trapeze

Trapeze artists, in lithograph by Calvert Litho. Co., 1890.

A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, swinging or flying, and may be performed solo, double, triple or as a group act.^[1]

Types of trapeze

• Static trapeze refers to a trapeze act in which the performer moves around the bar and ropes, performing a wide range of movements including balances, drops, hangs while the bar itself stays mostly in place. The difficulty on a static trapeze is making every move look effortless. It is like dance, in that most people of a reasonable level of strength can get onto the bar for the first time and do the tricks but an experienced artist will do them with much more grace and style.

• Swinging trapeze (or swinging single trapeze) refers to an act performed while the trapeze swings. For an example of this discipline, watch the trapeze act in Alegría. The performer builds up swing from a still position, and uses the momentum of the swing to execute their tricks. There are many tricks that are only possible on a swinging trapeze and most of them are more difficult than tricks on a static trapeze. Usually these tricks are thrown on the peaks of the swing and involve exceptional dynamic movements that require excellent timing. Most of the tricks begin with the performer sitting or standing on the bar and end with the performer catching the bar in his/her hands or in an ankle hang (hanging off of the ankles by bracing them between the rope and the bar). This act requires a great deal of strength, grace, and flexibility. The swinging trapeze bar is weighted and often has cable inside the supporting ropes for extra strength.^[1]

• Flying trapeze refers to a trapeze act where a performer, or "flyer," grabs the trapeze bar and jumps off a high platform, or pedestal board, so gravity creates the swing. The swing's parts are the cast out at the far end of the first swing, the beat back and rise as the performer swings back above the pedestal board, and then the trick is thrown at the far end of the second swing. The performer often releases the bar and is caught by another performer, the "catcher," who hangs by his knees on another trapeze, or sometimes on a cradle, which can be either stationary or also swinging. A flyer rarely weighs more than about 68 kg (150 pounds) to avoid damaging the catcher's shoulders, although people of any size are able to execute basic trapeze maneuvers. Flying trapeze is done over a net, or occasionally over water for a special exhibition. The flying trapeze was invented in the late 19th century in France by Jules Léotard. He did his act from one swinging trapeze to another that had been released by his father, who was standing on a platform. He is also said to have invented the leotard, a full-length skin tight costume that now bears his name. The flying trapeze and its association with circuses was made even more popular by the 1867 George Leybourne song "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze", which was based on Léotard's success as a trapeze artist. One of the greatest flyers of all time was Alfredo Codona of Mexico, who set new standards of skill and style in the 1920s.

• Washington trapeze (also known as head trapeze or heavy trapeze) refers to a variation on static and swinging trapeze where the aerialist performs various headstand skills on the bar, which is typically much heavier than a normal trapeze bar and has a small (about 4-inch round) headstand platform on it. The trapeze is supported by wire cables rather than ropes, and the apparatus will often be lifted and lowered during the act.^[1]

• Dance trapeze (also known as single-point trapeze) refers to a low mounted trapeze used by many modern dance companies in aerial dance. The ropes of the trapeze are often both attached to a swivel, allowing the trapeze to spin.

• Double trapeze (also known as the French trapeze) is a variation on the static trapeze, and features two performers working together on the same trapeze to perform figures and bear each other's weight. It can also be performed swinging, in which case the act is called "swinging double trapeze."^[1]

• Multiple trapeze refers to a number of different shapes and sizes of trapeze, including double trapeze, triple trapeze and larger multiples designed for use by multiple simultaneous flyers. Shaped trapezes are apparatuses that can take virtually any shape imaginable.

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Circus Dictionary". National Institute of Circus Arts. http://www.nica.com.au/dictionary. Retrieved 10-1-09. 

References

• FEDEC: Static trapeze, rope and silks
• FEDEC: Safety and Rigging
• FMS-125 US Army Rigging Standards
• Rigging I [Powerpoint presentation]
• Denver Post, Trapeze Tests Grace and Style
• Trapeze Class Blog
• Circus in Schools Handbook, (Sharon McCutcheon. 2004, Tarook)
• Circus Techniques (Hovey Burgess. 1989, Brian Dube)
• Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual (ISBN 0881001368)
• Aerial Skills Illustrated 2007 (Shana Kennedy, 2007, Lulu.com)
• Aerial Dance (Jayne C. Bernasconi. 2008 ISBN 0736073965)
• Il Trapezio Oscillante. Storie di Circo nell'Aria. (Translated Title: The Swinging Trapeze: Histories of Circus on the Air.). Elena Zanzu, MA. University: Bologna University, Italy, 2004-2005. Language: Italian.
• physics of the flying trapeze