Aerial Evolution – Details, episodes & analysis

This is a week of firsts on Aerial Evolution. We welcome our first man and first rigger, Bryan Donaldson! This is an episode I have been wanting to have since starting this podcast and I'm stoked Bryan was able to talk with us. I am a rigging neophyte and it was awesome getting to speak with such a world renowned expert.

Bonus: Lydia Lara is back joining me as guest host!

Many of you will know Bryan in association with his rigging course and company High Performance with a stellar client list including Hugh Jackman film The Greatest Showman, but did you know he had an impressive aerial career first? From the wild apparatus he learned on the fly to starting his rigging company, we dig into all of it on this episode.

It's a long one so get cosy and enjoy!

SHOW NOTES:

• High Performance Website http://www.highperformanceproductions.net/index.html
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/HighPerformance
• Insta: https://www.instagram.com/hprigging/
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HPerformance
• Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/hpp
• Black Z: https://blackz.fr/

Join in on the conversation:

• On the website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan

Music by composer Jason Martin Castillo

I am thrilled to welcome this week's guest to Aerial Evolution. Not only is Erin Ball a phenomenal aerialist, but she is doing incredible work with and for the disability community.

We begin the episode with how Erin first discovered aerial and what her career was like before an accident led to both of her lower legs being removed. (As there is a lot of information out there already about what happened, we don't spend much time on that, I provided a link below if you would like to read about what happened). What we do talk about is what it was like to reenter the circus world, what systems were and were not in place, as well as what Erin herself needed to learn both physically and mentally.

We touch upon the history of circus and its impact (if any) on the work she creates. With Vanessa Furlong, she co-founded LEGacy Circus performance company, together and individually, they are doing AMAZING work for the disabled community. From education, to inclusion, to apparatus invention, they really are making sure everyone gets to be involved from on stage to off, circus really can be for everyone!

Tune in to learn how!

SHOW NOTES:

Read about Erin’s accident in her own words (NOTE this contains graphic imagery of amputation, hospitalisation and suicidal ideation.) https://www.amputeeconcierge.org/blog-1/2019/1/31/hi-my-name-is-erin-ball

• www.kingstoncircusarts.com
• legacycircus.com
• Instagram: @erinballcircus @legacy_circus

Local and national arts council grants and a few others:

• https://tangledarts.org/
• https://www.challengedathletes.org/
• https://www.teamcatapult.org/mission

Join in on the conversation:

• On the website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan

Music by composer Jason Martin Castillo

In this episode of Aerial Evolution, Rowan and Jane have a conversation with Jane Osborn, circus artist and actress from Yorkshire England. Jane began her circus and aerial work in London in the late 80’s; an incredibly influential time and place for aerial/aerial dance and it’s evolution. In this episode, Jane shares her early influences, her transition to teaching and her role in the 2015 Guinness World Record performance with “An Act Above”. If you are interested in the history of aerial, you won't want to miss this in depth retrospection.

SHOW NOTES:

• For more about Jane check out her website
• Insta @janeozborn
• Twitter @janeozborn
• BBC ident that was shown 2002-05 with Jane, Melissa and Michele.
• Roger Robinson Acrobat Productions 
• Guinness World Record - 30 silks performers. Co-ordinated by
• "An Act Above" 2015
• Jane performing Sax on Silks!
• Gerard Fasoli performing Chains
• Isabelle Vaudelle 1995 Cirque-Du Demain

Join in on the conversation:

• On our website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan and Jane

Aerial Evolution is produced and edited by Rowan Metzner.

In this episode of Aerial Evolution, Rowan and Jane have a conversation with Lindsey Butcher, the founder and artistic director of Gravity and Levity as well as the European Aerial Dance Festival. Lindsey shares beginning her aerial career in the 80’s and how her dance training influenced her artistic choices. You never know where or how people will impact your life; the formation of her company is a perfect example. One of the topics that continues to come up in these discussions is inclusivity. Lindsey offers a fresh perspective with the work she did for the Paralympics in 2012 and the Legacy Intensive hosted by Gravity and Levity in 2013. This inspiring conversation will invite you to think a little bit differently about the possible future of the aerial community and aerial dance.

SHOW NOTES:

• To learn more about Lindsey’s symposium and aerial feastival and to stay in the loop sign up for her contact list on her website via www.gravity-levity.net
• Check out this inspiring video of the Paralympic Aerial Legacy Intensive
• Insta @gravitylevity
• Twitter @GravityLevity
• FB @gravityandlevity

Join in on the conversation:

• On our website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan and Jane

Aerial Evolution is produced and edited by Rowan Metzner.

Music by composer Jason Martin Castillo.

In this episode of Aerial Evolution, Rowan and Jane have a conversation with Fred Deb', one of the pioneers of the aerial we know and love. This episode dives into Fred’s background starting with her graduation from the National Centre for Circus Arts in 1992, and how the work she and her fellow classmates did paved the way for our modern understanding of aerial arts. Fred also discusses the evolution of her performance and choreographic style, her teaching and training philosophy and so much more. Any lover of Aerial and Aerial Dance should not miss this episode!

SHOW NOTES:

• For more about Fred Deb' visit her website: https://fred-deb.com/en/
• See Woman in the Moon and other Performances here.
• Instagram: @_fred.deb_
• Facebook: @fred.deb.14

Join in on the conversation:

• On our website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan and Jane

Aerial Evolution is produced and edited by Rowan Metzner.

Music by composer Jason Martin Castillo.

In this episode of Aerial Evolution, Rowan and Jane have a conversation with Nancy Smith, the founder of Frequent Flyers in Boulder CO and the Boulder Aerial Dance Festival, the first aerial dance festival. Some things to look forward to from the in depth discussions in this episode are the US origins of Aerial Dance as related in Nancy’s book Aerial Dance, published in 2008 with Janye Bernasconi and the “Kids Who Fly” program, launched in 2001, for at risk youth in the community and to date have served over 6,500 kids! The history Nancy shares from her years of practice and dedicated research is profound. Buckle up and let’s dive in!

SHOW NOTES:

• http://www.frequentflyers.org
• https://www.facebook.com/FrequentFlyersAerial/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freqflyers

Join in on the conversation:

• On our website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan and Jane

Aerial Evolution is produced and edited by Rowan Metzner.

Music by composer Jason Martin Castillo.

In this episode of Aerial Evolution, Rowan and Jane have a conversation with Chantal McCormick, founder of the Irish Aerial Dance Festival and Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre.

Though the discussion Chantal reveals how studying contact dance was a perfect launchpad into the aerial world, as well as the beginnings of Aerial Festivals in Europe, and government funding for the arts. This pivotal discussion on the early roots of aerial dance and the distinction between traditional and contemporary circus is not to be missed by any aerialists looking to be inspired (possibly enough to head to Ireland one summer)!

SHOW NOTES:

• For more about Chantal McCormick and Fidget Feet visit: https://www.fidgetfeet.com
• Instagram, Facebook or Twitter
• Fidget Feet Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLpn5pVvRLM
• SkyDance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inveKrSU_Wg
• Bingo Wings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCfhiofM6CU

Join in on the conversation:

• On our website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan and Jane

Aerial Evolution is produced and edited by Rowan Metzner.

Music by composer Jason Martin Castillo.

This is Part Two of a two part series, in which Rowan and Jane have a conversation with Los Angeles based aerialist, Lydia Lara. In this episode they continue their discussion with Lydia’s apparatus preferences and the development of aerial equipment, how the black lives matter movement has impacted the aerial community, and so much more!

SHOW NOTES:

• For more about Lydia Lara visit her website: http://aerialconexions.com/
• instagram: @theaerialmermaid or 
• facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaerialmermaid

Join in on the conversation:

• On our website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan and Jane

Aerial Evolution is produced and edited by Rowan Metzner.

Music by composer Jason Martin Castillo.

Welcome to the first episode of Aerial Evolution! This is Part One of a two part series, in which Rowan and Jane have a conversation with Los Angeles based aerialist, Lydia Lara. They dig into details about Lydia’s personal aerial journey (how she first discovered aerial in a parking lot in Toronto!), things she learned about the history of aerial along the way, her experience of national and international dance festivals, perspectives on teaching and training and so much more!

SHOW NOTES:

• For more about Lydia Lara visit her website: http://aerialconexions.com/ 
• instagram: @theaerialmermaid 
• facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theaerialmermaid

Join in on the conversation:

• On our website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan and Jane

Aerial Evolution is produced and edited by Rowan Metzner.

Music by composer Jason Martin Castillo.

This mini episode is an introduction to Aerial Evolution and its co-hosts, Rowan Metzner and Jane Rose. In it they discuss how this podcast came to be and what it is all about. 

For those finding us who may be unfamiliar with Aerial Arts, it is a type of practice or performance in which one or more artists perform dance or acrobatics while suspended in the air from a fabric, trapeze, hoop, rope, or other apparatus.

Join in on the conversation:

• On our website: www.aerialevolutionpod.com
• Instagram or Facebook @aerialevolutionpod
• Or for more about: Rowan and Jane

Aerial Evolution is produced and edited by Rowan Metzner.

Music by composer Jason Martin Castillo.