Aerial silk
Aerial Silks (akso known as tissue, and Fabrics) is a circus art where a performer or performers hang and perform acrobatics while suspended by special aerial silks.
Rigging
While there are many variations, the basic order for rigging aerial silks is:
Mount point
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Carabiner
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Span Set (Optional)
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Carabiner (Optional, used with Span Set)
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Swivel
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Carabiner
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Rescue 8, Fabric Bell or other aerial hanger
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Aerial Silks / Fabrics
Selecting Fabrics
When choosing fabrics for this act, their are a number of issues one must take into account.
- Stretch
- Low stretch fabrics. Low stretch fabrics are easier to climb than medium stretch fabrics, but they are not as soft for big drops.
- Medium stretch fabrics. Medium stretch fabrics are nice for drops, but are a little harder for beginners to climb
- Width. Above 75 inches, width is mostly a personal choice.
- 60" - Recomended for children only. Not recomended for teens and adults
- 75”
- 90”
- 108”
- Length
- For beginners, you want the fabric to come down past the ground, allowing them to practice wraps at a lower level where they can be spoted
- For intermediate users and above, you want the fabrics to come down to the ground
Refrences
- Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual (ISBN: 0881001368) Google link for this book
External Links
- Suppliers of Aerial Silks
- [www.nimblearts.org Nimble Arts] (sells fabrics and related rigging)
- Custom Built Equipment] (sells fabrics and related rigging)
- Unicycle Voltige (sells a fabric bell and related rigging)
- Silks Performers