I've been noticing an increase in aerial silk, aerial sling, aerial yoga hammocks / antigravity hammocks sales online lately and I have been looking through them individually to compare quality and price. If any of you are pole artists you probably remember when someone duplicated the xpole and made a fraudulent item posing as the real thing that wasn't safe, same with silks. Some sellers are not using the right kind of material that is strong enough for your safety.
It is good to ask the seller many questions, here are some questions you can ask them and yourself before purchasing aerial fabric.
The majority of the ads don't tell you what type of fabric it is other than "chiffon" which can be any synthetic material which means the tensile strength is unknown, and they don't mention the denier, etc.
When buying aerial silks the width and length are extremely important.
You want them to be long(tall) enough for what you are doing, and the width is important because it affects the tensile strength of the fabric. The shortest amount of fabric I recommend is no shorter than 10yards because 10yards can reach a 12ft-16ft ceiling, so you can practice but I don't recommend doing drops on that short of silks unless you know what you are doing.
As far as length goes you have to double the height of your ceiling because you are pretty much taking a long length of fabric and folding it in half at the ceiling so both strands reach the ground so example if you have a 12ft ceiling you need at least 24ft (8yards) of silks (though I recommend a little extra like the 10yds just because attaching silks to equipment such as rescue 8 etc takes extra of the length) and if your silks barely touch the ground from the ceiling you are not going to have any beautiful tails to play with to create that dramatic performance, you'll have little short nubs under your footlocks instead of gorgeous fabric fanning the audience.
A 60 inches width is generally recommended for children
Minimum of 75inches up to 110inches is recommended for teens and adults.
I'm seeing silks being sold on ebay and other sites for only 64inches wide and only 8yards.
I am also seeing on online silks rigged to rings which have no info of what kind of rings they are or what the weight limit on them. You can buy similar rings at home depot that say right on the package "NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN WEIGHT" make sure if you get a set with a ring that it is an authentic steel O ring from a reputable climbing company example: pretzel, etc.
Yes the price is cheaper on some of these fabrics but at what cost? Do you really want to save money if it means putting your life in jeopardy?
We sell safe aerial fabric at http://www.aerialempowerment.com
Friday, October 22, 2010
How to assemble aerial silk to a rescue 8
This video demonstrates one of the easiest and effective ways to rig aerial silks to a rescue 8 so that if you ever need to wash them etc, you can put them back together safely.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
How to Rig Aerial Apparatuses from Trees
This is not a recommended method of rigging according to professionals because of the potential danger from not knowing how strong the tree is, etc. Aerial Empowerment is not liable if you attempt to rig from trees.
I personally rig my apparatuses (Aerial Silks, Hoop, Trapeze, Hammock, etc) from trees.
AllI use is:
*Climbing/Arborist Rope: A minimum of 60ft or longer, high tensile strength rope (Rock climbing rope, I personally am using an arborist rope which I prefer for trees because they have a tough outside layer that is abrasion resistant which is ideal for trees).
*Smaller rope: tied to one end of the thicker rope, this one should be lighter weight to throw over the branch, trust me, you're not going to want to throw over just the thicker rope unless you don't have to throw very high.
*Heavy Object- attached to smaller rope to throw over the branch. Should be heavy enough that it will come back down to the ground on the other side of the branch so that you can grab it and pull the rope over. You can use scrap metal, horse shoe (though I don't personally recommend incase it gets stuck on a branch.) You can use rocks, one of my students used her shoe, etc just get creative but beware whatever you throw can potentially get stuck in the tree.
I had a video but I had quite a few professional riggers get very upset about my method so I took it down. It is not the safest method to rig according to them, but I personally have been doing it for over 3 years and have not had any problem, failures, or have harmed any trees in the process they are all still growing and blossoming every year. Note that if you leave a tree tied up over time it could kill the tree so NEVER leave the tree rigged when not in use.
I personally rig my apparatuses (Aerial Silks, Hoop, Trapeze, Hammock, etc) from trees.
AllI use is:
*Climbing/Arborist Rope: A minimum of 60ft or longer, high tensile strength rope (Rock climbing rope, I personally am using an arborist rope which I prefer for trees because they have a tough outside layer that is abrasion resistant which is ideal for trees).
*Smaller rope: tied to one end of the thicker rope, this one should be lighter weight to throw over the branch, trust me, you're not going to want to throw over just the thicker rope unless you don't have to throw very high.
*Heavy Object- attached to smaller rope to throw over the branch. Should be heavy enough that it will come back down to the ground on the other side of the branch so that you can grab it and pull the rope over. You can use scrap metal, horse shoe (though I don't personally recommend incase it gets stuck on a branch.) You can use rocks, one of my students used her shoe, etc just get creative but beware whatever you throw can potentially get stuck in the tree.
I had a video but I had quite a few professional riggers get very upset about my method so I took it down. It is not the safest method to rig according to them, but I personally have been doing it for over 3 years and have not had any problem, failures, or have harmed any trees in the process they are all still growing and blossoming every year. Note that if you leave a tree tied up over time it could kill the tree so NEVER leave the tree rigged when not in use.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Rafaela Montanaro
One of my new favorite pole dancers that I have come across recently won 3rd place in the World Pole Competition Championship in Zurich. I found her youtube probably about 4 months ago and I was very impressed (which is not easily accomplished anymore since I've been watching pole videos on youtube for going 4 years now)
I wrote her my compliments and asked her how long she had been a poler which she responded only one year. ONE YEAR? I've been doing pole for 4 years and she was already caught up to my level and beyond. That made me curious so I looked into her background and found that Rafaela was a hand balancer or equilibrist and aerialist prior to picking up the pole. That definitely demonstrates how much strength is involved in the art of hand balancing.
Rafaela as a hand balancer
and Rafaela's winning routine in the World Pole Championship
If you would like to buy a handbalancing board or aerial silk set, I sell them on my website http://www.aerialempowerment.com
I wrote her my compliments and asked her how long she had been a poler which she responded only one year. ONE YEAR? I've been doing pole for 4 years and she was already caught up to my level and beyond. That made me curious so I looked into her background and found that Rafaela was a hand balancer or equilibrist and aerialist prior to picking up the pole. That definitely demonstrates how much strength is involved in the art of hand balancing.
Rafaela as a hand balancer
and Rafaela's winning routine in the World Pole Championship
If you would like to buy a handbalancing board or aerial silk set, I sell them on my website http://www.aerialempowerment.com
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
You know you're a pole dancer when....
- you are proud of your bruises.
- you can't find shorts that are short enough.
- you spend more time watching women pole dance than the man in your life.
- you hear a song and immediately rate it for pole compatability.
- you have spent any amount of time trying to convince someone that pole dancing is different than stripping.
- you find that your closet is slowly (or quickly) filling up with plastic shoes with 6 inch heels and plastic boots that range in height from ankle to thigh-high and previously, the highest heel you ever wore were 1 inch sturdy shoes.
- you've cleared everything you possibly can out of your family room to make space for your pole.
- your husband gets a huge grin on his face when you say you're going to work out.
- you walk past your husband in platform heeled black boots a bra and teeny shorts and he glances at you and then goes back to whatever he was doing.
- you're looking at every stop sign, lamp post, children's playground thinking, "I wonder if I can do a invert on that?"
- your kids are so familiar with pole moves from watching you watch YouTube obsessively that they can critique you pretty well when you're practicing. "Mommy, you should keep your back straighter when you do that!"
- you have to schedule life events (weddings, balls) around poling so you won't be bruised in pictures.
- you get ceiling height envy.
- you took the furniture out of the guest room to make a pole room and your company has to sleep on the couch.
- you assess the weather each day wondering how it will affect your grip more than to see what you should wear.
- you have to explain to other people, especially doctors and anyone that sees you unclothed, why you are bruised so bad.
- people have thought you were abused from all your bruises.
- you're asked "what's new?" and the first thing that goes through your head is the move you nailed the other day.
- you start a detailed description of your last practice with non-polers, easily forgetting that they don't know what you're talking about when you say "inverting", etc.
- you get the biggest grin whenever people ask you if you work out.
- you won't buy certain shoes because you're afraid the buckles or whatever may scratch your pole.
- your husband/boyfriend doesn't bat an eye when he walks in the room and you're hanging upside down.
- you get strange looks from people when you're going through the store shopping for work-out clothes saying things like "no there won't be enough skin showing if I get that one!"
- you have a huge bookmarks/favorites list in your web browser for pole dancing.
- you dream about pole dancing and/or pole in your sleep.
- you can dance in those 6-inch clear heels, but can't walk across the room in them.
- "Peek-a-boo" is a bad word... won't even say it to a baby.
- you have to think long and hard about how to respond to the question "So, what do you do for fun?"
- you've answered the door in your pole workout clothes and made whoever was there blush.
- you know exactly, to the second, how long it takes for you to take down your pole when company is on their way over.
- your child's behavior on the fireman pole on the playground has been the reason for several parent-teacher conferences.
- your day-time shoes are falling apart but you find yourself passing up buying "real" shoes because you would rather spend your money on hot red stilettos.
- you judge every house by its flooring and ceiling height.
- your pole gets wiped clean more often than your coffee table.
- you rate couch cushions for their cushioning ability under your pole.
- you go to your hairdresser and ask to cut your hair in a way that it may floooow when you turn your head (and even demonstrate).
- you walk into a club and instantly start wondering weather their poles are steel or chrome, spinny or static.
- you stopped using lotion because it makes you too darn silky smooth - you have tricks to do!
- you just can't find mirrors big enough.
- someone asks if your heels are stripper shoes and you say "No! Those are my workout shoes!"
- you have ever replaced carpet with a hardwood floor so you could be more stable in your heels.
- you are willing to loose you security deposit on your apartment in order to keep your crappy pole up (Peek-a-boo, Flirty Girl, etc.) despite the damage it's doing to your floors and ceiling while you're waiting for a good one to be delivered, just so you can keep poling.
- you intend to go clothes shopping for work or personal and end up searching for that perfect top or shorts to pole dance in instead of regular clothes.
- you can't find shorts that are short enough.
- you spend more time watching women pole dance than the man in your life.
- you hear a song and immediately rate it for pole compatability.
- you have spent any amount of time trying to convince someone that pole dancing is different than stripping.
- you find that your closet is slowly (or quickly) filling up with plastic shoes with 6 inch heels and plastic boots that range in height from ankle to thigh-high and previously, the highest heel you ever wore were 1 inch sturdy shoes.
- you've cleared everything you possibly can out of your family room to make space for your pole.
- your husband gets a huge grin on his face when you say you're going to work out.
- you walk past your husband in platform heeled black boots a bra and teeny shorts and he glances at you and then goes back to whatever he was doing.
- you're looking at every stop sign, lamp post, children's playground thinking, "I wonder if I can do a invert on that?"
- your kids are so familiar with pole moves from watching you watch YouTube obsessively that they can critique you pretty well when you're practicing. "Mommy, you should keep your back straighter when you do that!"
- you have to schedule life events (weddings, balls) around poling so you won't be bruised in pictures.
- you get ceiling height envy.
- you took the furniture out of the guest room to make a pole room and your company has to sleep on the couch.
- you assess the weather each day wondering how it will affect your grip more than to see what you should wear.
- you have to explain to other people, especially doctors and anyone that sees you unclothed, why you are bruised so bad.
- people have thought you were abused from all your bruises.
- you're asked "what's new?" and the first thing that goes through your head is the move you nailed the other day.
- you start a detailed description of your last practice with non-polers, easily forgetting that they don't know what you're talking about when you say "inverting", etc.
- you get the biggest grin whenever people ask you if you work out.
- you won't buy certain shoes because you're afraid the buckles or whatever may scratch your pole.
- your husband/boyfriend doesn't bat an eye when he walks in the room and you're hanging upside down.
- you get strange looks from people when you're going through the store shopping for work-out clothes saying things like "no there won't be enough skin showing if I get that one!"
- you have a huge bookmarks/favorites list in your web browser for pole dancing.
- you dream about pole dancing and/or pole in your sleep.
- you can dance in those 6-inch clear heels, but can't walk across the room in them.
- "Peek-a-boo" is a bad word... won't even say it to a baby.
- you have to think long and hard about how to respond to the question "So, what do you do for fun?"
- you've answered the door in your pole workout clothes and made whoever was there blush.
- you know exactly, to the second, how long it takes for you to take down your pole when company is on their way over.
- your child's behavior on the fireman pole on the playground has been the reason for several parent-teacher conferences.
- your day-time shoes are falling apart but you find yourself passing up buying "real" shoes because you would rather spend your money on hot red stilettos.
- you judge every house by its flooring and ceiling height.
- your pole gets wiped clean more often than your coffee table.
- you rate couch cushions for their cushioning ability under your pole.
- you go to your hairdresser and ask to cut your hair in a way that it may floooow when you turn your head (and even demonstrate).
- you walk into a club and instantly start wondering weather their poles are steel or chrome, spinny or static.
- you stopped using lotion because it makes you too darn silky smooth - you have tricks to do!
- you just can't find mirrors big enough.
- someone asks if your heels are stripper shoes and you say "No! Those are my workout shoes!"
- you have ever replaced carpet with a hardwood floor so you could be more stable in your heels.
- you are willing to loose you security deposit on your apartment in order to keep your crappy pole up (Peek-a-boo, Flirty Girl, etc.) despite the damage it's doing to your floors and ceiling while you're waiting for a good one to be delivered, just so you can keep poling.
- you intend to go clothes shopping for work or personal and end up searching for that perfect top or shorts to pole dance in instead of regular clothes.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Testing Aerial Silks on the Machine that Breaks Things
Phil Servita is an amazing aerialist and inspiration. He recently conducted some tests on fabrics. See the results here:
http://flyingsquirrelconsortium.com/ptest2007/index.html
He also created the silks wiki.
http://www.antepenultimate.org/mediawiki/index.php/Glossary
Enjoy and happy flying ;-)
http://flyingsquirrelconsortium.com/ptest2007/index.html
He also created the silks wiki.
http://www.antepenultimate.org/mediawiki/index.php/Glossary
Enjoy and happy flying ;-)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Handbalancing Boards for Sale
Coming soon to Aerial Empowerment, hand balancing boards. These are great boards, wide for added balance, long and short extensions for beginner as you work your way to advanced. I love hand balancing. It is a lot of hard work but it certainly pays off. Hand stands are pretty difficult but the more you work them the easier they become. Cost will be $249 Plus Shipping and handling. If you are around Salt Lake City, Utah then you do not have to pay shipping costs as you can pick up directly.
Here are some amazing articles by Christopher Logan
http://www.lostartofhandbalancing.com/articles/
and a video :-)
Here are some amazing articles by Christopher Logan
http://www.lostartofhandbalancing.com/articles/
and a video :-)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Aerial Empowerment Grip Enhancer for Silks/Poles/Lyra/Trapeze
Now up and available on the website http://www.aerialempowerment.com
24oz spray bottle for $19.99
This is the most amazing grip enhancer I have come across. I created this spray for use on silks but I got the notion to try it on the pole one day and it works wonders. Doesn't matter if you have sweaty hands, or dry hands, whatever your skin type this spray is guaranteed to aid gripping the pole (or silks or bare lyra/trapeze) better than you ever have before. It not only helps grip but it also cleans the pole as well.
Directions:
Pole, (bare trapeze and lyra): Spray solution on a clean rag and wipe down the pole. Wait a few seconds to dry.
Silks: mist solution onto silks all the way down.
Not intended for consumption, if swallowed please contact poison control. Do not spray in eyes, if this solution gets in your eyes flush out with cool water. If skin rash occurs then stop use of spray, it could be an indication of an allergy.
24oz spray bottle for $19.99
This is the most amazing grip enhancer I have come across. I created this spray for use on silks but I got the notion to try it on the pole one day and it works wonders. Doesn't matter if you have sweaty hands, or dry hands, whatever your skin type this spray is guaranteed to aid gripping the pole (or silks or bare lyra/trapeze) better than you ever have before. It not only helps grip but it also cleans the pole as well.
Directions:
Pole, (bare trapeze and lyra): Spray solution on a clean rag and wipe down the pole. Wait a few seconds to dry.
Silks: mist solution onto silks all the way down.
Not intended for consumption, if swallowed please contact poison control. Do not spray in eyes, if this solution gets in your eyes flush out with cool water. If skin rash occurs then stop use of spray, it could be an indication of an allergy.
Richard MacDonald amazing Cirque du Soleil Sculpting Artist
I went to Vegas not too long ago and wandered the Vegas strip, I stumbled across an art gallery near the O theater in the Bellagio. He has some amazing artwork unlike any I have ever seen before. I was reverent and at peace in that art gallery gazing at frozen statues of time. If you have not heard of Richard MacDonald, I recommend you look up his art at www.theartofrichardmacdonald.com
http://www.aerialempowerment.com
http://www.aerialempowerment.com
Friday, September 24, 2010
Aerial Hammock / Antigravity Yoga Silk Suspension Training
Aerial Empowerment now sells Aerial Hammocks! These are very effective for full body suspension training as well as stretching and improving flexibility. They come with 6.25 yards of low stretch tricot fabric, any color of your choosing, height adjustable straps and one carabiner (unless double point is requested then 2 carabiners). There is a large variety of exercises that can be done on a hammock. Video soon to come.
buy your hammock today at
buy your hammock today at
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Practice Falling Correctly
Any sport can be dangerous, especially when proper techniques are not taught. Remember teachers to teach your students to tuck their head forward toward the chest if they ever fall. If I didn't tuck my head when I fell for the first time (and hopefully the last time) during silk training when I wrapped improperly for a drop, then I probably would have been paralyzed as well. Also it is good to ALWAYS train with a mat! Don't allow yourself to get the attitude that you'll never fall because you just never know. You could be the most skilled aerialist out there but if something is not rigged right, or something breaks, you'll appreciate that mat a whole lot.
Its amazing how something so small can make such a difference. Tuck and roll on your shoulders
I strongly suggest that you practice falling correctly incase you ever need it. Do it on a mat and don't be too high up when you practice. Exhale when you land as well, holding your breath can cause you to get the wind knocked out of you.
You will usually fall in one of three directions. The least injury is caused when falling on your side. It reduces the impact placed on your limbs, including your neck. This is the best way to fall safely. If you find yourself unbalanced and falling to either side tuck your chin to your chest. Then bend your arm to your chest. As you continue to fall let your bottom leg straighten. Keep your top leg bent to reduce impact. Keep your chin tucked to your chest at all times. Just before you reach the ground straighten the tucked arm level to your body. This position will cause the least impact on your body. Practice this a few times daily until you feel you are doing it correctly.
The next direction we fall in is forwards. You may injure your neck or face if you do not know how to fall properly. The first thing to do is tuck your chin to the bottom of your neck. Hold this throughout the fall.
Then place both arms up at a ninety degree angle. They will absorb any impact that would injure your face. Then fall straight forward onto your torso. You may bend your knees but only slightly. You do not want any joint to absorb impact. Keep in mind if you fall on ice you may still suffer minor cuts and trauma. These falls should be practiced on a soft surface.
The last way to fall is straight onto your back. The most important thing is to always keep your chin tucked to your chest. The neck is one of the easiest injured body parts. It only takes ten pounds of force to cause fracture. You will also want to bend both arms onto your chest. Bend your knees if possible and let yourself fall back. At the point of impact let you arms loose to the side but even with your body.
Remember the key to success is practice. You will not be able to react properly without training your body for these situations. Never use an arm to prevent your fall. Always keep your chin tucked to your chest. In closing, do not be afraid of practicing these techniques. Falling is generally safe if done with the proper knowledge.
Article about a paralysed pole dancer
Aerialist falling accident
Its amazing how something so small can make such a difference. Tuck and roll on your shoulders
I strongly suggest that you practice falling correctly incase you ever need it. Do it on a mat and don't be too high up when you practice. Exhale when you land as well, holding your breath can cause you to get the wind knocked out of you.
You will usually fall in one of three directions. The least injury is caused when falling on your side. It reduces the impact placed on your limbs, including your neck. This is the best way to fall safely. If you find yourself unbalanced and falling to either side tuck your chin to your chest. Then bend your arm to your chest. As you continue to fall let your bottom leg straighten. Keep your top leg bent to reduce impact. Keep your chin tucked to your chest at all times. Just before you reach the ground straighten the tucked arm level to your body. This position will cause the least impact on your body. Practice this a few times daily until you feel you are doing it correctly.
The next direction we fall in is forwards. You may injure your neck or face if you do not know how to fall properly. The first thing to do is tuck your chin to the bottom of your neck. Hold this throughout the fall.
Then place both arms up at a ninety degree angle. They will absorb any impact that would injure your face. Then fall straight forward onto your torso. You may bend your knees but only slightly. You do not want any joint to absorb impact. Keep in mind if you fall on ice you may still suffer minor cuts and trauma. These falls should be practiced on a soft surface.
The last way to fall is straight onto your back. The most important thing is to always keep your chin tucked to your chest. The neck is one of the easiest injured body parts. It only takes ten pounds of force to cause fracture. You will also want to bend both arms onto your chest. Bend your knees if possible and let yourself fall back. At the point of impact let you arms loose to the side but even with your body.
Remember the key to success is practice. You will not be able to react properly without training your body for these situations. Never use an arm to prevent your fall. Always keep your chin tucked to your chest. In closing, do not be afraid of practicing these techniques. Falling is generally safe if done with the proper knowledge.
Article about a paralysed pole dancer
Aerialist falling accident
Aerial Silks
I love aerial silk dancing, I remember when I saw my first aerialist in 2007 at the bite show in Vegas at the stratosphere and decided I absolutely had to try it. Here is a the video of that aerialist, the woman who inspired me to learn this incredible but complex artform.
Already being an experienced aerial pole artist, I wondered how different could it really be? Well I found silks to definitely kick my butt in more ways than I could imagine. I remember coming home and trying to research it. I typed in all sorts of things into the search engine to attempt to find it. I think I typed in things like ribbon dancing, air ribbon dancing, scarf acrobatics, material gymnastics, etc. Finally found it after all sorts of searching. It comes up under a few names; Aerial silk, Aerial Fabric, Aerial Tissue, Contortion in Silk, Ballet in silk, antigravity yoga, suspended dance, etc.
There are 2 main types of fabric used for aerial silk dancing. Those are Polyester Interlock and Tricot (Chiffon)
Tricot is a low stretch fabric which makes it easier to climb and Polyester interlock is a high stretch fabric which is a little more difficult to climb but it does cushion during drops, though you want to be careful you don't stretch as far down as the ground. It is recommended to get silks that are between 75' to 110' wide for adults but for children you can use 60' wide fabric.
Please be aware that there are two main types of polyester, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PCDT (or poly-1, 4-cyclohexylene-dimethylene terephthalate). Please not that PET is stronger than PCDT, though PCDT is more stretchy than PET is. Its good to note the type of yarn (filament, spun, or blended) as well as the size of yarn (denier). The higher the denier, the thicker the yarn as well as strong. For spun poly, 35 denier and above is strong enough for use in aerial fabrics.
We at Aerial Empowerment carry 110' wide low stretch tricot it is the most perfect type of fabric I have personally found and performed on for aerials, its a low/medium stretch, its easy to climb, it cushions well during drops but doesn't stretch you beyond a safe distance and it is incredibly sturdy. It also has a tensile strength of approximately 3000lbs. I know someone who out of pure science decided to tow a truck using our fabric and it didn't break! I don't know about you but that makes me feel pretty safe.
Our Aerial Fabric comes in the colors: Aqua, Black, Brown, Cloud, Pink, Yellow, Lilac, Lime Green, Baby blue, Mint, Royal Blue, Purple, Crimson Red, Forest Green, Turquoise, White, and Dark Red.
Here is one of my favorite silk performances on youtube.
Already being an experienced aerial pole artist, I wondered how different could it really be? Well I found silks to definitely kick my butt in more ways than I could imagine. I remember coming home and trying to research it. I typed in all sorts of things into the search engine to attempt to find it. I think I typed in things like ribbon dancing, air ribbon dancing, scarf acrobatics, material gymnastics, etc. Finally found it after all sorts of searching. It comes up under a few names; Aerial silk, Aerial Fabric, Aerial Tissue, Contortion in Silk, Ballet in silk, antigravity yoga, suspended dance, etc.
There are 2 main types of fabric used for aerial silk dancing. Those are Polyester Interlock and Tricot (Chiffon)
Tricot is a low stretch fabric which makes it easier to climb and Polyester interlock is a high stretch fabric which is a little more difficult to climb but it does cushion during drops, though you want to be careful you don't stretch as far down as the ground. It is recommended to get silks that are between 75' to 110' wide for adults but for children you can use 60' wide fabric.
Please be aware that there are two main types of polyester, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PCDT (or poly-1, 4-cyclohexylene-dimethylene terephthalate). Please not that PET is stronger than PCDT, though PCDT is more stretchy than PET is. Its good to note the type of yarn (filament, spun, or blended) as well as the size of yarn (denier). The higher the denier, the thicker the yarn as well as strong. For spun poly, 35 denier and above is strong enough for use in aerial fabrics.
We at Aerial Empowerment carry 110' wide low stretch tricot it is the most perfect type of fabric I have personally found and performed on for aerials, its a low/medium stretch, its easy to climb, it cushions well during drops but doesn't stretch you beyond a safe distance and it is incredibly sturdy. It also has a tensile strength of approximately 3000lbs. I know someone who out of pure science decided to tow a truck using our fabric and it didn't break! I don't know about you but that makes me feel pretty safe.
Our Aerial Fabric comes in the colors: Aqua, Black, Brown, Cloud, Pink, Yellow, Lilac, Lime Green, Baby blue, Mint, Royal Blue, Purple, Crimson Red, Forest Green, Turquoise, White, and Dark Red.
Here is one of my favorite silk performances on youtube.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Get a Grip!
I have a lot of my students and fellow pole/aerial artists always ask me, "How can I improve my grip? Will it ever get easier??" The answer to the last question is definitely yes. Now while I can list off numerous exercises to strengthen grip and whatnot, the best exercise is to just keep doing what you're working on. The biggest problem is when you first start any aerial activity and are not conditioned for it, your body is going to take time to adjust.
Your hands are very soft when you first begin. You probably aren't accustomed to lifting your own body weight and relying solely on your grip. So the skin on your hands is smooth and untextured. The more you climb and work out on your apparatuses the more your hands will callous and harden giving them texture as well as work the small muscles in your hands and fingers. A lot of women worry that this texture will be unattractive and that they will have "man hands"
yes I guess to an extent you will have tough hands but I personally am not ashamed of mine because these hands contain immense strength and dexterity that has taken years to acquire which I find very empowering, but you can easily shave your callouses with a razor or take a pommus stone to them and that'll reduce the excess callous skin without affecting your grip. Another tip is do not wear lotion right before you do aerials/pole. That will make grip nearly impossible. If you have lotion on you can strip it off with dish soap.
You can also use the help of grip aids. There are numerous grip aids, mighty grip, dry hands, dew point, rosin, chalk, rubbing alcohol (which I recommend to clean your pole with personally), you can use clear solid antiperspirant deodorant on your body which also sticks to the pole.
I personally do not like to use grip aids unless I absolutely have to. If you use them all the time you'll find you will have a difficult time going without them, you start to rely on them at all times. If you really have a hard time gripping and want to work your muscles anyway you can use the aid of leather or rubber gloves. I have found that by using gloves once in a while, once you have the strength and the moves figured out it is easier to do them without the gloves.
For those of you who are interested, I do make a special grip spray that is VERY effective on the pole and silks and really any apparatus. I will be selling it on my site in the future but for inqueries you can write me on here or at aerialempowerment@gmail.com
Your hands are very soft when you first begin. You probably aren't accustomed to lifting your own body weight and relying solely on your grip. So the skin on your hands is smooth and untextured. The more you climb and work out on your apparatuses the more your hands will callous and harden giving them texture as well as work the small muscles in your hands and fingers. A lot of women worry that this texture will be unattractive and that they will have "man hands"
yes I guess to an extent you will have tough hands but I personally am not ashamed of mine because these hands contain immense strength and dexterity that has taken years to acquire which I find very empowering, but you can easily shave your callouses with a razor or take a pommus stone to them and that'll reduce the excess callous skin without affecting your grip. Another tip is do not wear lotion right before you do aerials/pole. That will make grip nearly impossible. If you have lotion on you can strip it off with dish soap.
You can also use the help of grip aids. There are numerous grip aids, mighty grip, dry hands, dew point, rosin, chalk, rubbing alcohol (which I recommend to clean your pole with personally), you can use clear solid antiperspirant deodorant on your body which also sticks to the pole.
I personally do not like to use grip aids unless I absolutely have to. If you use them all the time you'll find you will have a difficult time going without them, you start to rely on them at all times. If you really have a hard time gripping and want to work your muscles anyway you can use the aid of leather or rubber gloves. I have found that by using gloves once in a while, once you have the strength and the moves figured out it is easier to do them without the gloves.
For those of you who are interested, I do make a special grip spray that is VERY effective on the pole and silks and really any apparatus. I will be selling it on my site in the future but for inqueries you can write me on here or at aerialempowerment@gmail.com
Monday, September 13, 2010
Evolution
The more I build aerial equipment the better my designs get. My first trapeze bar compared to the one I built tonight are like night and day. They have all been safe and none of my equipment has had any malfunctions or accidents. But my first trapeze bar was 2 inches thick which made it hard to grip as well as uncomfortable to hang by the knees because it felt unstable being that thick. So I did research and found trapeze bars are generally one inch diameter to a 3/4inch bar. I learned my skill of building trapeze bars by my circus ringleader and instigator from Oregon.
I am very excited about my new baby! Its still a 3ft long bar that is one inch in diameter but on this new bar I spaced the ropes a better distance apart so that they are not too wide which was my only real problem with shorter limbed people (like myself lol).
My trapeze bars have the option to have the bar polished steel, painted a color (a lot like playground equipment is power coated), or taped with a color of your choice (which the only downside to the athletic tape is that if you have rosin on your hands and sometimes even too much sweat, it reacts badly with the adhesive and makes the bar SUPER sticky).
All of these are still an option on your custom bars but the bar I built tonight I used a special grip tape that is AMAZING! I absolutely love love love it! I thought the lime green padding went well with the black, definitely makes it pop out. And I've used cotton rope which is still a tensile strength of 1200lbs per rope and I have 3 ropes braided which will hold approximately 3600lbs. I love the cotton rope because it stretches a little which ads a bungee sort of feeling and really cushions you on drops.
If you would like a trapeze bar they are $299
Let me know your customizations at aerialempowerment@gmail.com.com or just write all the info in the shipping instructions when you purchase it off of my website at http://www.aerialempowerment.com
My business and residence is located within Salt Lake City so If you are in Utah you can buy it from me and save by not paying shipping. I also sell Aerial Hoops (lyra) and Aerial Silks of all colors, and rock climbing gear which includes rescue 8's, swivels, carabiners, rope pulleys, crash mats, etc.
On the left is my old first trapeze bar and on the right is the newest one. See my other designs in the gallery tab on my website.
I am very excited about my new baby! Its still a 3ft long bar that is one inch in diameter but on this new bar I spaced the ropes a better distance apart so that they are not too wide which was my only real problem with shorter limbed people (like myself lol).
My trapeze bars have the option to have the bar polished steel, painted a color (a lot like playground equipment is power coated), or taped with a color of your choice (which the only downside to the athletic tape is that if you have rosin on your hands and sometimes even too much sweat, it reacts badly with the adhesive and makes the bar SUPER sticky).
All of these are still an option on your custom bars but the bar I built tonight I used a special grip tape that is AMAZING! I absolutely love love love it! I thought the lime green padding went well with the black, definitely makes it pop out. And I've used cotton rope which is still a tensile strength of 1200lbs per rope and I have 3 ropes braided which will hold approximately 3600lbs. I love the cotton rope because it stretches a little which ads a bungee sort of feeling and really cushions you on drops.
If you would like a trapeze bar they are $299
Let me know your customizations at aerialempowerment@gmail.com.com or just write all the info in the shipping instructions when you purchase it off of my website at http://www.aerialempowerment.com
My business and residence is located within Salt Lake City so If you are in Utah you can buy it from me and save by not paying shipping. I also sell Aerial Hoops (lyra) and Aerial Silks of all colors, and rock climbing gear which includes rescue 8's, swivels, carabiners, rope pulleys, crash mats, etc.
On the left is my old first trapeze bar and on the right is the newest one. See my other designs in the gallery tab on my website.
September 12, 2010 -- Rebecca Butcher Winner of East meets West Polarity Competition
I am so very proud of my dear friend Rebecca Butcher. Rebecca is probably the most amazing aerialist and aerial pole artist that I know. She took first place this weekend at the East meets West Polarity Competition. She has worked so hard for this competition and it has completely paid off. This pole routine is the most intense, amazing and complex choreography I have ever seen. Rebecca Butcher is officially my favorite aerialist and pole artist of all time, not just because of her originality and contribution to the pole and aerial community but also because of her sweet, humble personality and strong character. She teaches private and public aerial and pole lessons out of her home in Ogden, Utah as well as Luv2Dance Studio in Kaysville, Utah. Check out the website at
http://www.luv2dance.com
Anyone who questions whether Pole Dancing is an aerial art, I beg to differ. Watch the incredible performance below and perhaps gain a new perspective. The pole is not the problem in society, it is the dancers who choose how to express themselves while upon the apparatus. Any apparatus can be used for artistic purposes as well as other purposes. Do not judge the apparatus, judge the dancer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeTVKP3pmgU
http://www.luv2dance.com
Anyone who questions whether Pole Dancing is an aerial art, I beg to differ. Watch the incredible performance below and perhaps gain a new perspective. The pole is not the problem in society, it is the dancers who choose how to express themselves while upon the apparatus. Any apparatus can be used for artistic purposes as well as other purposes. Do not judge the apparatus, judge the dancer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeTVKP3pmgU
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