Three age groups for Aerial Arts, where we rotate through a variety of apparatuses every 2 to 3 weeks. Please read Apparatus Descriptions and FAQs on this page.
Monday Mixed Levels 5:15pm (moving to Wednesdays 4:30pm in June)
Monday Level 1 6:15pm | Thursday Level 2 5:15pm (Pre-requisites)
Tuesday Mixed Levels 6:15pm
Silks
Silks are a long piece of fabric rigged to create two separate posts that are climbed, wrapped, and looped by the aerialist to make shapes. Silks can be challenging at first, but are always fun and exciting!
Level 1 / Mixed Level
Prerequisites
No prerequisites
Goals
Climb AND Descend. Descending is critical in safety!
Footlock and shapes with them from the ground
Short arm inverts such as a ball tuck, on the ground and from a climb
Move from using 1 pole/post, to both together, to split poles
Become skilled in these shapes: Gazelle, Straddle, Catcher, Arabesque, Hip Key (aerial), Front Balance, Invert to Double Crochet, Crucifix
Level 2
Prerequisites
10 second long arm and short arm hang
Excellent hollow body shape
Russian and Standard Climb 2 times up and down full length of Silk
Split Pole inverted tuck and straddle
Aerial inversion (foot tag ok)
Hip Key from Russian Lean
Same side and opposite side knee hooks
Controlled Catcher descent
Ability to hold oneself in the air a minimum of 1 full minute
Goals
Moving toward drops, C shaping, rotational movement, increased endurance, one-arm hangs, belays, beats, & more
Lyra
Lyra, or Aerial Hoop, is a metal apparatus and is a favorite of students who love to spin! New learners work on grip strength and poses, and then we progress to mounts, inversions, & more!
Level 1 / Mixed Level
Prerequisites
No prerequisites
Goals
Under bar tucks and straddles
Come to sit without assistance from under or side entry
Move to hip hang from a sit and from under bar
Be comfortable in a strong knee hocks hang and start working on knee beats
Begin spinning skills
Demonstrate control of spins and mounts
Exit the lyra safely without jumping out
Level 2
Prerequisites
3 second side hang no toes on floor
Side or Delilah entrance
Under bar entrance (toe tag ok)
Solid unarched knee hocks hang with a beat
Gazelle
Mermaid
Hip Drape from a Sit and a Pullover
Straddleback to Wineglass
Front Balance (hand taps ok)
Top Bar Knee Hang and Scarab
Goals
Working on small controlled drops
Increasing strength and endurance conditioning
Begin sequencing
Invert aerially or without taps
Progress knee and pike beats
Single knee hangs
Add more spin
Sling
Sling is fabric rigged in a loop. So it is very beginner friendly, but offers extensive advanced-level tricks, too. Sling has something for everyone!
Level 1 / Mixed Level
Prerequisites
No prerequisites
Goals
Become experts of these foundational moves: Straddleback; Gazelle; Knee Hooks; Front Hip Pullover, Drape, and Balance; Catchers; Crochet; Stag Sit; Hip Key; Stand
Condition inverts from the ground, working toward aerial inversions
Safely enter and exit with body control, avoiding rolling out backwards (skin-the-cat or dropping to the mat)
Sequence 2+ skills together
Level 2
Prerequisites
Knee beat
Pullover to front balance
Hip Key
Single leg rollup (candy cane)
Aviator using good form through Catcher's
Sequence 5 skills together
Excellent short arm tuck and straddle from the ground
Goals
Introduce drops and dives
Begin back balancing
Progress into beats
Start aerial inversions
Implement more challenging conditioning with skin-the-cats, pikes, one-arm hangs, meathooks
Trapeze
A trapeze is a lateral steel bar with 2 ropes on each side, so it is a unique apparatus mixing both "hard" and "soft" parts.
Level 1 / Mixed Level
Prerequisites
No prerequisites
Goals
Master these positions: Under-bar Tuck; Sit; Perch; Stand; Hip Drape; Knee Hang (trash can); Short & Long Arm Hang
Expertly demonstrate: Gazelle; Mermaid; Straddleback; Knee Hang with a beat; Sit to a Hip Drape
Begin working a variety of beats
Safely enter and exit with body control, avoiding rolling out backwards (skin-the-cat or dropping to the mat)
Sequence 2+ skills together
Level 2
Prerequisites
Without assistance or toe/foot taps, must enter to a sit via an under-bar tuck and an under-bar straddle, and with a single knee beat bringing hands to the ropes
Clean Stand, moving vertically upward in the trapeze plane and through a sit to perch, pausing to show each move
Knee beats
Gazelle
Sit to Mermaid
Sit to Hip Drape to clean Tuck exit
Stand to Fireman down to Sit
Front Balance
Goals
Leanna
Long, Pike, and Knee beats
Introduce small drops
Start aerial inversions on the ropes
Introduce dance trapeze, where the apparatus is rigged to spin
Begin toe and ankle hangs
Begin single knee hangs
Implement more challenging conditioning with skin-the-cats, pikes, one-arm hangs, meathooks
How much is it?
Memberships are $100/mo for Age 6-7 and $125/mo for the other age groups, for 1 class per week., where some months have up to 5 weeks. We charge no registration fees, have no contracts, but memberships do auto-renew every month based on original sale date. The younger age group is a 45-minute class and the other classes are 55-minutes. Please read all policies.
Is class every week?
Yes, class is every week on the indicated day/time. If the studio has to cancel a class due to bad weather or illness, etc, we will do our utmost to first find a substitute teacher. We will contact you via email, text, &/or call. Please make sure your notifications stay turned on in your Wellness Living account.
What are your membership policies?
Important Membership Information: We aim to make Membership as accessible as possible. So there are no admin, registration, or cancellation fees or annual contracts. However, memberships auto-renew every month based on original sign-up date and there is a 30-day change request policy. Thus, if you are seeking less than 2 months of classes, we recommend private lessons. Sales are final, no refunds. See all policies here.
What do we wear?
Close-fitting workout clothes that cover the knees and arms but also bring shorts!
Do parents drop-off or stay and wait?
For a chlid's first class, parents must come into the studio so we can meet you. Afterward, it is parent's discretion if you want to stay or to drop-off and come back to pick up, although we generally feel students do better when they feel parents are not watching. A parent/guardian must come into the studio to pick up. We do not release minors out the door by themselves. You are welcome to wait in the studio, but be aware our seating area is "cozy." Some parents wait in the car or return home and come back. There are multiple restaurants and retails stores very close by, plus a park just a few yards away!
What if my child is nervous or acts inappropriately?
Some kids are excited, some may be a little anxious. Please allow a few classes for everyone to become acquainted, and know that consistency in coming to class regularly is what make the difference. We also ask that all students respect our teacher's rules and requests, which are there for safety. For our younger enrollees, we realize that staying focused for an hour can be a big ask! So we incorporate more mat or play time, but aerials are still our focus. Class expectation is that kids come ready to listen, learn, & respect our team and each other. We may ask a student to take a break as needed and then re-engage when s/he is ready to rejoin. Also, unless a teacher asks for assistance, we humbly request that only a teacher instruct and manage the class. If you feel your child did not get enough aerial practice in a class, our thought is that this will even out across time during their membership journey. You are, of course, welcome to email the studio any time you have any concerns or questions, at info@gravitydistrict.com. Always know that we are here to support and encourage!
Can I try a class before buying a membership?
There is a Youth/Adult Intro to Aerials Age 11+ class every 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 4:45pm for newcomers. Please book via our Wellness Living schedule. If the student is between 6 to 10 years, s/he may attend one Monday 5:15pm class if you send an email to info@gravitydistrict.com and obtain pre-approval and assistance with pre-registration. Or you are welcome to book a Private Lesson.
What if I can only come for a few weeks? Can I be a member?
Please understand that having a student come in and out of class every few weeks can be disruptive to the other students and also creates a large administrative burden. If you are not ready to commit to at least 2 months of membership, we are thrilled to book Private Lessons on an ad hoc basis.
Can I pause a membership?
We allow 1 hold or pause per year per membership for up to 14 days. To request a hold, please email info@gravitydistrict.com including the specific date range. Upon final approval, your billing and your auto-renew will be paused and then restarted on the determined date. We must receive your request in writing within a 30-day period for our team to have adequate time to address this request. See policies.
What if the schedule does not fit mine?
We can book a private lesson or party!
Do I get a refund or credit if I was out sick?
No, as we meet weekly and some months have 5 weeks, we do not offer refunds.
How fast can I graduate levels? What if my friend is Level 2 and I want to be with them?
We get it! Students, especially our younger ones, want to go fast! But we do not believe in timelines. Everyone, at every age, moves at their own pace. For safety reasons, all students are required to follow a progression of learning. And we make lots of friends in all levels! No matter what your friends or family advise, our teachers always have the final say on when a student may advance.
What if I was Level 2 before? I really want to skip Level 1.
You may schedule an evaluation if you feel you already have the pre-requisites to skip Level 1. Approval is not only based on physical skill or strength. If you do not have a base level of terminology, we still advise moving through Level 1 first or scheduling a follow-up private lesson to catch the student up on language before entering the Level 2 class. Teacher decisions are final. Our goal is always to put your student in the level that will best suit their needs and the class as a whole. It is not about favorites. If you were Level 2 before but you have not come in more than 3 months, a re-evaluation is required. Evaluations are $50 and are not instruction, but solely assessment.
Any more questions?
See our policies page or feel free to email us at info@gravitydistrict.com.