Aerial Silks or Aerial Tissues constitute the newest category of Aerial Acrobatics. Their origins are found around 1959, in a French circus school where some trainees were asked to make a difference by presenting an acrobatic act. One student presented her act by using a long piece of fabric.
Unfortunately, little is known about this performance except for one small account in a local newspaper. Nonetheless, from 1959 until 1998 (when Aerial Silks was officially recognized) a lot of artists had been experimenting with aerial silk in their performances. Interesting enough, during this period, the fabric which was coming out of the knot which supported it gave way to the second piece of fabric. In this way, Aerial Silks became what it is today.
Despite older experiments, the art of Aerial Silks became widely known by Isabelle Vaudelle and Isabelle Chasse. It was in 1998 when the two artists presented their Aerial Silks moves during a performance called Quidam, as part of Cirque du Soleil show. It is worth mentioning that Isabelle Vaudelle also took part in Mondial du Cirque de Demain in 1995 and presented an absolutely impressive act.
In the mid-90s, a team of British and French acrobats, who were influenced by Isabelle Vaudelle and her tutor, Gerard Fasoli, got interested in the art of this spectacular attraction. Soon after, aerial silk quickly caught on in the rest of the world.
In 2002, Acrobat Productions organized the choreographies of BBC TV Aerial Silks Ident, which had been a popular television show for over 5 years.
There is, however, an opposing argument regarding the founder of Aerial Silk. It is supported that the founder is Andre Simard who had specialized in the research and development of acrobatic moves of Cirque du Soleil since 1987. It was at that time when he was in charge of inventing new, innovative ways of showing acrobatic moves in order to impress the spectators. He transformed the acrobats from athletes to real performers by persuading them not only to use facial expressions but focus on body movements so as to express their inner feelings to the spectator in a unique and impressive way.
Soon, Simard’s techniques became widely known and they were used in every acrobatic performance worldwide.
Aerial Silks today
Nowadays, exercising with aerial silks has a lot of fans and it is becoming more and more popular. Aerial silks constitute a unique way of expression as well as a means of testing our limits. It combines creativity, exercising, flexibility and music in a unique way.
Read also: The origins of Trapeze
You can buy Aerial Silks on our e-shop
References: -aerialists.org/beautiful-dangerous-art-aerial-silk -simplycircus.com -cirquedusoleil.com/en/jobs/casting/team/mentor/andre-simard.aspx -acrobatproductions.com/aerial-silks/
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[…] acrobatics is one of the youngest circus disciplines and was officially recognized only in 1998 (https://www.verticalwise.com/en/exploring-the-history-behind-aerial-silks/). At the aerial silk dance workshop, you will have the opportunity to learn about the basics of […]
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And physics
NO WAY IT IS THAT RECENT????????????????????? Is there a chance there is some older instance of this discipline? I guess if there were it would have continued to evolve and we would be able to trace it back, unless it cut off in its tracks for some reason.
Hi Sara! I agree with you! Aerial silks has its roots in circus, dance, gymnastics. All things that have been around for a long time, somebody must have done it sooner!
Does anyone know where I can find the original French article?
I worked on the original touring show of Quidam, and recall Isabelle Vaudelle originating and doing the act on her own for several cities before they brought in Isabelle Chasse to trade off performances with her. I remember vividly the first night Chasse performed her version of the act, and a visibly upset Vaudelle (quietly weeping) watching from the back of the tent in the audience. They were both brilliant performers, and many praised Chasse’s powerful, quicker movements, but I always preferred Vaudelle, who was heartachingly soulful in her performance. She was so beautiful in that act that a male friend who was in town visiting and came to see the show, became completely smitten with her and flew cross country again the next weekend just to see her act again. Unfortunately, Chasse is in all the videos of the act. But Vaudelle was definitely the original on Quidam and only shared it with Chasse later.
You violating author’s right by using this picture!
What do you mean? We bought this picture!!
I’m very surprised to hear that aerial silks only originated in the 90’s! I would like to hear more about the student who allegedly created aerial silks back in 1959, I feel like there weren’t a lot of credible sources used in this article to support your claim. But having a bit of light shed on aerial fitness is very helpful.
So how do i know what kind of Aerial Silk size I need?
Thank you for your comment! Determining the right size of aerial silk for your needs can depend on a few factors like height, skill level and purpose of the training. it’s always a good idea to consult with your aerial instructor or an experienced professional who can provide personalized advice based on your specific needs and goals. They can guide you in choosing the most suitable size for your aerial silk.
I hope this helps! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Happy silk training!