Aerial rigging is a specialty within the field of rigging that deals specifically with human loads. Aerial rigging is the process of setting up equipment used to make humans fly, specifically aerial
circus
A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and unicyclis ...
and aerial dance equipment.
The field is of critical importance, and a thorough grasp of the principles of aerial rigging is essential in order to ensure the safety of the artists and the audience.
Aerial rigging is commonly practiced to different degrees by specialty fabricators, professional riggers, professional
aerial artists, as well as amateur aerial artists. Most aerial circus equipment is built by fabricators around the world that build equipment specifically for the circus industry.
Aerial artists, both professional and amateur, often become riggers out of necessity. They generally learn to rig what they need.
WLA
(Weak Link Analysis) is the process of systematically analyzing aerial rigging for the weakest link or links in the system. WLA is the most common process used by aerial riggers to assess and improve rigging. However, it is not the only system used.
See also
*
Fly system
A fly system, or theatrical rigging system, is a system of rope lines, blocks (pulleys), counterweights and related devices within a theater (structure), theater that enables a stage crew to fly (hoist) quickly, quietly and safely components suc ...
, theatrical rigging
References
* Introduction to Rigging: Lyras and Trapeze Bars
* Introduction to Rigging: Aerial Fabrics
* Rigging Math Made Simple
* Allard-Buffet, Véronique. The Accommodating Showman. Diss. Carleton University, 2012.
* Brunsdale, Maureen, and Mark Schmitt. The Bloomington-Normal Circus Legacy: The Golden Age of Aerialists. The History Press, 2013.
External links
''Basic Circus Arts Instruction Manual'': Chapter 8 - "Manual for Safety and Rigging." DF, 3.3 MBEuropean Federation of Professional Circus Schools (FEDEC), 2008.
FM 5-125: ''Rigging Techniques, Procedures, and Applications.'' DF, 3.6 MBUS Army, 1995.
* Steven Santos
Simply Circus: "Rigging I." owerpoint presentation, 572 KBAerial Arts FAQSilk rigging tutorial and exampleTHE Flying Trapeze Resource PageAcrobatic RiggingAERISC - Association Européen pour la Recherche, l'Innovation et la Sécurité du Cirque (European Association for the Research, Innovation, and Safety of the Circus Arts)
Circus skills
Special effects
{{filmmaking-stub