On the corde lisse, we tried a new “foot block” move called the “trapezius angel”. After tying a “foot block”, stand up. Since my right foot was tied, I pulled my body to the left of the rope and back around toward the right, while hooking my left arm behind the rope. This description might be a little off, but it looks very similar to the one performed on the trapeze.
From the “upside-down descent”, I went into the previously
learned “frog” position. To do the “frog drop” that we were learning today, all you have to do it gather some slack for the bottom knee, hold on tight, and loosen the top knee a little bit. You maintain the frog position thru the fall. Next, we learned the “peter pan”. Again, starting in the “upside-down descent”, you wrap the corde lisse underneath you twice around the bottom free leg. Holding onto the space between your body and the top leg, straighten out your top leg and let go with it, and turn your body so that you are positioned in a position reminiscent of the one Peter Pan assumes while flying. To end our corde lisse lesson, we learned or at least began practicing the “½ roll”. It is a way to come out of the “upside-down descent” with a degree of grace and control. Starting in the “upside-down descent”, hold onto the corde lisse, one hand above your body and one under, and draw them in close to your sides. Then, let go with your top leg and gently roll out of the position. My first attempt was as usual messy and not in the least bit controlled.
After completing our corde lisse training for the day, we
moved over to the trapeze. There, we reviewed the standing moves that we had learned the previous class: the “inverted hang” into “birds nest on the ropes”, “forward roll” and “backward roll”; and the “up and over” to the “front balance”. We learned four new moves, the “amazon”, “½ eagle”, “dragonfly” and “bird hang (hip hang)”. The “amazon”, we received lots of spotting on, Jackie actually held us around our leg for support while learning it. (picture included) The “½ eagle” is very similar, but instead of putting all you body weight to one rope, you twist one arm up and one and arm around the separate ropes. You then let your body hang down. I learned it by pushing the trapeze in front of my body, but on several youtube videos, I have seen it done with the trapeze behind the body, maybe that is a different move? Wrapping my arms around the trapeze ropes before I started hurt a lot worse than when I actually pushed the trapeze out and did the move. The next move I learned was the “dragonfly”. I admit that I don’t quite remember doing this trick, but I think it was like a “gazelle”, but instead of bending the knee, the leg stayed straight and my foot hooked around the trapeze rope above my head. The “bird hang (hip hang)” is another one that I don’t really remember doing (I have a list next to me of all the moves that I have done during each class), but I believe that it goes a little something like this. You mount the trapeze like you would for an “up and over”, but then position your legs similar to the birds nest. It both looks and feels awkward, and I think my description shows that.
To finish the day on the trapeze, Jackie had us try the “upside-down X à ankles”. I actually let myself drop this time with varying degree of success, but at least I tried!
Of course we finished class with the “toughening” and “strengthening” exercises.
This class marked the conclusion of my classes in March because I went to visit Tulane University the next weekend and never made up the class. I would say that March was a fairly exciting month for me. I learned twenty-one new moves on the trapeze and seven new moves on the corde lisse. I felt stronger and to a certain degree, more graceful. While I am clearly a very long way from being a professional, I am very pleased with my progress in March.
From the “upside-down descent”, I went into the previously
learned “frog” position. To do the “frog drop” that we were learning today, all you have to do it gather some slack for the bottom knee, hold on tight, and loosen the top knee a little bit. You maintain the frog position thru the fall. Next, we learned the “peter pan”. Again, starting in the “upside-down descent”, you wrap the corde lisse underneath you twice around the bottom free leg. Holding onto the space between your body and the top leg, straighten out your top leg and let go with it, and turn your body so that you are positioned in a position reminiscent of the one Peter Pan assumes while flying. To end our corde lisse lesson, we learned or at least began practicing the “½ roll”. It is a way to come out of the “upside-down descent” with a degree of grace and control. Starting in the “upside-down descent”, hold onto the corde lisse, one hand above your body and one under, and draw them in close to your sides. Then, let go with your top leg and gently roll out of the position. My first attempt was as usual messy and not in the least bit controlled.After completing our corde lisse training for the day, we
moved over to the trapeze. There, we reviewed the standing moves that we had learned the previous class: the “inverted hang” into “birds nest on the ropes”, “forward roll” and “backward roll”; and the “up and over” to the “front balance”. We learned four new moves, the “amazon”, “½ eagle”, “dragonfly” and “bird hang (hip hang)”. The “amazon”, we received lots of spotting on, Jackie actually held us around our leg for support while learning it. (picture included) The “½ eagle” is very similar, but instead of putting all you body weight to one rope, you twist one arm up and one and arm around the separate ropes. You then let your body hang down. I learned it by pushing the trapeze in front of my body, but on several youtube videos, I have seen it done with the trapeze behind the body, maybe that is a different move? Wrapping my arms around the trapeze ropes before I started hurt a lot worse than when I actually pushed the trapeze out and did the move. The next move I learned was the “dragonfly”. I admit that I don’t quite remember doing this trick, but I think it was like a “gazelle”, but instead of bending the knee, the leg stayed straight and my foot hooked around the trapeze rope above my head. The “bird hang (hip hang)” is another one that I don’t really remember doing (I have a list next to me of all the moves that I have done during each class), but I believe that it goes a little something like this. You mount the trapeze like you would for an “up and over”, but then position your legs similar to the birds nest. It both looks and feels awkward, and I think my description shows that.To finish the day on the trapeze, Jackie had us try the “upside-down X à ankles”. I actually let myself drop this time with varying degree of success, but at least I tried!
Of course we finished class with the “toughening” and “strengthening” exercises.
This class marked the conclusion of my classes in March because I went to visit Tulane University the next weekend and never made up the class. I would say that March was a fairly exciting month for me. I learned twenty-one new moves on the trapeze and seven new moves on the corde lisse. I felt stronger and to a certain degree, more graceful. While I am clearly a very long way from being a professional, I am very pleased with my progress in March.
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