar with a range of skills on the trapeze including single knee hang, front balance, back balance, half mill circles, and skills in the ropes. Students should be working on knee hang, long hang, and ankle beats as well as front hip circles, though execution does not have to be perfect for entrance to Level 3.

Level 4+

**Admittance to Trapeze 401 is by instructor approval ONLY. Email info@commonwealthcircus.com prior to registration. Level 401 is open to students who are able to invert in the ropes without help multiple times through the entirety of class. They must be familiar with a range of skills on the trapeze including single knee hang, front balance, back balance, half mill circles, Russian rolls, front hip circles, and skills in the ropes. Students should be comfortable with knee hang beats, long hang beats, and ankle beats. Students must be able to complete a 2-minute sequence of moves without having to come to the ground.

Special Topics

Level 3/4 Single Point Trapeze

In this class advanced students will translate what they know from static trapeze onto the single point bar! The focus of this class will be on savvy transitions and flow while in the air. Since the single point trapeze is attached to only one rig point it can spin, circle and swing! Students will experiment with sequencing over, under, and around the ropes and bar just as they do on the static trapeze, only they will do so while the bar is in movement!

Prerequisites for Level 3/4 Single Point Trapeze: Students must be able to invert under the bar and in the ropes without help multiple times throughout class. They must be familiar with a range of skills on the trapeze including single knee hang, front balance, back balance, half mill circles, and skills in the ropes. Students should be working on knee hang, long hang, and ankle beats as well as front hip circles, though execution does not have to be perfect for entrance to this class.