Joining the Circus: The Tale of a Flying Trapeze Class

Image courtesy Emerald City Trapeze

Recently I accepted an invitation from Emerald City Trapeze - minted Seattle’s “only indoor flying trapeze rig” - to take an introductory flying trapeze class. Fit, up for trying for new things (mostly), and falling well within the minimum age limit of 6 years and maximum weight limit of 250 lbs.*, I figured I could handle the two-hour session well enough considering I don’t do much swinging from and/or to things, being an urbanite and all. (NOT boasting here - over sixteen hundred of you fearless Seattleites purchased last week’s Groupon for the same class).

Again I’ll borrow the company’s phrasing and re-iterate that the Emerald City Trapeze building is an “11, 600 sq. ft. Aerialdrome” which kind of makes you go “mmmmhmmm” in a disinterested sort of way…until you actually see the space. It’s enormous, a SoDo warehouse newly converted (as of August 2009) into a yawning, multi-story abyss of wooden beams and dangling circus equipment. The flying trapeze apparatus dominates most of the Aerialdome, yet there is ample room left over for a rehearsal and theater space, prepped for this weekend’s inaugural performance of ticktock dance company. Clusters of couches everywhere and a second story open classroom/viewing area additionally adds to the homey, lodgey ambiance. (Yes, your friends are welcome to take pictures and videos. Yes, you probably should request that they do.)

The actual trapeze platform is at least two stories high. You already have a good way to fall into the safety net, which is suspended far enough off the ground to necessitate the posting of signs all over the place: “Please do not walk underneath the net.” Yet, regardless of the fact that you are about to hurl yourself off a high platform, the whole setup is perfectly safe, with beginners strapped into some sort of safety harness the second one’s feet leave the ground and at one point up to three professional instructors hanging around to offer guidance and support.

The smallish class zipped through a short knee-hanging session on a practice trapeze, then we were immediately strapped into our harness belts and literally thrown to the wolves (ok truth - there are no wolves) to sort out the mechanics of swinging through the air in what is evidently the best way possible: actually swinging through the air. The whole group got a general round of directions from our ground instructor, then lined up in a set swinging order. Second-in-line after a very brave little boy, my heart was pounding as I ascended the Very Tall Ladder.

Having had my first turn (it was scary), it was then hilarious to see every new student in turn go through practically the same round of dialog once up on the platform: “Oh my god.” “I’ve got you.” “Are you sure?” “Let go.” “Right now?” But as the class progressed, everyone visibly gained confidence and skill with each turn. In fact, every single beginner, after only three swings, was deemed ready to try a “catch”: the trapeze transition into the arms of a swinging instructor. And, again, the class reacted consistently; as all in turn successfully nailed the catch, each came off the net wearing a HUGE, proud smile. (I was grinning like an idiot, too.)

It was amazing how much we all improved in the course of one session. In addition to our main instructor on the ground, who shouted directions to each swinger and who offered helpful individual pointers to each of us as we came off the net, there was an instructor on the trapeze platform who clipped us into the harness, murmured soothing words of encouragement and held us steady until it was time to fly. For this particular session, it was the kindly Gary Kirkland, owner of Emerald City Trapeze. By the end of class, we felt like seasoned pros. It was a great time.

Emerald City Trapeze class sizes are relatively small, with a maximum of about ten, and one of the best things about the class was the comradery. We bonded over our shared fear of trying trapeze for the first time and clapped hard our encouragement. During a two hour class you will get a brief practice session then about five actual swings - although you do learn from watching others swing as well. I was not too sore the next day - only a slight tightness in my upper abs from swinging my knees up onto the trapeze. Overall I had a lot of fun and plan on bringing several of my braver friends back for a swing.

To see what you will learn during your very first flying trapeze session, BEHOLD Your Humble Narrator in the video below.