Looking for an aerial class or private lesson in the Seattle area?  The following is a list (in alphabetical order) of who's teaching what in the aerial arts as of August 2008.  If you are an instructor who would like to be listed here, please let us know!

Beverly Sobelman of Versatile Arts offers classes, private lessons, and open studio time at The Cathedral, 7601 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle.  Apparatus include tissu, corde lisse, trapeze, lyra, sling, and aerial net.

Registration is now open for all Winter 2009 classes.  Please see our web site for class descriptions and schedule.

Charly McCreary of the Cabiri teaches beginning and continuing aerial dance on low-flying trapeze in the Movement Studio at the Youngstown Cultural Center, 4408 Delridge Wy SW.  Please contact charly@cabiri.org if you have any questions about any of these classes.  Her offerings:

Beginning Aerial Dance on Trapeze (2 week sampler session)
Two Thursdays - January 8 and 15, 2009, 7:15-9:00 p.m.
Offered via South Seattle Community College; register online.
Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, West Seattle

Beginning Aerial Dance on Trapeze (6 week session)
Sundays – January 18-February 22, 2009, 12:15-1:30 p.m.
Offered via UW Experimental College; Online registration begins 12/22/08.
Class cost: $87 UW students; $105 General Public
Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, West Seattle

Explore, fly, dance, soar and spin on low trapeze bars in a safe, fun and supportive environment! Class begins on the ground with a gentle warm up, then moves into the air with a mixture of technical instruction on the trapezes and guided improvisational aerial dance utilizing the movements learned. Students will become stronger and more flexible while having fun. No previous dance training or aerial experience required.

All participants must be in good physical condition with no current injuries. You must participate in some form of regular exercise (e.g. yoga, dance, cycling) before taking aerial dance classes. It is strongly recommended that participants have a fair amount of hand, arm and core strength.

These courses are appropriate for those new to aerial dance and more experienced students who wish to perfect the basics.

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Continuing Aerial Dance on Trapeze
Seven Sundays – January 11-February 22, 2009
1:30-3:00 p.m.*
AND Student Showing Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
(*except January 11, 2009, 12-3 p.m.)
$150 tuition; limit 12 students
Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, West Seattle

In this class students will learn aerial dance choreography on trapeze, to be performed at a student showing on Saturday, February 28th at 7:30 p.m. In addition, improvisational and choreographed movement on the floor will be incorporated into the performance.

To qualify for participation in this class, students must be commit to all seven classes and the showing; no exceptions. Students must also have at least 6 months of aerial dance experience, mastery of basic trapeze vocabulary taught in Charly’s classes, and the strength and ability to get up onto the trapeze reliably and safely and move through vocabulary on a swinging, spinning trapeze. Students should also be very comfortable exploring improvisational movement and dance.

Please note, the showing on February 28, 2009 will include a performance by aerial fabric students from Esther’s intermediate-level class. If you are also a student of Esther’s, please consider whether you have the stamina and strength to perform in more than one piece before enrolling in this class.

Contact the instructor at charly@cabiri.org if you are interested in enrolling and can commit to all class dates and the showing.

As always, contact Charly, the instructor at charly@cabiri.org or 206.321.3393 if you have any questions or wish to observe a class before enrolling. Unless an emergency arises, tuition for all aerial dance classes is non-refundable. Due to limited class sizes and room rental expense, makeup classes are not available.

Charly also offers private lessons at beginner to intermediate level on trapeze (static or low-flying), sling, or hoop.

Duo Madrona (Rachel Nehmer and Ben Wendel) will be performing with Teatro Zinzanni beginning in Feb but until then they are continuing their highly sought-after classes at The Cathedral and have added two workshops in Jan.   They can be reached at duomadrona@gmail.com or 206-920-2137.

Classes:

Aerial Conditioning with Ben
Tuesday nights 7-8, Jan 6 - Feb 3 drop-ins welcome
$15/person, $60 / 5 class punch-card

This kick-ass class has been a hit!  We will work on increasing upper-body and core strength and power, as well as active flexibility and body alignment.  Soreness, fun and results all guaranteed!

Trapeze Intensive with Rachel and Ben
Saturdays 1:30-3, January 10- Feb 7th.

5 classes for $100 or $25 drop-in

This mixed-level class aims to drill fundamental trapeze technique as well as increase vocabulary and movement quality. The focus will be mostly on mastering a series of choreographed sequences. Partner work will also be introduced.

Workshops:

Partner Trapeze Intensive
Sunday January 11th 1-4 pm
Sunday January 25th 1-4 pm
$50 per workshop or $75 if you would like to take both sessions.

Trapeze experience required, come solo or with a partner.

Aerial Hoop Workshop with Rachel
Wednesday January 14th 730-9, $25
If there a lot of interest Rachel will schedule more sessions
 

Esther Edelman of the UMO Ensemble will continue her fabric aerial classes this Fall, to be held in the gorgeous Movement Studio at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Wy SW.  Esther has over 20 years of choreographing, directing and performance experience that spans international stages and events. She is an Artistic Director and Co-founder of the groundbreaking UMO Ensemble.

Aerial Fabric, Tuesday evenings, Jan 6th-Feb 24th; Student Showing Feb 28th, 2009 @ 7:30pm

Beginner Class, 6:10p-7:30p:  This is an introductory class for students new to fabric as well as a continuing class for the average beginner. We will learn basic climbs, locks, and drops at a slower pace while building strength and exploring the apparatus. This class includes a warm-up and some strength training.
 

Intermediate/Advanced Class, 7:30-8:55pm: This class will be focusing on more advanced technical and performance skills. We will also be creating new work for the student showing consisting of solo, duets and group pieces. **To qualify for participation in this class, students must commit to all eight classes and the showing; no exceptions. There is room for a few more participants but you must call Esther to see if you qualify.
 

These classes are suitable for those in good physical condition with no current injuries. A basic level of fitness and hand/arm strength is strongly recommended.  Cost for 8 sessions is $176. (note: sliding scale is available)

To register for the entire 8-week session and hold your space in the class, please send your $176 payment to Esther Edelman, PO Box 1334, Vashon, WA 98070. Please be sure to specify whether you are registering for beginner or intermediate level. Drop-ins by instructor permission only.  All students, please contact Esther at (206) 463-6765 or esther@silkaerial.com when registering to discuss your background and experience level before classes begin.

Private lessons on fabric are also available.  Please see Esther's web site for details.

Lara Paxton of Circus Contraption teaches out of the circus space in the the Theo Chocolate factory in Fremont, 3400 Phinney avenue N. Email her at traptease@gmail.com for more information about group classes and private lessons.  Her current offerings:

Intro to Aerial: Two sessions!  Wednesdays 7-9 pm beginning October 8 Or Saturdays 11-1 beginning October 4.
    Cost:  $230, includes workbook

This is a six-week course, meeting weekly for two hours.  We work for two weeks on static trapeze, two weeks on rope, a week on hoop and fabric, and the final week is a mixed.  We cover essentials on safety, injury-prevention, basic vocabulary of moves, form, strength- and flexibility-building and aerial community "etiquette."  We also touch on anatomy of the rotator cuff (very important to protect when doing aerial), building confidence and artistry as a performer, and essential musical knowledge for building an act.  You will leave with a great work-out for the studio, one for home and a basic arm-massage sequence you can trade with your aerial friends!  Plus,you will also get of the first version of my aerial student workbook. 

Mixed Aerial: Mondays 7-9-ish, $30/class
  Old-timers, this is the return of the Monday drop-in class!  You may use your ancient punch cards through the new year.  Otherwise, class price is $30, and there will be new-and-improved punch-cards coming soon.


Private Instruction
 I schedule private sessions individually.  For beginners, it's best to split an hour with a friend at a comparable level.  For intermediate/advanced students, especially those working on act development, it is best to work one-on-one with me.  The cost is $60 per hour.
 

Mason Bendixen offers a weekly aerial class as well as several rehearsal periods at the Kirkland Dance Center, 835 7th Avenue, Kirkland.

Aerial Rope and Fabric, Wednesdays 8pm-9pm.  Cost is $12 drop-in or as low as $8 with prepaid punch card.

Rehearsal times are offered on Tues, Fri, and Sat from 8-9 a.m. for $3.

More information is available on his web site.

SANCA (the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts) offers several adult aerial classes with excellent instructors. Email info@sancaseattle.org or call 206-652-4433 to register for classes.  Note that this listing only includes adult classes; SANCA also offers a wide range of children's classes, which you can learn about from their web site.

Adult Aerial, Mondays 7-9 pm.  Taught by Ben Wendel and Rachel Nehmer.  Work on the trapeze, hoop & rope to develop the strength & flexibility necessary for all types of aerial apparatus.  $200 for the session.

Adult Aerial, Tuesdays 7-9 pm.  Taught by Jeff Deveaux and Jonathan Rose.  Work on the trapeze & rope to develop the strength & flexibility necessary for all types of aerial apparatus.  $200 for the session.

Adult Aerial 2, Thursdays 7-9 pm.  Taught by Ben Wendel and Rachel Nehmer.  More advanced work on the trapeze, hoop & rope.  No drop-ins.  $200 for the session.

Adult Aerial Rope, Wednesdays 7-9 pm.  Taught by Jon McClintock.  Work on the rope and tissu developing strength, flexibility and body awareness.  $200 for the session.

Kari Podgorski also offers private lessons on all apparatus.

Ben and Rachel, also known as Duo Madrona, offer private lessons in solo and partner trapeze and rope as well as aerial conditioning and technique. 

Jon, aka Dyno the Aerialist, offers private lessons on rope and fabric.

Seattle Aerial Arts, run by Simonne Garrigues and Bruce Magnotti, offers basic strength and agility training using the aerial equipment. This is for people who want to start aerial arts classes but feel they need some strength and basics first. It also is for people who want an alternative to the boring gym scenario.  Simonne Garrigues has been a personal fitness trainer and dance instructor in Seattle for 15 years.

Seattle Aerial Arts has group training times as well as focused private lessons available.

Their studio is located above Alki Beach, and is equipped with 2 ropes, tissu, trapeze, and 2 hoops (lyra). Email them or see their web site for more information.

Tamara the Trapeze Lady  offers private and small group lessons in aerial dance at the Versatile Arts Aerial Space (aka The Cathedral)!!   These sessions are designed for anyone interested in dance-based aerial explorations as well as experienced aerialists seeking to enhance the "illusion of effortlessness" and the art of finessing the seemingly simple tasks of "getting on" and "getting off" any apparatus in style, and presenting an air of composure while aloft!

Contact Tamara at tamara@trapezelady.com  to schedule a lesson!

 

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This site was last updated 01/05/09