Aisling Ní Cheallaigh on Hoop

Come and join me for two hours of spinning hoop choreography at the National Circus Festival! Ginger and anti-emetics at the ready please! This class will take you through the excruciatingly beautiful theory of spin and spiral and throw a whole load of original choreography your way. (If you want a sneak peak of what may be in store have a look at my instagram @aislingcheallaigh)

Intermediate level pre-requisites – FRIDAY 4th NOV 2022 – 2pm to 4pm

This workshop is for intermediate students who already have a good hoop practise and are looking to expand their spinning knowledge and vocabulary. Students should be able to:

1. Pull over into a front balance without jumping.
2. Do a Straight arm invert
3. Get into the hoop with a small spin

Advanced level pre-requisites – FRIDAY 4th NOV 2022 – 5pm to 7pm

This workshop is for advanced students who have a strong hoop practise and are ready to find their own voice and movement style. Students should be able to:

1. Pull over into a front balance without jumping.
2. Do multiple straight arm inverts.
3. Be able to enter the hoop from hanging under the bar while spinning fast.
4. Hold a meathook on one arm.

BIOGRAPHY

Aisling ní Cheallaigh is an Irish aerialist homegrown and hand reared by a conglomerate of companies and coaches. She delights in flight and movement and while she specialises in Aerial Hoop she is also an expert dabbler in straps, doubles trapeze, partner acrobatics and the serious discipline of being hit in the face with a Cyr Wheel. She has been a principle performer with Fidget Feet Aerial Dance since 2014 and has co-created three of her own shows ‘How to Square A Circle’, ‘Sub Rosa’ and ‘NASC’.She has flown far and wide performing with with companies and at events like Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (UK), The Islamic Solidarity Games (Azerbaijan), Montreal Complement Cirque Festival (Canada), Bliss Circus Nights (India) and the Cathy Pacific Night Parade (Hong Kong). She is free range, organic and corn fed.

Suzon Gheur on Aerial Dance Trapeze

This workshop is for advanced students who have a strong trapeze practise and are ready to find their own voice and movement style. We’re gonna work on dynamic skills as well.

Advanced level pre-requisites – SATURDAY 5th NOV 2022 – 10:30am to 12:30pm

Students should be able to:

1. Pull over into a front balance without jumping.
2. Do multiple straight arm inverts.
3. Be comfortable in front and back balance
4. Have good hanging and knee beats.
5. Meathook on 1 arm.

BIOGRAPHY

Originally from Brussels (Belgium), Suzon Gheur graduated with a MA (Honours) degree in Physical  Education from U.L.B. (Université Libre de Bruxelles) in 2012. After, she became a certificate circus teacher,  graduated from Pro-Track N.E.C.C.A. (New England Center For Circus Arts, USA) in Cyr Wheel and Aerial Dance Trapeze, then from the Formacion Profesional en Artes Circenses at the circus school Carampa  Spain).

Circus is fun even though her career. Suzon bases her work on playfulness and truthfulness. She is more interested in ergonomic and flow than strength tricks. Suzon has worked professionally as a circus performer and trainer for a couple of years now and travelled internationally for training and performances. She performed for well established company such as Fidget Feet, Tumble Circus, Bassalto, Three’s Theatre Company, cie Laterrateral, Les nouveaux Disparus.

She created a full length solo show “TearAway -respected with no boxes” in 2021 – an ode to her journey as a non-binary artist in the world of aerial. She is currently working on her second show.

Michaela Heyer on Flying Pole

Michaela started working as a circus performer in 2007 and her main skills are aerial silks, Chinese pole, doubles trapeze and partner acrobatics. She is a bit of a pioneer for Chinese pole in Ireland and since building her first pole in 2009 she has spread the love by teaching workshops and adding poles to circus spaces. Michaela has a solo street show based around Chinese pole which she has toured around many parts of the world including Australia. She also works as a professional rigger for festivals, concerts and TV. When not performing or rigging you can find her sharing her skills and knowledge through teaching regular classes and workshops in Ireland and abroad.

Intermediate level pre-requisites – SUNDAY 6th NOV 2022 – 11:30am to 1:30pm

This workshop is for experienced aerial students who already have familiarity with aerial.  No need to have Chinese Pole or Dance Pole experience. Students should be able to:

1. Climb aerial apparatus
2. Straddle from a climb