Whichever way you slice it, (or more appropriately, whichever way you climb it), taking care of yourself so you keep progressing in your super hero training is of much importance!

1. Cross-Train

Where are you not seeing enough progress in your in-air training?

For me, it's flexibility- so I'm taking a contortion class this week! True story (I'm super excited!) For our principal dancer, Olivia, it's in-air cardio. So she got a gym membership and treadmill dates.

2. Balance

When you're not in performance mode (cuz when a show's coming up, we know all life-work-train-rest balance gets tossed out the window), are you keeping a good workout and recover ratio?

Your body needs time to physically absorb what you've put it through, and your mind could use a day off to wrap your head around all those silk wraps too!

Plus all those hoop bruises and silk burns really could use a minute to heal!

3. Once you get in shape- STAY THERE

Aerial dance is not like floor dance.

I repeat.

AERIAL DANCE IS NOT LIKE FLOOR DANCE. You simply can not cram a ton of extra training to 'catch up' to rest of your troupe at the last minute right before a gig.

Always stay in shape. Last minute performances pop up. Or you have a bunch of family in town and you can't get to the aerial studio as much. Life happens, but if you've kept yourself in good shape, then you're never too far away from your peak condition.

4. Don't forget the basics

The easy stuff is easy to overlook. Stay hydrated, eat right, get enough sleep, warm-up before work-outs, see a chiropractor, masseuse or body work specialist… all those relatively simply things tend to get thrown out the window right before a big production, or during the holidays, or when your puppy dog gets sick, or when you've got an important paper due at school…

If you can get all this good stuff into your schedule and make it a habit now, when life is normal, then extra points for you! Because once the carabiner hits the fan, and life gets crazy, all these basic self-care needs will be the last thing on your mind.

Practice these things now and make them a part of your life, so you can keep flying and super-hero-ing about, like the aerial ninja-warrior you are!

xo, Nicole

Not becuase I love spinning, (no that actually makes me uber queazy!) but because THE AUDIENCE LOVE SPINNING. So even though it makes me sick to my stomach, I will spin my little heart out! Or should I say, spin my guts out?

Our latest online aerial silk tutorial is for one of my favorite spinning moves- The Hip Key.

You will notice the hip key in a large majority of aerial fabric routines, it's that important of a move. You can use this move for a number of things besides spinning as well. Many more complicated skills (some drops too!) begin with a hip key first, so it's good to know!

I beat my legs back to get into the fan kick that starts the hip key. You don't have to, you can go right for it without the beat. Or you can add extra spice and beat back, front, back again and then go. Or you can do it the lazy way and only lift one leg and just the knee of the other… The point is, this is just how I do it, but there is plenty of choreography to get into it another way.

Once your in the hip key, make sure to keep your pelvis stacked- left hip directly lined up on top of the right, if you're doing a right side hip key. Once you open your hips up torwards the ceiling, you will quickly see this move as a nice descend to the floor instead.

Have fun practicing, stay safe please and make you've got mats underneath and a teacher to help!

xoxo, sending love to all our dancer readers, keep rocking out ~Nicole

Before you throw stones at me, let me point out the value of all those friends, acquaintances, recommendations and relationships you got out of that dance program. 

The most amazing dance technique in world will get you nowhere if you're dancing in a room alone. You've got to bring your dancing out into the world, my friends. 

But how to do that? They actually don't quite cover this is dance school, college or conservatory do they? You know how to behave on an audition… but aside from reading the bulletion boards for open calls, just how to get those auditions?

Or better yet- how do you skip the audition in the first place and go straight to getting the gig?

Let's talk about some of the BUSINESS skills you need to master to shine in the DANCE WORLD. 

I'm not just talking about those of us who run a dance company or studio.

Freelance choreographers, teachers and performers who aren't with a full-time company need a full briefcase of business skills (or should I say, need a full dance bag of business skills) to make it out there. 

Let's begin!

People do business with people they like.

OMG, so simple and so powerful. This is true for ANY business, but especially true in dance.

If the director doesn't take to your personality, are they really going to hire you for that production? And be trapped with you in a tiny studio for 5 hours a day 5 days a week for 6 weeks until the opening night? I think not.

I would much rather hire a hardworking, sweet and humble dancer and spend more time training them- then a diva dancer, even though they may be technically superior.

So let your personality shine through!

People do business with people they remember.

Your friendly face saying hello and goodbye before and after class (or rehearsal, production, etc…) leaves an impression in your fellow dancers minds.

This is especially important in the dance studio. Those who take the time to come up to me, shake hands and say "Thank you for class, I got a lot out of it" are those that I'm going to remember. And who do I hire when I've a show to cast? Those nice dancers that have made an impact.

People do business with people who WANT the business.

I can't tell how many times I've asked a dancer "Hey, how did you get into (that great choreographers) show?" and their simple answer was "I went up to them and told them I would like to dance for them." 

Isn't your mind just exploding?! 

It's happened to me before firsthand as well, I know works like a charm. And it makes perfect sense.

If you train at the same studio with the same teachers all the time, they've probably come to know you and like you. But inadvertently you could get put into the "He's a great student who takes my class a lot" box, instead of the "He's a potential dancer in my next touring show" box. 

There is nothing more flattering to a director, choreographer, teacher, etc, then when a dancer approaches them and let's them know they love their work and would love to be a part of it. 

You may not get cast right then and there on the spot, but you will find out about audition opportunities or be kept in mind for the future.

This also works for teachers! Let that college, studio, community program, whatever you're after- know that you would love to teach for them. Otherwise, how will they know you're available?

Network, network, NETWORK.

You may not think this is a business skill. I beg to differ. Just go look in the business section of Barnes & Noble and you will find a bunch of books on the power of networking in business. 

In the dance world we often criss-cross our job titles. A choreographer does costume design on the side. A teacher produces community dance shows in schools. A dancer does professional photography. Heck, your bartender could very likely also be a casting director! 

It's never a bad idea to share what you do with folks. 

Networking is really just about making connections. Genuine connections. 

So befriend those around you and outside of your normal professional circle. Exanding your network is ALWAYS a good thing.

Here's to getting more friends, more oppurtunies, AND MORE GIGS!

xo, Nicole

Back by popular demand is another online aerial silk tutorial!

This week's lesson- The Coffin

It also goes by the other name of Ankle Hang, but around these parts we like to give things our own more colorful names.

Take it slow when trying this for the first time, really make sure the silks are EXACTLY in place like they are in the video. You will want to keep your feet GLUED together when swooping them underneath you. 

If you can master this skill you've got yourself a great go-to move! We choreograph our aerial performances with this move all the time, it's a great crowd pleaser, and once you get the hang of it- it's so easy!

Watch, learn & enjoy!

Stay safe, flexible, and beautiful my friends!
xo, Olivia

So how do you put together 3 life-sized exotic birds, 2 un-zipped dolls, 2 freak ringmasters and 3 winter ice cirque aerial costumes- all within 3 weeks?

With a GLUE GUN!

Fun!

(see her feather tail? each one was hand glued!)

But there were a ton of lessons I learned while glueing my fingers together that I wished I knew before it was too late.

Some are just common sense I know, but after 18 hours straight and 6 pouches of glue sticks, someone needed to remind me of this.

That darn glue is HOT.

Which means, when glueing while your dancer is wearing the costume- make sure he or she has at least one thick layer of fabric inbetween their skin and the costume that you're glueing. Otherwise- OUCH.

Fabric SHRINKS.

Mesh, cotton, lycra, any fabric that's stretchy before the glueing WILL NOT be so stretchy afterwards. So get a larger size leotard than you'd normally need, since the more you glue to it the less range of movement you'll have.

*Bonus point.* Make sure not to stick un-stretchy fabrics in large quantities over your stretchy fabric. Not unless you want to dance inside a stiff sack. Just saying…

Get a FINE POINT glue gun.

You can buy the $6 glue gun or the $12 one. I bought both, and can I say I wasn't surprised when only one of them was actually usable. You'll want one that says it gets EXTRA HOT, has a metal spout, with the mouth being as SMALL as possible! This makes a huge difference when trying to stick on tiny dots, ribbons or sequins. You want PRECISION.

SEWING is better.

Ok so it needs to be said. If you have a sewing machine than obviously this is a better option. However if you don't, or can't, hand sewing can take way too long. You should spend the majority of the time rehearsing before a performance, not sewing (if you can help it!) But if you have a friend or Aunt or neighborhood granny with a sewing machine, bake her some cookies and get over there!

BRING the gun BACKSTAGE.

Especially if your hot-glued costumes are being used for partner work or aerials, little bits and ends if not pressed down securely may start to lift off. So keep that glue gun plugged in and turned on in the dressing room- you may need to do some quick fixes in between acts!

Happy Glue Gunning & Costume Creating!

xo, Nicole

Met Daniela, a super great aerial student who trains with me here in Arizona. She is 22, loves the silks, and thinks taking class is great stress reliever. We agree!

I interviewed her the other day for a new series we're doing here on the Altitude Aerials blog, featuring a different pro or student aerial dancer each month!

So thanks Daniela for being the first one up!

And enjoy the interview everyone- it'll get you motivated!

xox, Olivia

Where and w/ who did you get your aerial training?

I started Aerial training at Orlando Aerial Arts in Orlando Florida during my Internship for Disney World.

What’s your most fav part about aerial dance?

My favorite part about Aerial is being able to be in the air with no harness. The fact that I am holding myself up high on the silks shows how much confidence and trust I have in myself. Aerial gives me a sense of freedom that no other sport can give me.

What are practicing for now?

I do Aerial Arts for myself and I love to perform so maybe one day I could perform with it under the big top or somewhere I could only dream about. 

(We think you can do it girl! Keep at it!)

How long have you been training in the air?

I have been training in the air since September of 2011 and have been doing it once a week almost every week since then.

What’s your training regimen like?

On my own I try my best to do a lot of daily stretching and exercise. When Iget to do my exercises I do a minimum of 10 push-ups, 100 crunches, 10 V-ups, and to hold the plank position for as long as I can.

Lately I have been working on my middle split and it has been a pain in the butt to try to accomplish. I feel like I'm not getting anywhere but all I keep on hearing from everyone is to keep stretching. I'm still waiting to see some improvement. 

(Hey Daniela, and all those middle-split stretchers…

Try getting into your butterfly and grabbing the ends of the silk with hands together over your head, and pull down gently. This is a super painful stretch so take it easy the first time!

* Make sure you tilt your pelvis up towards the ceiling for maximum stretch * OUCH *)

Any tips or training tidbits for aspiring aerialists?

If there is anyone out there that is thinking how much fun it would be to become an aerialist, I say just do it! Try it out and you will be hooked. Even if you aren't doing it to perform, it is a fantastic workout and it really beats going to the boring gym.

So we made one for ourselves, a meme for aerial dancing.

What my Mom thinks I do.

Clowing around, silly type air dancing foolishness.

What my friends think I do.

Monkey business like Tarzan.

What society thinks I do.

Spin really fast and get dipped in water while half-naked and singing upside-down. You know, like Pink, at the Grammy's.

What I think I do.

Uber outrageous, rad and dangerous feats like our Williamsburg bridge hanging outlaw Seanna. (we love you girl!)

What I wish I did.

Actual flying.

What I actually do.

Pain.

The biggest thing to overcome is your mental thoughts and habits.

50% of aerial training is mental strength.

Are you afraid of heights? Do you not trust your strength and grip? Do you think if you continue with this new move, you will fall flat on your face and be rushed to a hospital where you find your nose is now on your forehead?

Aerial dance is an intense physical sport, and there is every reason to be cautious! If you fly and squirm around willy-nilly, you could get yourself into some serious knots!

I remember when I first started my aerial training, and I would fall asleep at night fantasizing every possible scenario of falling out of a trick. I would try to dream up how to catch myself, and not end up like silly putty on the ground. After a few weeks, it started screwing me over in classes! The easiest moves on the trapeze, were now suddenly becoming more and more unsure to me, and I let it get to my head.

Rule #1 Reprogram your thoughts.

Imagine yourself executing the move perfectly. If your mind plays tricks on you, and you start to see yourself falling- stop and start over. Keep running through the move in your mind- a mental workout!

Rule #2 Do it down low.

If an aerialist can’t do a move successfully 3 ft off the mat, they wouldn’t do it 30 ft up in the air. Master it down low, then when you climb up a few times, there will be no doubts or fears!

Rule #3 Get a good teacher.

You know your body’s limits and so does your teacher. The pro’s will never leave you astray! They’ll know how to spot you and talk you through it.

The biggest thing to walk away with, is to trust yourself, take a deep breath, and have fun. If you can win the mental battle with yourself and fear, you can conquer anything in aerial!

Stay safe, flexible, and beautiful!
xo, Olivia

I've been working on a bunch of online aerial tutorial videos for everyone. Here's the first one, The Rebecca Split. Hope you love it!

xo, Olivia

We are currently developing a blog! Stay tuned right here!