ADF 2024 Immersions & Classes: Descriptions, Prerequisites, Locations
Locations
Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Studios
3022 E. Sterling Circle, #150
Boulder, CO 80301
“FFP 1” or “FFP 2”
Dairy Arts Center, Gordon Gamm Theatre
2590 Walnut Street
Boulder, CO 80302
“Dairy Gordon Gamm”
IMMERSIONS: WEEK A: July 29 – August 2, 2024. Meet everyday from 9 am – noon, Monday-Friday.
Bungee Dance & Build with Danielle Hendricks, assisted by Laurel Johnson
9am-12pm. Week A. FFP Studio 1.
Ages 15+ or with instructor approval. $390 (includes $10 equipment fee).
Prerequisites: This class is open to anyone, but please realize that some bruising around the pelvic area from the harness is almost inevitable. To minimize this, be prepared with layers of clothing to wear around the hips, inner thighs, and waist. Padded cycling shorts or neoprene shorts with sweatpants/shorts over top are excellent choices. The harnesses we use do have some padding, but because you will be in the harness 5 days in a row, extra protection starting day one can make the week far more pleasant!
Bungee Dance: This class will cover the main uses for aerial bungee dancing in harness. We will begin each day with a Pilates Mat inspired warm up, in order to prepare the body for the rigors of being in a bungee harness. On day one, we will practice in the style “high bungee”; dancers will load in from the scaffold and will be unable to touch the ground. With attachments at R/L hip and two points in the ceiling, we can work on maximizing bounce and forward/backward rotations. Each dancer will have a partner and both groups will learn some choreography sequences to perform with each other. As the week progresses, we will lower the dancers so that they are able to touch the ground and use the floor to create additional bounce and control; then we will change to one ceiling attachment with a swivel and explore spinning and more directional changes, while still able to touch the ground. On day five, dancers will get to try the back, front, and single side attachment, hand loop/body loop bungee, and/or revisit styles from earlier in the week.
Bungee Build: The final 44-60 minutes of each morning will cover the full spectrum of bungee building, from the safety and inspection of harnesses, to where and how to purchase bungee and crimps, as well as how to build bungee for your own space and desired outcome. We will do “hands on” training with tools and materials necessary to build bungee sets. By week’s end, students should feel confident in how to select, build, inspect, and maintain safety with bungee and harness equipment.
Fabric Sequencing 101: A Guide to Aerial Act Creation (Intermediate) with Veronica Blair
9am-12pm. Week A. FFP Studio 2.
Ages 13+. $380.
Prerequisites: Participants must be able to safely invert off the ground. must be similar with foundational skills; catchers/ frog pose, foot locks/ keys, hip key and s-wraps.
In this workshop students will learn the theory behind basic aerial silks techniques to create seamless transitions. Through technique drills, games and music driven play, students will explore how to link tricks together and create their first aerial act.
Dance Trapeze Immersion with Summer Lacy
9am-12pm. Week A. Dairy Gordon Gamm.
Ages: 16+. $380.
Prerequisites: Students must be capable of doing an unassisted pull-up inversion on the bar, pull-over mount and inversion in ropes without jumping. Comfortable with partner-supported physical spotting and stretching. Desire to develop physical strength and creative movement vocabulary. Notebook and note taking is encouraged.
This trapeze immersion will unlock deep wells of foundational strength and immediately apply it to sequences of high-quality movements, incorporating the dynamic presence of acrobatics with the intention and emotional engagement of modern dance.
Students will engage in a rigorous deep dive of skill development and conditioning in order to unlock the full physicality of the sequences. This will serve as the foundation for students to build upon with their own creative expression and choreography. Over the course of five days, the class will explore multiple aspects of movement quality and musicality, transforming a singular motion into a broad vocabulary of physicality that will enhance each student’s dramatic story-telling capacity.
Students will leave this workshop series stronger physically AND creatively, with new tools to unleash their unique performance potential.
90-MINUTE CLASSES: WEEK A: Meet everyday Monday, July 29 – Friday, August 2, 2024
Dynamic Sling Theory and Skills (Intermediate / Advanced) with Anastasia Timina
1:00-2:30 PM. Week A. FFP Studio 1.
Ages 13+. $190.
Prerequisites: Must be able to do a full straddle up in the air (straight arm straddle up not required), must have some basic sling vocabulary: seated straddle, back straddle, single knee hang, single knee crucifix (half seated straddle), standing arabesque, crossback straddle, gazelle, front balance, hollowbody, half hip-key, ribhang.
This class will focus on the pathways of dynamic movement and transitioning that movement around the sling. We will be learning different beats and beat sequences, drops, and rotations (such as elbow circles) and the sling theory behind why different transitions work and how to connect them into your existing vocabulary. Great for helping anyone interested in learning beats and momentum on rope or fabric, for anyone wanting to add more dynamic movement into their sling vocabulary, or anyone interested in improving their sling theory understanding.
Fabric FUNdamental Techniques (Intermediate) with Valerie Morris
1:00-2:30 PM. Week A. FFP Studio 2.
Ages 14+. $190.
Prerequisites: Climb 20 feet and descend safely on both sides. Clean figure 8 and dancers foot locks on both sides. Clean catchers lock, hip key, and S-lock in the air on both sides.
This class is perfect for the intermediate aerial fabric student! Each day we will explore different entrances, deepen our understanding, and clean our technique on each of the following: intermediate climbs, cross backs, hip keys and S-locks, star drops and then finish the week with creating phrases with our new favorites of each and explore different movement qualities in the fabric.
Please bring a notebook and/or a recording device to help you remember all of the new techniques!
Swing, Spin, Orbit on Dance Trapeze (All Levels) with Megan Cattau
1:00-2:30 PM. Week A. Dairy Gordon Gamm.
Ages 15+ or with instructor approval. $190.
Prerequisites: Suitable for beginner to professional artists. We will be doing a lot of hanging, and so participants must feel comfortable hanging from the bar and / or ropes for at least 20 seconds. Participants must also be able to invert repeatedly and get on an apparatus without assistance. It would benefit participants to come with bar-conditioned hands!
This class is all about moving through space! We’ll focus on technique for swinging, spinning, and orbiting (i.e., coning) on the dance trapeze. We’ll emphasize how you can use your body functionally to control the direction of your swing and how powerful it is, keep your spin centered (or to let it go), make your orbits fluid and dynamic, etc. We’ll explore planes of motion in our bodies and with the equipment. We’ll investigate gravity and momentum. We’ll use all the space available to us, including on the bar, in the ropes, between the floor and the bar, and all throughout the room. It’s also going to be loads of fun!
Cultivating Dynamic Flow on Lyra – (Intermediate / Advanced) with Ariana Papousek
3:00-4:30 PM. Week A. FFP Studio 1.
Ages 12+. $190.
Prerequisites: Ability to hold a single knee hang(w/o hands) for 30 seconds on each leg, 5 knee beats, 5 straight arm beats on top bar, pull up from straight arm hang, tuck hold for 30 seconds.
Level up your dynamic lyra with a curriculum that connects beats and drops with seamless transitions. Push yourself, expand your boundaries, and conquer fears while flowing from dynamic to rhythmic skills on lyra to create a routine that is stunning and captivating. In this class we will explore sequences that bring the energy from powerful and thrilling, to graceful and entrancing.
Corde Lisse and Multi-Cord (Intermediate) with Anastasia Timina
3:00-4:30 PM. Week A. FFP Studio 2.
Ages 13+. $190.
Prerequisites: (Intermediate students) Ability to invert consistently in the air, same-side and opposite-side knee hooks, hip key, at least two climbs, front and back balance. A basic familiarity with beats is recommended; bell beats and front-to-back beats(pike beats and/or body beats).
In this workshop we will be focusing on intermediate level rope skills, sequences, and dynamics! Unlocking rope dynamics can feel super freeing and rewarding but all of the components can feel overwhelming. We will break down the various beat pathways in this workshop and play with some transitions in and out of these movements. Beats that we will cover include turnpike, planche, scissor, and break beats. We will also visit some related transitional elements such as cut-catches, pop-throughs (window beats), and movements that terminate nicely in a beat (windmill hip key, knee drop, and planche drop). We will also take a look at rope theory and start to connect foundational rope supports together to create interesting transitions in the air. Lastly, we will have a chance to discover the similarities between rope and fabric and get to experience multi-corde as an apparatus. There will be both sequences as well as specific skills and techniques taught in this class.
Experiential Movement on Dance Trapeze (Intermediate to Professional) with Megan Cattau
3:00-4:30 PM. Week A. Dairy Gordan Gamm.
Ages: 15+ or with instructor permission. $190.
Prerequisites: Intended for intermediate to professional artists who already have a practice on the dance trapeze or other horizontal apparatus. Some vertical experience and familiarity with basic vertical wraps and hangs are helpful, but not necessary. Participants must be able to invert from a bent-arm hang without assistance and be on the apparatus for up to two minutes. Participants should come with a desire to challenge movement paradigms.
The dance trapeze is a canvas for experiential exploration. In this workshop, we will move in response to sensation. We will use a choreographed sequence on the dance trapeze as a launching point. We will then layer Laban- and Butoh-influenced exercises to sensitize ourselves to our own bodies and to the space around us. We’ll explore improvisations and collaborative activities designed to help you articulate experiences, emotions, and perspectives. We’ll explore how changes in movement quality, positioning, and timing can be employed to unearth meaning and content. We’ll place aesthetics and the performative to the side in order to connect with and listen to our instinctual bodies: intuitive, genuine, and unapologetic.
Lyra Choreography Masterclass (Intermediate) with Sofia Rodriguez
5:30-7:00 PM. Week A. FFP Studio 1.
Ages 16+. $190.
Prerequisites: Intermediate students welcome (at least one year of lyra recommended). Must feel comfortable exploring most areas of the hoop, and have enough vocabulary to build sequences.
A week-long guided process that will give you the tools to create a captivating lyra piece. Including but not limited to the following: navigating through different movement qualities, finding expression with all parts of your body, and creating variations within known lyra skills. I will share the formula used to map out a masterpiece discussing what elements to include and how to look at the apparatus not just from a global perspective but also down to the fine details. By the end of the week, you will leave with a framework of your unique lyra piece!
Aerial Straps: Spins & Shapes (All Levels) with Cosmo Dudley
5:30-7:00 PM. Week A. FFP Studio 2.
Ages 14+. $190.
Prerequisites: Ability to complete three pull-ups, three pushups, and three leg lifts (tucked or piked legs). No shoulder injuries at the time of the workshop Experience on straps not required, but experience with other movement disciplines: aerial, acrobatics, gymnastics, climbing, etc. recommended.
Learn the foundations of aerial straps shapes and how to make your meathooks, flags, and planches feel more efficient! We will also be developing spins and C-Shaping for all students. Beginner to advanced students welcome (with pre-reqs). Depending on the student’s level, progressions are available on 2-arms and developing strength for 1-arm shapes and movements.
IMMERSIONS: WEEK B: August 5 – August 9, 2024. Meet everyday from 9 am – noon, Monday-Friday.
Lyra Spanset and Top-Bar Theory (High Intermediate / Advanced) with Sofia Rodriguez
9am-12pm. Week B. FFP Studio 1.
Ages 16+ or with instructor approval. $380.
Prerequisites: High Intermediate- Advanced students welcome (at least two years of lyra recommended). Must feel comfortable inverting to the top of the hoop multiple times and have enough general knowledge, comfort, and strength to explore on top of the lyra.
In love with single-point lyra, but don’t know what to do on the top? In this workshop, we will learn ways to think about the spanset in a closed and open perspective as well as how to use the ever-so-tippy top bar. Please bring a journal as we will categorize skills into a tree diagram that will help you make sense of the many possibilities available!
Silks Theory (Intermediate / Advanced) with Anastasia Timina
9am-12pm. Week B. FFP Studio 2.
Age 13+. $380.
Prerequisites: This is an intermediate to advanced level workshop. Students should be comfortable spending several minutes in the air, inverting to straddle, opposite and same side knee hooks, and hip key in the air.
This is a silks theory immersion on connecting drops, skills, and sequences on silks. We will learn how to effectively and smoothly stack drops, transition from wrap to wrap, create interesting transitions, and even invent new material! We will cover an organizational system that Anastasia created to break down silks theory into its foundational components. We will use this system to explore and understand the foundational connections between all aerial silks supports. We will cover some sequences exemplifying these concepts in theory and in practicum! This Immersion is perfect for anyone who is interested in improving and understanding transitioning on silks or anyone who wants to build more confidence with their wraps in the air.
Tethered Dancing: Rope and Harness (All Levels) with Valerie Morris
9am-12pm. Week B. Dairy Gordon Gamm.
Ages 14+. $380.
Pre-requisites: Comfort in a climbing harness over extended time and inverting in a harness. No previous aerial experience needed.
This exhilarating immersion will be structured around learning basic rope and harness dance techniques (not against a wall), as well as the rigging to take this dance form anywhere. We will be working both close to the ground and higher in the air, with ascenders and descenders. The vocabulary taught will be combined with guided solo and group improvisations as part of the exploration process. This is an amazing core workout and is not as intense on the arms for those taking other aerial classes at the Festival. No previous aerial experience is necessary, other than: be prepared to have fun and create!
Please wear multiple snug layers around your hips and waist for your comfort. If you have a harness and associated hardware, please bring it with you, otherwise, one will be provided.
90-MINUTE CLASSES: WEEK B: Meet everyday Monday, Aug. 5 – Friday, Aug. 9, 2024
Cultivating Dynamic Flow on Lyra – (Intermediate / Advanced) with Ariana Papousek
1:00-2:30 PM. Week B. FFP Studio 1.
Ages 12+. $190.
Prerequisites: Ability to hold a single knee hang(w/o hands) for 30 seconds on each leg, 5 knee beats, 5 straight arm beats on top bar, pull up from straight arm hang, tuck hold for 30 seconds.
Level up your dynamic lyra with a curriculum that connects beats and drops with seamless transitions. Push yourself, expand your boundaries, and conquer fears while flowing from dynamic to rhythmic skills on lyra to create a routine that is stunning and captivating. In this class we will explore sequences that bring the energy from powerful and thrilling, to graceful and entrancing.
Everything Peg Stilts (All Levels) with Danielle Hendricks and Valerie Morris
1:00-2:30 PM. Week. B. FFP Studio 2.
Ages 13+ or with instructor approval. $190.
Prerequisites: None.
We will be contacting you ahead of the festival to see what you are bringing. If we can arrange a fitting for shoe attachment to a pair of stilts ahead of class, we will do so in order to save time during class!
This class takes you through the basics of stilts. Danielle and Valerie each have over 20 years experience dancing, performing, and teaching stilts. We are co-teaching the class to ensure that everyone can learn, progress, refine, and uplevel their skill, no matter if they have years of experience, or are trying stilts for the very first time. We will try to get everyone who is borrowing our stilts (mostly wooden) fitted and up as quickly as possible. After being fitted, we will go over the options of how to get up and down, as well as proper falling techniques. We will learn some basic across the floor techniques on and off of stilts, as well as how to activate the appropriate muscles and maintain proper alignment. Valerie is a master of finding the perfect stilts placement and they are both sticklers for proper alignment.
We will also be going over basic ground acrobatics both for solo and partnering. Later in the week, we can divide into groups to work on outdoor stilting for those who want to, and indoor acrobatics that take a little more space. Students who want to work on turns, leaps, running, jumps, and hops, will be given tools and techniques to learn and improve those skills. We will learn proper spotting techniques to do backbends, handstands, slide falls, and get-ups for those that are interested. You can even take this class if you just want to learn to spot and partner, and prefer not to be on stilts. Val and Dani will meet you wherever you are at, and help you advance your skill level.
Please bring the following to class:
- Your own pair of lace up, velcro, or bungee tied, close-toed sneakers/shoes, in your size. Bring these to attach to stilts for use all week-UNLESS:
- If you have your own peg stilts, bring them. If shoes are already attached, great!
- A set of THICKLY cushioned knee pads. We have a few that you can borrow. A hard shell is great, but not necessary. A thick pad is NECESSARY! You can also layer knee pads.
Dance Trapeze: Connectivity and Flow (Intermediate) with Summer Lacy
1:00-2:30 pm. Week B. Dairy Gordon Gamm.
Ages 16+. $190.
Prerequisites: Basic proficiency on the dance trapeze (gazelle, mermaid, single knee hang, dragonfly, front balance, etc.). The student should be able to do a clean, unassisted pull-up straddle and/or tuck inversion and a pullover mount without jumping. Comfortable working in ropes. Endurance to stay in the air for at least two minutes.
Elevate the strength and flow of your single-point dance trapeze technique. This class will focus on sequencing skills together to broaden students’ connection to the trapeze and unlock their movement potential. We will break down all the skills in a sequence before building it back into a singular flow that can be modified and evolved to limitless possibilities. Students will come to understand what’s required to make the dance trapeze a “blank canvas” that they can create on top of, while cleanly executing dynamic transitions, and leave the course with a better understanding of sequencing with first hand experience.
Heavy Metal: Invented Apparatus (Intermediate) with Nancy Smith
3:00-4:30 pm. Week B. FFP Studio 1.
Ages 15+. $190.
Prerequisites: Must have an intermediate level of experience on horizontal aerial apparatus (lyra, dance trapeze or static trapeze) AND enjoy improvisational exploration.
This class will engage you in an exploration through guided improvisation on a variety of suspended “heavy metal” apparatus from Frequent Flyers’ stash! Learn how to work on structures that are unpredictable using shared weight and gravity to advantage. We’ll play with solo, duet and group improvisations while building the skills to be able to approach any new apparatus safely and with a fresh approach. Open your mind and explore to unlock your creativity.
Roll-Up Clinic: Aerial Straps (Advanced) with Veronica Blair
3:00-4:30 PM. Week B. FFP Studio 2.
Ages 16+. $190.
Prerequisites: Participants must be able to do 3 leg lifts above 90 degrees.
Designed for advanced students who are just starting out on their roll-up journey, or the more experienced student who desires consistent roll-ups. This workshop will introduce students to drills that lead to roll-up success! Angel roll-ups will also be covered.
Act Creation Toolkit (Intermediate / Advanced) with Summer Lacy
3:00-4:30 PM. Week B. Dairy Gordon Gamm.
Ages 16+. $190.
Prerequisites: Intermediate to Advanced level students with a strong vocabulary of skills and the ability to safely execute those skills on their apparatus of choice. Endurance to stay in the air for at least two minutes. An open mind to creative movement. A willingness to receive constructive feedback in a safe space. Notebook and a pen/pencil or note taking device of choice.
What’s your story? Every choice an artist makes, from music, to costume, to movement enhances or distracts from their story. Who is your character? What is your why? This class is designed to give you a step by step process and tools to find your own artistic expression and create your own compelling act. Whether you are a professional looking to get better at creating more compelling performances or you’re just looking for where to start, this high-level overview will kickstart the process of turning “tricks” and “sequences” into choreography and a compelling, narrative performance piece.
Each day, through movement exploration, lecture, and exercises, students will refine both their narrative and the creative execution of their act with clarity and confidence. While this course is relevant to all apparatus, during this class dance trapeze, lyra, fabric and sling will be available for use.
Sling Skills & Technique (Advanced Beginner / Intermediate) with Summer Lacy
5:30-7:00 PM. Week B. FFP Studio 1.
Ages 16+. $190.
Prerequisites: Students must have basic proficiency on sling (hammock) and/or silks and be able to do a clean, unassisted pullover mount and an unassisted straddle inversion in the air.
Explore the possibilities of shape and space as we set sail into sling! This class will build on foundational sling skills as we explore both open and closed sling. Students will learn to better control the apparatus by understanding its underlying mechanics, unlocking wraps, rolls and transitions while developing stamina, strength and technique. Students will leave the class with stronger foundations and additional skills.
Straddle Up! The Breakdown (Beginner thru Advanced) with Veronica Blair
5:30-7:00pm. Week B. Dairy Gordon Gamm.
Ages 13+. $190.
The ever-elusive straddle-up inversion slowing down your progression? Are you a beginner struggling to get into an inversion without jumping from the ground? Or have you been training in aerial arts for months or even years but still struggle with doing two or three straddle-ups in a row? Then this workshop is for you! This workshop will familiarize students with the major muscle groups needed to safely invert, exercises to condition them and drills to develop straddle up proficiency. Participants will learn how to identify common pitfalls and to safely and effectively perform inversions. Crossback-straddle will also be covered in this class.
Loop Love (Advanced Beginner / Intermediate) with Ariana Papousek
5:30-7:00 PM. Week B. Dairy Gordon Gamm.
Ages: 12+. $190.
Prerequisites: Must be able to do a controlled pull up pull over into loops that are above your head. Must be able to do a full straddle up in the air (straight arm straddle up not required), must have some basic sling vocabulary: seated straddle, back straddle, single knee hang, gazelle, front balance, rib hang.
Ready to elevate your aerial creativity? Let’s take a deep dive into loops together! Combining flows and spins with grace and technique, this class is sure to spark your love for loops. This class is mixed to combine both solo and duo sequencing. At the beginning of the week we will work on solo skills, and then move into partnering work towards the end of the week.
