Foundation Aerial Silks

You will need:

• to meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years or older
• a minimum of 1 years’ aerial silks experience (recommended)
• access to the internet via a PC, laptop, or mobile device
• access to at least 1 set of aerial silks
• a minimum of 2 hours’ study/training time per week (to complete the course within the 1-year deadline)
• a device to film videos on (mobile phones are allowed)
• at least 1 student for the teaching assessment (aged 18 or older)
• basic first aid and anatomy knowledge is also recommended.

EQUIPMENT INTRODUCTION

• Assisted Mounts
• Emergency dismounts
• Tying a Hitch

HITCH MOVES

• Standing on the hitch
• Sitting on the hitch
• Moth/Butterfly
• Cocoon
• Cabot Circus Pose
• Layback Splits
• Crucifix Splits
• Straddle in hitch
• Gazelle in hitch
• Hiplock in hitch
• Goddess in hitch

 FIGURE 8 FOOTLOCK MOVES

• Figure 8 Footlock (single foot, single silk) on floor and in air
• Figure 8 Footlock (double foot, double silk) on floor and in air
• Standing Hip Lean

AERIAL DANCE FOOTLOCK MOVES

• Aerial Dance Footlock (single foot, single silk) on floor and in air
• Aerial Dance Footlock (double foot, double silk) on floor and in air

FOUNDATION CLIMBS

• Basic Stand French
• Basic Stand Russian
• French Climb (with descent)
• Russian Climb (with descent)
• Footlock Climb

FOUNDATION MOVES

• Straddle Invert
• Split Silk Inverts – Tuck, Pike, Pencil, Straddle
• Single Crochet and Double Crochet
• Double Crochet-Double Crucifix
• Inside Knee Hook and Outside Knee Hook (from Straddle Invert)
• Cross Back Straddle
• Hiplock
• Catchers

This course has two main parts to the assessment; a theory assessment and a practical assessment.

The theory section of this course will give you a range of teaching and coaching techniques to make you a confident and effective instructor, supported by relevant aerial theory. We will also cover the practical aspects of running your classes from how to structure your syllabus to the process of writing class plans.

In the practical section, you will learn the foundation elements of the Spin City Aerial Silks syllabus, a series of strength and conditioning techniques to help your students progress and we will complete your practical training with combinations, sequences and choreography. 

UNIT 1 – WARM UPS AND COOL DOWNS

This unit will take you through how to write and conduct a safe and effective warm up and cool down. We will look at the exercise science behind why we warm up and cool down, from the benefits to the correct structure; breaking down the individual elements. We will then focus on how you can make your warm up and cool down aerial-specific and provide sample plans of both.

UNIT 2 – BASIC MOVES

Here we will cover the core foundation silks moves, looking at each move in detail from the teaching and safety points, to progressions and regressions also touching upon common problems. This will be supported by foundation concepts such as fabric control and momentum, the range of hand grips, correct shoulder positions and how we can teach safe progression through training. This unit finishes with a practical workshop on strength and conditioning.

UNIT 3 – TEACHING AND COACHING

This unit looks specifically at the theory behind teaching and coaching. We will start by considering the key skills needed by an effective instructor, this takes us onto theories of education and teaching methods including discussion on different learning styles and teaching manner. We round off this unit with a practical session to consolidate these techniques.

UNIT 4 – CHOREOGRAPHY

In this section we will cover different types of choreography, how to build routines and sequences, and how to effectively teach choreography to your class participants through a range of cueing techniques. At this stage we will start to build your choreography toolbox; giving you combinations and aerial and ground-based transitions to start developing your own choreography style.

UNIT 5 – CLASS PLANNING

This unit returns us to the theory of effective class planning. We begin with how you can structure your own syllabus, breaking this down into course and individual session planning with example session plans provided. We will cover all the elements you will need to start your own business including advice on choosing venues and equipment, approaches to rigging, and screening participants.

UNIT 6 – HEALTH AND SAFETY

Our final unit is arguably the most important unit on the course, as it covers the health and safety aspects of aerial instruction. We will discuss the factors which you can influence to make your classes safe and effective from creating a focused environment, to liability insurance, risk assessment and injury prevention, ongoing training and first aid considerations. This unit finishes with aerial-specific health and safety requirements from clothing to equipment maintenance and most importantly the theory and practical knowledge behind spotting techniques and how you can put this into practice in your classes.