Fifteen Days of Practice - April 26, 2009

Even though it was the last day of Beginner Aerials B, Jackie wanted us to learn and review the moves that she thought were necessary to be able to go on to the next level since she felt that most students in the class were in fact, ready.

We had a jam packed day on the corde lisse. After climbing, we reviewed the “foot block”, and its moves: the “elbow lean away”, “1-hand hang”, “back arch”,

“squat”, “thigh side lean”,

and “trapezius angel”. We also reviewed the “upside-down descent” by climbing to the top of the corde lisse, and descending all the way down in that position, ending in a “½ roll”. Lastly, I learned (the rest of the class reviewed) the “waist block moves”:

“part 2 (leg wrap layout)”,

“part 3 (hang back)”,

and “flyer”. "Flyer" looks similar to "waist block part 2", but you hold onto the free rope and in the same hand, the rope above your body. Here are the pictures of me trying those moves, please forgive the fact that most of them feature my behind, the pictures were taken from a balcony and the angle is regrettable.

On the trapeze, we reviewed the sitting moves: “splits”, “trapezius angel”, “gazelles”, “crucifix”, “upside-down X” then “upside-down X to ankles”, “rainbow”, “coffin”, and “tree creature”. We learned the “flag” and “double flag” as well as “necklace”. I have a rather blurry picture of me attempting the “flag” and “double flag”. Basically, you sit like you are setting up for stripper, but instead of rotating around a rope, you straighten your body into a diagonal, and rotate around yourself.

The necklace, I honestly forget how to do, but I remember being uncomfortable and feeling unstable.

Since it was the last class of the session, my dad insisted on coming to observe since he had never seen what I do. He brought along his camera and took pictures of me trying out the moves (that is why I am wearing the same clothing in all the pictures of me). It was nice to have both of my parents there supporting me and my senior project endeavors.