The aerial hoop (also known as the lyra, aerial ring or cerceau/cerceaux) is a circular steel apparatus (resembling a

hula hoop A hula hoop is a toy hoop (rhythmic gymnastics), hoop that is twirled around the waist, limbs or neck. It can also be wheeled along the ground like a wheel with careful execution and practice. They have been used by children and adults since ...

) suspended from the ceiling, on which

circus A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and unicy ...

artists may perform aerial

acrobatics Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance (ability), balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sports, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most ...

. It can be used static, spinning, or swinging. Tricks that can be performed include the Candlestick, Bird's Nest and Crescent Moon

Connections

Lyras hang down from their rigging using a type of hanging material called a spanset. Tabs are the connection points where the aerial hoop attaches to the

rigging Rigging comprises the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support and control a sailing ship or sail boat's masts and sails. ''Standing rigging'' is the fixed rigging that supports masts including shrouds and stays. ''Running rigg ...

. Most aerial hoops connect at either one point (single tab configuration) or two points (double tab configuration). Though there are some aerial hoops that do not not have tabs, and are referred to as tabless, meaning the spanset is tied directly onto the hoop rather than on a tab. The number of tabs an aerial hoop has will depend on how it will be used, the intended effect, and the performer's comfort level. All rigging hardware that connects to an aerial hoop must be safety tested and certified to ensure the performer is safe. * Double tab hoops hung from two points (at equal or wider spacing as the tabs on the hoop) will swing like a trapeze (or a child's swing) and do not spin. * Double tab hoops connected to a single aerial point, the hoop can spin and swing in a multi axis plane i.e. a pendulum swing or a circular flight pattern. * All double tab hoops have the ability to hinge from the tab points when the artist hangs from the top portion of the hoop making this style the very different in acrobatic capacity than a single tab hoop. * Single tabs hung from a single point can spin, and swing along more than one axis i.e. a pendulum swing or a circular flight pattern.

Types

Aerial hoops can be hollow or solid. Lighter hoops will spin more easily; once a solid hoop gets momentum, it will stay spinning for much longer. Sometimes aerial hoops have crossbars or hand or foot loops to aid the performer.

Footnotes

References

Introduction to Rigging: Aerialist Essentials
by Simply Circus
Circus By Us Different Lyra Types

simplycircus.com
Simply Circus: Lyra Resource Page

DF, 3.3 MBEuropean Federation of Professional Circus Schools (FEDEC), 2008.
FM 5-125: ''Rigging Techniques, Procedures, and Applications.''
DF, 3.6 MBUS Army, 1995. * Steven Santos
Simply Circus: "Rigging I."
owerpoint presentation, 572 KB* Sharon McCutcheon, Geoff Perrem. ''Circus in Schools Handbook.'' Tarook Publishing, 2004. () * Hovey Burgess, Judy Finelli. ''Circus Techniques.'' Brian Dube, 1989. () * Carrie Heller. ''Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual.'' National Writers Press, 2004. () * Shana Kennedy. ''Aerial Skills Illustrated 2007.'' Project 630570 at Lulu.com, 2007. * Jayne C. Bernasconi and Nancy E. Smith. ''Aerial Dance.'' United States: Human Kinetics, 2008. (
View at Google Books
* Elena Zanzu, M.A. ''Il Trapezio Oscillante: Storie di Circo nell'Aria.'' (''The Swinging Trapeze: Histories of the Circus in the Air.'') Bologna University, Italy, 2004-2005. Language: Italian. * Rebekah Leach and Julianna Hane. ''The Aerial Hoop Manual Volume 1.'
AerialDancing.com

Connections

Types

Footnotes

References

External links