Aerial Glossary
I've Moved! Check out my new website www.AerFit.ca See you there!Just in case I use a word or phrase you aren't familiar with, I have compiled a glossary. If you think a word should be added let me know:) Not in any particular order.
Circus Terms
Aerial Arts: Acts performed in the air on a suspended apparatus such as a trapeze.
Aerial Silks/Tissu: An Aerial apparatus which is a long piece of fabric, usually tricot nylon, that is suspended from the middle so it falls down in two ribbons.
Static Trapeze: A trapeze act where the trapeze is mostly static and there is not much if any swinging or spinning involved.
Dance Trapeze: A contemporary trapeze act with more dynamic movement such as swinging in different directions, spinning, performed to music.
Swinging trapeze: A traditional circus act where one or more trapeze are suspended swinging in only now direction and multiple people perform by swinging, jumping, and catching each other in the air.
Lyra/ Aerial Hoop: An aerial apparatus which is a solid hoop and can be of varying sizes on which the performer executes tricks.
Corde Lisse: A long rope suspended and used in Aerial Acts
Spanish Web: Similar to Corde Lisse, however more dynamic in nature as it is usually performed spinning with hand or foot loops.
Cloud Swing: A large U shaped rope suspended by two separate rigging points, used in Aerial acts. Can be static or dynamic/swinging.
Aerial Hammock/Sling: Apparatus similar to Aerial Silks, however suspended usually by a single point so that it loops back up as a sling or hammock.
Aerial Chains: Similar in modality to aerial sling but instead of fabric it is made of heavy chains.
Contemporary Circus:
Traditional Circus:
Acrobatics: Individual or partner skills involving strength and dexterity, including body rotations, twists, flips, balances, jumps, and turns. Can be performed not he ground or in the air.
Tumbling: A generic term encompassing ground movements or a series of ground movements such as cartwheel, round-off, somersault, handspring, backflip etc.
Hand-Balancing:
Adagio: Partner acrobatics using counterweight, balances, lifts, and dance movements.
Anatomy & Movement
Flexion: The action of bending or the condition of being bent
Extension: The action of moving a limb from bent to straight position, or the condition of being straight
Contract: Decrease in size, shorten, or tighten
Elevation: The action of elevating, raising, or being elevated
Depression:The act of lowering or pressing down
Anterior: Nearer to the front of the body or moving towards the direction of the front of the body.
Posterior: Nearer to the back or moving towards the back of the body.
Internal Rotation: Rotation towards the centre of the body
External Rotation: Rotation away from the centre of the body
Adduction: Moving towards the centre ( mid-saggital plane) of the body
Abduction: Moving away from the centre of the body
Isometric: of, relating to, or denoting muscular action in which tension is developed without contraction of the muscle
Static: Lacking in movement, action, or change. Still.
Dynamic: Characterized by constant change, activity, and motion.
Ballistic : In relation to stretching or movement : Using gravity to achieve a bouncing movement in a stretch
Pronation: turning the foot or hand so that the sole or palm is facing downward or inward
Supination: turning the foot or hand so that the sole or palm is facing upward or outward
Source: Experience & Training, Dictionary, and the National Institute of Circus Arts Australia online circus dictionary
