Carnival Workshop Descriptions!
Friday session 1
Aerial 1 “Silky Silks”
Silks with Brendan
Level: intermediate
Prerequisites: comfortable inverting from a climb several times
Love the feeling of silks? Well in this workshop we will be looking pretty in "insert colour of silks" here. In high fashion we will be looking at fun shapes in the air.
Aerial 2 “Cloudy with a chance of smiles”
Cloud with Jo
Level: beginner
Prerequisites: none
In this playful workshop you will be introduced to the sunny world of cloud. Expect to sway, roll, twist and smile!
Floor 1 “Uncomfortable cycling”
Unicycle- Darren
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
Have fun trying not to fall off half a bike.
Floor 2 “No throw clubs”
Club manipulation with Emma
Level: beginner
Prerequisites: able to hold a juggling club! Ability to throw and catch not necessary!
The plan is to juggle clubs with zero throwing or catching! Come along to play mostly with 1 club to learn and play with a bunch of spins, rolls and flourishes to add into other juggling or as a cool skill on its own.
Friday session 2
Aerial 1 “All in a strop”
Doubles strops with Gemma & Suzie
Level: intermediate
Prerequisites: happy to spin, hold your own weight with one wrist in the strop (easier than it sounds), straddle from the ground.
See the thing that holds the hoop to the ceiling? That’s a strop! Yes, we aerialists use anything and everything to hang, climb and spin on! Come and learn a new sequence (different from last year)! The first sequence we will be using your wrist in the strop to create different shapes with your partner and the second we’ll use your shoulders in the strop.
Aerial 2 “Head in the clouds”
Cloud with Jo
Level: intermediate
Prerequisites: cross back straddle on silks, a strong roll down on vertices is beneficial but not essential.
In this workshop you will learn some sequences and tricks that Jo has merged and transferred from other apparatus, making them even more fun because cloud is AWESOME!!! You will also learn a base position that will be used in the double cloud workshop.
Floor 1 “Intro to poi”
Poi with Brendan
Level: beginner
Prerequisits: none
Ever thought “I'd love to swing a tennis ball and see if it hits or misses me”? Well if this has crossed your mind, join me for some fun with a massive splash of chaos, as no swing is wrong in this introduction to poi workshop.
Floor 2 “No leotards required”
Gymnastics with Jo A
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
Learn handstands and cartwheels with gymnastic Jo!
Friday workshop 3
Aerial 1 “Strops glorious strops”
Strops with Suzie
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
See the thing that holds the hoop up, that’s a strop! Yes, we aerialists hang and spin from anything and everything! We will be working on our own to explore strops; putting our shoulders in them, wrist, ankle and knee! We’ll start off with an easier sequence and build up from there. Strops can be done with or without a spin.
Aerial 2 “Double the fun”
Doubles cloud with Jo
Level: beginner for flyers, intermediate for bases
Prerequisites: flyers: none, although you will find the cloud pinchy. Bases need to have a strong straddle, the ability to hold someone’s weight. Attending the intermediate cloud class will be beneficial as we learn a base position in that workshop.
Work in pairs to make insta worthy shapes and swing like a kid.
Floor 1 “No throw clubs”
Club manipulation with Emma
Level: beginner
Prerequisites: Able to hold a juggling club! Ability to throw and catch not necessary!
The plan is to juggle clubs with zero throwing or catching! Come along to play mostly with 1 club to learn and play with a bunch of spins, rolls and flourishes to add into other juggling or as a cool skill on its own.
Floor 2 “Dances with circles”
Hula hoop with Gemma
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
Hula hooping for beginners, by a beginner hula hoop teacher! In this workshop we will master a group hula hoop routine and maybe show it off on Saturday night! It will be helpful if you have a hula hoop that you are comfortable waist hooping with, but also that you can hand hoop with (halo circle above your head). We will have hoops to borrow though.
Please get familiar with the song ‘Muevelo” By Nicky Jam and Daddy Yankee.
Saturday workshop 1
Aerial 1 "Net working"
Aerial net with Brendan
Level: beginner
Prerequisites: inverting in a knot or hammock will be helpful
Ever wonder what others do for work? In this work shop we don't care because you here for the net. Brendan will introduce you to a captivating new aerial equipment. But what is net? Well come find out!
Aerial 2 “Knot work”
Doubles rope with Gemma & Suzie
Level: intermediate
Prerequisites: confident in climbing rope/silks, straddle from a climb, catchers, s lock, happy to attempt holding someone else’s weight.
Explore the fun (and challenges!) of doubles rope! One person will be in “crazy wrap” supporting the other person to create new shapes using the rope as a line and as a loop. We’ll also explore shapes using the tension of the rope; with one person being higher and one lower, the top of the rope becomes tight like a pole which gives us the chance to explore new shapes!
Floor 1 “High life”
Two high acro with Darren and Jo (standing on shoulders)
Level: intermediate
Prerequisites: a foundational understanding of acrobalance, willingness to be stood on or stand on a person's shoulders.
Two highs are a really impressive acro pose where one person stands on another's shoulders. We will start low and work our way up. With our base starting kneeling down then work towards the base standing up.
Floor 2 Beyond 3 ball
Juggling with Graeme
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: a 3 ball cascade pattern that can be kept steady for more than 10 seconds.
For this workshop we will take the lead from the people attending and try to teach tricks people have been wanting to learn, otherwise I'll work on some standard next step tricks based on skill levels, we will look to make sure everyone comes away with at least one new skill at minimum but ideally loads more.
Saturday workshop 2
Aerial 1 "Net working"
Aerial net with Brendan
Level: beginner
Prerequisites: inverting in a knot or hammock will be helpful
Ever wonder what others do for work? In this work shop we don't care because you here for the net. Brendan will introduce you to a captivating new aerial equipment. But what is net? Well come find out!
Aerial 2 “Rope noodling”
Rope with Emma
Skill level: intermediate
Prerequisites: be able to comfortably climb, invert and ideally do basic positions like catchers and front balance on rope or silks in the air.
Come along and learn a bunch of aerial rope, from beautiful poses to quirky, unusual tricks. Let's hang around on some ropes together and do some sits, beats, poses and flip flops.
Floor 1 “ Basic 3 ball”
Juggling with Graeme
Level: beginners
Prerequisites: none
Learn the concepts of basic 3 ball cascade pattern and start learning to juggle, or if you can do this already we can look at the different techniques of basic 3 ball juggling and ways to improve it.
Floor 2 “Tuned In”
Singing with Beth
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
Come along for a circus themed singalong. All voices welcome!
Saturday workshop 3
Aerial 1 “Spinning Top”
Spanish web and lollipop with Gemma
Level: intermediate (web) beginner (lollipop)
Prerequisites: for spanish web - being able to climb rope / silks multiple times and holding your hand comfortably in the silk belay loop is very helpful, or possessing ‘death grip’ on any other apparatus. You will be spinning (that is not optional) so beware if you get motion sickness.
No pre requisites for lollipop but will help if you like spinning!
In this workshop I am mixing two of my favourite spinning apparatus, web and hoop, but not at the same time. That is because I can only spin one person at a time, so the lollipop will keep you occupied til it is your turn!
Spanish web is a rope apparatus that has a hand loop attached to it. A partner spins the rope and you will then try to hold beautiful poses in the air! It’s a daring apparatus and very impressive!
Lollipop which is a aerial hoop that sits on top of a pole that also spins. It can be performed solo or double and in this session you will be able to explore some moves that you might know from other apparatus. If you don’t fancy web, you are welcome to just come and play on the lolli :))
Aerial 2 “rope with things!”
Rope with Emma
Skill level: beginner to intermediate
Prerequisites: confident climbing, basic movements on rope/ silks and enthusiasm to explore and create.
Ever fancied carrying a watering can, hat, juggling club, houseplant or coathanger up a rope? Well this is the incredibly specific and wacky class for you! This will be a creative exploration of how to manipulate aerial equipment itself, as well as using other funny objects whilst doing aerial, which is great for storytelling and character building for acts. If you've any items you're interested to explore using whilst climbing a rope and doing tricks, bring it along (a selection of stuff will be there for you to use at the workshop too)!
Floor 1 “Big stick twirling”
Staff with Darren
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
Staff is like baton twirling but the stick is bigger… So obviously cooler. Come throw big sticks around with Darren.
Floor 2 “Uncomfortable cycling”
Unicycle with Darren
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
Have fun trying not to fall off half a bike.
Saturday workshop 4
Floor 1 & 2 “Triple dipple”
Acrobalance with everyone
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
Come and be introduced or reacquainted with acrobalance! This session will take you through some of the fundamentals of acro, and some harder progressions where you will balance on top of each other in poses of threes and fours. We will then try and make larger shapes by joining these up with other groups, with the goal being great pictures for instagram!
Sunday workshop 1
Aerial 1 “Doubles trapeze please!”
Trapeze with Jo & Darren
Level: improver to intermediate
Prerequisites: to be able to mount the trapeze without your feet on the ground. Willingness to be stood on, sat on and hung off.
In this workshop Jo and Darren will teach you some fabulous shapes while you’re on the trapeze as well as fun ways on and off the trapeze with a partner.
Aerial 2 “rope with things!”
Rope with Emma
Skill level: beginner to intermediate
Prerequisites: confident climbing, basic movements on rope/ silks and enthusiasm to explore and create.
Ever fancied carrying a watering can, hat, juggling club, houseplant or coathanger up a rope? Well this is the incredibly specific and wacky class for you! This will be a creative exploration of how to manipulate aerial equipment itself, as well as using other funny objects whilst doing aerial, which is great for storytelling and character building for acts. If you've any items you're interested to explore using whilst climbing a rope and doing tricks, bring it along (a selection of stuff will be there for you to use at the workshop too)!
Floor 1 “proper poi”
Poi with Graeme
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
As a performance art, poi involves swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns.
Or as well all know it, get better at not belting yourself with the weights on strings.
Floor 2 “Strictly Carnival”
Dance with Rohanne
Level: all levels
<description coming soon>
Sunday workshop 2
Aerial 1 “Doubles hoop, double the fun!”
Double hoop with Suzie
Level: intermediate
Prerequisite: One person will need to be confident on the top bar to pull themselves up and over to cloth (you can use strop) and also be confident to sit on the top bar.
Come and learn a new sequence with a partner! We’ll build up from a pretty sequence to using each other to hold on to and balance with! Some of the partner balances require you to support the other person’s weight.
Aerial 2 “Loops and knots”
Hammock with Jo
Level : improver
Prerequisites: comfortable straddle in a knot / hammock
Come learn a sequence that works your brain out as well as your body. Sometimes you’ll make loops, sometimes you’ll end up in knots.
Floor 1 “Ah balls…”
Ball passing with Graeme
Level: all levels
Ball passing - it’s like club passing without the big spinny plastic things. No need for any previous experience, we can just throw things at each other until it looks good.
Floor 2 “Let's go clubbing”
Club juggling with Darren
Level: Beginners
Prerequisites: none
Learn the basics of club juggling.
Sunday workshop 3
Aerial 1 “Loopy hoop!”
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: ideally in a hoop class or confident in hoop.
Come and try the hand loop in the hoop! The loop is attached at the top of the hoop at 12 o’clock position. Come and learn a simple sequence using your wrist in the hand loop. For the more experienced, there will be a chance to explore using your ankle in the loop too!
Aerial 2 “Silky Silks”
Silks with Brendan
Level: intermediate
Prerequisites: comfortable inverting from a climb several times
Love the feeling of silks? Well in this workshop we will be looking pretty in "insert colour of silks" here. In high fashion we will be looking at fun shapes in the air.
Floor 1 “Spinning Top”
Spanish web and lollipop with Gemma
Level: Intermediate (web) Beginner (lollipop)
Prerequisites: for spanish web - being able to climb rope / silks multiple times and holding your hand comfortably in the silk belay loop is very helpful, or possessing ‘death grip’ on any other apparatus. You will be spinning (that is not optional) so beware if you get motion sickness.
No pre requisites for lollipop but will help if you like spinning!
In this workshop I am mixing two of my favourite spinning apparatus, web and hoop, but not at the same time. That is because I can only spin one person at a time, so the lollipop will keep you occupied til it is your turn!
Spanish web is a rope apparatus that has a hand loop attached to it. A partner spins the rope and you will then try to hold beautiful poses in the air! It’s a daring apparatus and very impressive!
Lollipop which is a aerial hoop that sits on top of a pole that also spins. It can be performed solo or double and in this session you will be able to explore some moves that you might know from other apparatus. If you don’t fancy web, you are welcome to just come and play on the lolli :))
Floor 2 “Whose line is it anyway?”
Improvisation with Benjamin
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
Play some silly acting games. Some of them might teach you something about character and performance. Some of them definitely won’t.
Sunday workshop 4
Aerial 1 “Bungeeeee!”
Bungee dance with Jo
Level: beginner
Prerequisites: none
Ever seen a baby in a bouncer and thought “I’d like to do that”? Well nows your chance, in this workshop you will learn a simple dance to music all while dangling from a bungee cord attached to the roof.
Aerial 2 “Hiya Hammock!”
Hammock with Gemma
Level: determined beginner upwards
Prerequisites: confident with your grip
This workshop will focus on poses in aerial hammock (a big silk, in a big loop also called sling). Learn some splitty, some roll-y and some wrappy skills in a sequence that gives you a wee intro to the possibilities of hammock, without nackering yourself too much!
Floor 1 “Namaste”
Hatha Yoga with Suzie
Level: all levels
Prerequisites: none
We will focus on using our breath to help us relax deeper into our stretches. The beginning and end of the session will be relaxing but the main session can be quite challenging to hold poses. There will be progressions for all levels and the option to use a counter pose to relax for longer if you are tired.
Floor 2 “over to you”
Creative Props
This is not a led workshop. It is time for you to play with any floor skills you have learned over the weekend.