Hoop / Lyra

Improver Hoop

/ with Polina Shapkina (2025)

Perhaps you have aerial experience on another apparatus but are hoop-curious. Or maybe you’ve mastered the classic hoop shapes and are looking to find a sense of flow. This is a diverse class that will focus on exploring forms and transitions through a flowing choreography. Though spinning is not a prerequisite the spinners are likely to love this class. We will look at spin theory and spinning entries, seamless transitions, expressive shapes, balances, rolls and most importantly taking the first steps to knowing the hoop as a dance partner.
A prerequisite is a minimum of 6 months aerial experience and being able to straddle invert from standing on the floor.

Skilled Hoop Lab

/ with Polina Shapkina (2025)

Evoke your essence on the aerial hoop

A workshop for the curious.

For those who love beautiful shapes and slick choreography but are ready to reach beyond it. Let’s explore the alchemy of expression. What is it you want to say? How do want to say it? If making work for an audience, what do you want them to feel?

In the lab, I invite you to:

Play with impulses and see where they take you.
Look at exercises to uncover different flavours of movement to your favourite hoop choreo.
Experiment with embodiment of character archetypes, opening the door for aerial storytelling.

This exploration is perfect for:

Those who feel they have a fluent grasp of their apparatus, a broad vocabulary of sequences but crave discovery of their personal style.
Those who feel confident in their personal style but want to discover other personalities.
Those who are excited to dedicate time developing and/or enhancing their performance and aerial theatre skills.

Please bring a notebook and if you have in ear headphones they’re great too! If you are taking the class and don’t have in-ear headphones let me know asap I might have a set or two spare.

The prerequisites are:

A broad vocabulary of hoop repertoire.
A strong confidence on the apparatus.
Hold stamina to execute at least 3 minutes of material in the air.
Looking forward to exploring together!

Skilled/Advanced Hoop

/ with Chrissie Ardill (2026)

This class is for those who want to bring movement from floor to on, above and around the hoop and explore the possibilities of having a heavy steel dance partner.

Playing with spin and where it can take us, work on crafty, tricksy entries, alternative grips/body parts and weavy, dancey sequences that take us as far from the symmetrical as possible.

As well as taught sequences we will also focus on creatively sharing the space with the hoop and breaking our habitual pathways.

Pre-requisites: invert without spotting, pull up from dead hang, experience with hoop, willingness to let go of the damn thing sometimes, no puking. Bring socks & long sleeves.

Dynamic Hoop

/ with Jenna Ciotta (2026)

Static Hoop: Snaking, Rolling, and Dropping Like It's Hot

This course is ideal for anyone with bar experience (hoop or trapeze) who has focused on shapes and spin but has shied away from dynamic skills. We will discuss the basics of generating and utilizing momentum from a variety of positions in order to create the potential for safe, consistent release skills, and dynamic movement. We will work progressions for skills such as: elbow circles, pop to back balance, penny drops (knee beat release to standing), and more upon request and based on collective skill level. We'll also explore snaking/sneaking/rolling pathways on the hoop- pathways that encourage constant, circular movement of the body around a static hoop. Not every student will be offered the opportunity to try every skill, but everyone will walk away with a clear, progressive training path towards any of the skills we train.

In the interest of safety, you will not be allowed to participate in this course without the following prerequisites:

  • feel comfortable in single knee hangs on both sides
  • be able to invert under the bar multiple times in a row without tagging feet
  • hang comfortably from one arm for ~10 seconds on each side

Hoop Choreo

/ with Jenna Ciotta (2026)

Often described as "snakey" Jenna's hoop choreography is actually rooted in a deep spin intolerance and high levels of motion sickness. This lab, for intermediate and advanced hoop artists, will explore "snakey" hoop movement. We'll cover various rolls and unique pathways and transitions between belly and back and top and bottom bar. Not all choreography needs to be static, but we will explore some dynamic skills integrated into choreography, and consider how to create satisfying sequences that don't rely on spin for visual interest.

Group Hoop (2 weeks – Perform July 25th)

/ with Rachel Strickland (2026)

“Taking up hoop together is good for the soul!” We will conceptualize, choreograph, and create a group hoop piece together over the two weeks to likely show on the final night. If you’ve been itching to create in a collaborative environment with other like minded hoopers, you’ve come to the right place.

While you will certainly learn from the choreographies of your peers in this class, learning tricks is not the focus of this session. Rather we’ll be exercising our muscles of creativity and collaboration, benefitting from the whole group’s brains as we create a piece of work together from the viscera of our lizard brains.

Video submissions are required for admission. Participants should be at a high level, and be comfortable with fast spins, flares, single knee hangs, and be able to do 3 pull ups from a dead hang without riding the struggle bus. This is not because I need you to do lavishly difficult choreography (I don’t), but to ensure all participants are at a similar strength level so all can operate together safely.

Note: This is not a technique class, Rachel will not be getting on a hoop. Two week class, you must attend both weeks. The group will ~probably~ perform on Saturday 25th.

NOTE: You cannot perform more than once. If you are performing in a group piece, you cannot do a solo. 

 

Back to Classes

If this is your first time in the air, if you don’t know a straddle from a side-pickup, then this is the level for you. All classes are tailored for those who just want to give it a go. These can also be open level classes that adapt to all skill levels.

If you have caught the flying bug but are still very much learning your trade, this is your level. Typically these classes are for those who train in aerial at least two hours per week.

This is for confident and competent aerialists who know their stuff. If you are looking to improve your technique and find your own creative voice in the air, well, you’ve found your level right here. This level might require submission of a video to demonstrate skill.

For professionals or highly skilled practitioners only. These are exclusive classes taught by internationally renowned tutors. All classes at this level may require video submissions to demonstrate skill and suitability.