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Circus skills are a whole swathe of acrobatic, aerial, trapeze, and tight-rope activities that were initially performed for entertainment and enjoyment in sideshows, circuses, vaudeville shows, etc. However, they are now also practiced as a hobby or for keeping fit. Aerial and Trapeze Circus Skills Aerial circus skills involve acrobatics and movements performed while an artist is airborne. Bungee jumping, aerial hoops, Russian swings, and Spanish webs are common maneuvers that can be seen in any self-respecting circus and the people who perform such acts are known as aerialists. Aerial circus skills also involves trapeze, which is a trapezoid shaped structure comprising of ropes and cords. The trapeze is actually a short bar that is suspended from 2 cords. These 2 cords are supported aerially and the whole structure is trapezoid in shape. When an aerialist walks across a stationary trapeze or bar, it is known as a ‘static trapeze act.’ In a swinging trapeze act, the trapeze bar is flung from one point to another and while it is in motion, the aerialist performs acrobatics on it. In a flying trapeze act, the flyer grabs the bar and jumps off a high platform. At a critical juncture, the flyer will jump off or ‘fly’ away from the bar. The flyer is caught by another performer in mid-air, and this act is always performed over a safety net or over water. Tight Rope Walking or Funambulism Equilibristic or balancing circus skills involves tight rope or slack rope walking. Here, a rope is suspended at great height and someone walks across the rope by using either a balancing pole or ‘freehand’ i.e. using only one’s sense of equilibrium to maintain balance. Tightwire walking is when the rope is tightly wound between 2 poles. Highwire is tightwire at a much higher level, generally above 20 feet. On the other hand, in slackwire walking, the walker and his balancing poles create tension by keeping their center of mass above their feet.
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2005