Aerial Nerd Conference 2021

TWO WEEKENDS
Sept 17-18 Sling & Hoop Weekend
Sept 24-25  Fabric & Rope Weekend

​All times are listed in MST. When you go to register, our online system will list the times in your preferred time zone. For help on converting to your time zones, you can use this handy website: www.thetimezoneconverter.com/

Click on any workshop title below to register. Scroll down for all workshop descriptions. 

FRIDAY SEPT 17
10-11:30am  Functional Shoulder Anatomy
12-1:30pm   Dreamy Hoop Sequences
3-4:30pm    Sling Taxonomy 101 & 102: Sling Vocab
5-6:30pm    Sling Taxonomy 103: Seatbelt
7-8:30pm    Sling Taxonomy 104: Hip Corset

SATURDAY  SEPT 18
8-9:30am      Hoop: Top Bar & Spanset
10-11:30am   Hoop: All things Lion
1-2:30pm     Sling Taxonomy 105: Knee Corset
3-4:30pm     Sling Taxonomy 204: Rearranging Actions (with a focus on Side Back Balance)
5-7:30pm     Sling Taxonomy 106: Crossback Straddle

FRIDAY  SEPT 24
10-11:30am   Functional Aerial Anatomy of the Hip & Pelvis
3-4:30pm     Fabric Taxonomy 106: Hip Key Family Tree
5-6:30pm     Fabric Taxonomy 107: Double Catcher's (Double the Fun!)
7-8:30pm    Fabric Taxonomy 204: Rearranging Actions (with a focus on hip hitch seat sequencing)

SATURDAY  SEPT 25
8-9:30am   Retrograde Reflections with Molly Graves  
10-11:30am  Slacking Off
1-2:30pm  Cross-Cultural Rope: Mallakhamb! 
3-4:30pm     Fabric Taxonomy 108: Unlock the Knee Lock
5-7:30pm     Fabric Taxonomy 202: Split Silk Theory (with application to the star drop wrap)
The zoom link for each workshop will be provided to your email by our "punchpass" system 24 hours prior to each workshop. 

You will receive a recording of the class whether or not you attend the live session. The recording will be available to watch for 3 months after the conference. 
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PRICING FOR WORKSHOPS 
One Workshop |  $40
Two Workshops | $35/workshop
Three Workshops | $30/workshop
Four Workshops | $25/workshop
Five Workshops or More!  | $22/workshop
UNLIMITED Pass | $390 for everything! 
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS & PREREQUISITES

Please read the prerequisites carefully and if you have any questions about any of them, don't hesitate to email [email protected].  

All times listed are in Mountain Standard Time (MST) as we are broadcasting from Colorado, USA. 

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WEEKEND 1
FRIDAY, Sept 17, 2021
10am - 11:30am MST  | Functional Aerial Shoulders- Theory to Practice  
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: None
Instructor: Michele Frances
Description:  This workshop will go over fundamental shoulder muscle-skeletal anatomy with a heavy focus on biomechanics as it relates to the physical demands of aerial work. Develop a strong understanding of ideal shoulder engagement and cues for activation in short arm or long arm holds (and inversions), as well as with dynamic skills. 
Prerequisites: All levels are welcome. Aerial instructors and serious students of all apparatus are strongly encouraged to attend!

12-1:30pm MST   |  Dreamy Hoop Sequences
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Hoop
Instructor: Dream Frohe
Description: Incorporating spinning, rolling, threading, compression and some other favorite tidbits, this workshop hopes to encourage exploration, expand possibilities and otherwise create good times while battering ourselves against our favorite metal circles.
Prerequisites: Be able to invert with straight arms, hold a back balance without hands and tolerate spinning at a medium pace while doing choreography for up to 2 min. 

Please rig your hoop about hip or chest height for this workshop. 


3-4:30pm MST   |  Sling Taxonomy 101 & 102: Sling Vocab
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Sling
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: This mini-course will focus on getting everyone on the same page. If you are going to take any other course by Rebekah Leach, then this class is recommend to you UNLESS you already know all the following vocabulary (which is covered in the this course): catcher's, half-catcher's, seatbelt, half-seatbelt, hip corset, knee corset, body wrap, crossback straddle, slicing, threading, knee hooks, break beat, pull-over, arabesque types, side back balance, hip key, front lion, back lion, and more.
Prerequisites: At least one year of sling and at an intermediate level (can invert). 
In this class, we will be walking into all wraps from the ground. Please set your sling to hover just a few inches off the ground for the best classroom experience. 

5-6:30pm MST |   Sling Taxonomy 103: Seatbelt
           **Back by Popular Demand**
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Sling
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: This mini-course will focus on breaking down seatbelt, understanding its components and then this will lead to the creation of various entries and exits for seatbelt. Within this concept includes various entries for half-seatbelt. This course will be non-stop brain-blowing entries and connections. (Every time this workshop is given, a brand new entry is revealed at the workshop!)
Prerequisites: Understanding of seatbelt. Know what it is and at least two entries already. Be able to easily invert and try lots of new things (know your body). 
For the best classroom experience, please have the height of your sling set to hip height or a low height that allows you to walk through the skills. 

7-8:30pm MST |   Sling Taxonomy 104: Hip Corset
       **Back by Popular Demand**
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Sling
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: This mini-course will focus on breaking down body wrap and the skill derived from a body wrap = hip corset. We are going to be focusing on the 4 entries & exits that the "two-way property" of sling tells us must exist, and use group think-work to derive at possible solutions. The big concepts will be the same as last year, but some new entries will be taught as well. This is an important workshop to take if you are going to take crossback straddle.
Prerequisites: Understanding of hip corset. Know what it is and at least two entries already. Be able to easily invert and try lots of new things (know your body). 

For the best classroom experience, please have the height of your sling set to hip height or a low height that allows you to walk through the skills. 


SATURDAY, Sept 18, 2021
8-9:30am  |  Hoop: Top Bar & Spanset
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Hoop
Instructor: Sofia Rodriguez
Description: In love with single point lyra, but don’t know what to do with the spanset? In this workshop, we will learn ways to think about the spanset in a closed and open perspective, as well as other ways to roll around the top bar. Come learn some fun sequences that you can add to your single point repertoire! 
Prerequisites: Must feel comfortable inverting and have enough general knowledge and strength to explore on top of the hoop. Recommended: To have the best experience with this workshop, have your hoop rigged with a single point span set, and have the height of the hoop at about hip height. 

10-11:30am  |  Hoop: All things Lion 
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Hoop
Instructor: Sofia Rodriguez
Description: Lion entries, exits, and rolls, oh my! In this workshop we will explore unique entries and exits out of lion in a tree. We will also look at the many types of 1/2 & full lion rolls (also called snake rolls or music box). Come learn all the tips and tricks on how to make these rolls more attainable! Please bring sleeves to class.
Pre-requisites: Must feel comfortable inverting, must know how to get into lion, knowing inverted man in the moon is a plus, but not necessarily required.

1-2:30pm MST  |    Sling Taxonomy 105: Knee Corset
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Sling
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: This mini-course will take you through the ways to wrap the knee corset, which is like a hip corset but wrapped around the bottom of the thigh, close to the knee. We will go over the two types of the knee corset and the basic structure that builds these wraps. 
Prerequisites: Students should have a regular sling practice and if "knee corset" is a new term, then please take the Sling Taxonomy 101 & 102 course prior to taking this workshop. 
For the best experience, have your sling hung low (a few inches off the ground) so that you can walk through all the entries and exits. 

3-4:30pm MST |    Sling Taxonomy 204: Rearranging Actions (with a focus on Side Back Balance)
     **Highly recommend for brainiacs!**
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Sling
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: This mini-course is designed to show you how actions can be separated out from a sequence and then added back in in different places. This is a great skill to have for developing choreography, and knowing your options for getting creative with sequences. The example sequence we will focus on involves knee hooking and side back balance.
Prerequisites: Students should have a regular sling practice and if "side back balance" is a new term, then please take the Sling Taxonomy 101 & 102 course prior to taking this workshop. 
For the best experience, have your sling at about hip height so that you can hit a comfortable side back balance without feet touching the floor. 

5-7:30pm  MST |   Sling Taxonomy 106: Crossback Straddle
  *** Topic is Trending! ***
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Sling
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: Crossback straddle is a crowd-favorite, and students often take this course looking for new entries to this popular skill. While that will be covered, the focus that you should anticipate is more to understand the basic structure of the crossback straddle, and this will allow YOU to be the creator of new entries and exit possibilities, once you have a better understanding of how the crossback straddle is built. 
Prerequisites: Students should already know at least one entry into crossback straddle to take this course. It is best if you have taken the hip corset workshop prior to this workshop. ​ Please have your sling at a lower height, making it easy to walk into the crossback straddle over and over during class. 


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​WEEKEND 2
FRIDAY Sept 24, 2021
10-11:30am MST |   Functional Aerial Anatomy of the Hip & Pelvis
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: None
Instructor: Michele Frances
Description: Understanding fundamental skeletal & muscular anatomy, and basic kinesiology is key to successfully learn, teach and adapt skills to all body types, and levels. This lecture with movement based class focuses on muscle/skeletal anatomy of the pelvis and hip joints, the associated biomechanics & kinesiology, and applied function in aerial arts. 
Prerequisites: All levels and aerial disciplines are encouraged to attend. Especially great for teachers. 


3-4:30pm MST   |  Fabric Taxonomy 106: Hip Key Family Tree
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Fabric
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: Bring your pen and paper as we map out the family tree for hip key. This is a great skill to start examining the ways we build the internal and external structure of a wrap in fabric taxonomy. 
Prerequisites: You need to have a very solid understanding of hip key prior to taking this course. Have a fabric ready if you wish to walk through any of the skills taught OR have an aerial doll with a fabric to walk through the skills OR watch and take notes!

5-6:30pm  MST  |  Fabric Taxonomy 107: Double Catcher's (Double the Fun!)
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Fabric
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: Get ready to use systematic patterns to find new and creative things! One of Rebekah's oldest and favorite workshops! She's been giving this workshop in various forms since 2008, but never quite like this before. Come and have all the fun. This one is especially great for students who are newer to aerial puzzles. 
Prerequisites: Double catcher's is also known as crochet crossback plus thigh wraps. This wrap is very commonly known as the wrap that underlies the common 360 front dive on fabric. You must be familiar with this wrap prior to this workshop. 

Also, have silks at your location OR an aerial doll with fabric to walk through the skills. 

7-8:30pm MST  |  Fabric Taxonomy 204: Rearranging Actions (with a focus on hip hitch seat sequencing)
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Fabric
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
DDescription: In this newly-developed workshop, we will look at what actions are essential to a sequence, and what actions can be taken out and rearranged to create something new. We will take a look at a few sequences, but you are also welcome to send in a sequence of YOURS to study! Please send any sequences that you would like to submit for study to: [email protected].
Prerequisites: You must be an intermediate aerial silk artist with a large vocabulary including hip key, hip hitches, thigh lock (also known as secretary), and catcher's.

Have silks at your location OR an aerial doll with fabric to walk through the skills OR just watch and take notes!



SATURDAY Sept 25, 2021
8-9:3am MST |   Retrograde Reflections: Mirror Images and Anti-gravity Dreaming
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Rope
Instructor: Molly Graves
Description: Do you ever dream about what rope would be like in a zero-gravity world where there is no up or down?! Or find yourself playing videos of that super-cool drop backwards and thinking, “What if…?" Get ready to challenge your vertical brain as we invert and reverse our wraps and our way of thinking about them! There will be no drops in this workshop, but we will do a lot of floor noodling — so find a comfortable spot to roll around!
Prerequisites:  Best suited for intermediate to advanced level rope or fabric artists with a large vocabulary of climbs, wraps and positions — including straddle climbs, catcher’s wrap, hip key, hip hitches, front balance and double knee hang. Experience with hip hops is helpful but not required.

Having access to an aerial rope is ideal, but in a pinch a fabric could work — or aerial doll with rope to walk through wraps!


​10-11:30am  MST    | Slacking Off
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Fabric
Instructor: Rain Anya
Description:  “Slag Drag” theory is a termed coined by Rain Anya and Sarah Bebe Holmes of Paper Doll Militia. There are countless ways that you can “drag” the “slack” of a piece of fabric or rope to create new and interesting ways into your standard wraps. This workshop will focus on the different attributes and benefits of using slack drag, as we dive into the many applications on split silks.  
Pre-requisites: Best suited for intermediate and above fabric artists with a large vocabulary of climbs, wraps and positions.  


1-2:30pm MST |  Cross-cultural “Play”: The Toe-tally Marvelous World of Indian Rope Mallakhamb!
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Rope
Instructor: Molly Graves
Description:  This workshop will explore the fascinating world of Indian rope mallakhamb, including unique wraps, toe climb theory and how various hand grips (and toe grips!) are related and connected. While you do not have to be familiar with toe climbs to do the workshop, it can be helpful if you would like to put the wraps into practice. Modified toe-friendly variations will also be offered, as well as starting points for training your toes!
Prerequisites: Best suited for intermediate to advanced level rope or fabric artists with a large vocabulary of climbs and wraps — including straddle climbs, catcher’s wrap, hip key, and hip hitches. Experience with toe climbs is helpful but not required.​

Having access to an aerial rope is ideal, but in a pinch a fabric could work — or aerial doll with rope to walk through wraps! Have a roll of athletic tape handy if you want to learn how to make a protective toe thong! :)
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3-4:30pm  MST |    Fabric Taxonomy 108: Unlock the Knee Lock
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Fabric
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: Gain a deeper understanding on how to tackle split silk skills by watching the way Rebekah breaks down her infamous knee lock, first named that with the publication of her Intermediate Fabric Manual in 2010. 
Prerequisites: Already be familiar with hip key and hip hitches of all sorts. 

Have a fabric nearby to engage in the workshop OR have an aerial doll with fabric to walk through the skills OR just watch and take notes!

5-7:30pm  MST |  Fabric Taxonomy 202: Split Silk Theory (with application to the star drop wrap)​
ENROLL NOW
Apparatus: Fabric
Instructor: Rebekah Leach
Description: In this workshop, we will tackle the wrap of the set-up for single star (catcher's wrap plus a waist wrap), and we will use aerial silks theory to build up to the wrap. We will start with "upcycling" the wrap, and from that understanding, as well as cover equivalent actions for pole-swapping and tail-swapping, and then we will work on building the wrap one tail at a time using these principles. 
Prerequisites: Already be familiar with the wrap to get into the star drop. (Reference The Aerial Fabric MAnual for more information). 

Have a fabric nearby to engage in the workshop OR have an aerial doll with fabric to walk through the skills OR just watch and take notes!




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