Corde lisse is an aerial

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 ...

skill or act that involves

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 ...

on a vertically hanging rope. The name is French for "smooth rope". In English-speaking parts of the world, it is also referred to as "aerial rope".

Description

''Corde lisse'' moves are normally a combination of held postures and drops using a rope that hangs from the ceiling. These ropes are normally made from soft cotton about 30-35mm thick. The technique is closely related to both silks, (another aerial circus skill performed on one or two long strips of strong fabric, often in bright colours), and Spanish web. It requires great skill and strength. Performers do not have any kind of safety net or safety line, relying on their own strength and ability to prevent a fall. It is possible for two (or more) people to perform on the same rope, although more than two is rare. The performers can hang off each other or be at different heights on the rope. The most famous use of aerial

circus skills Circus skills are a group of disciplines that have been performed as entertainment in circus, carnival, sideshow, busking, variety, vaudeville, or music hall shows. Most circus skills are still being performed today. Many are also practiced by ...

such as these has been for the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

's test-card.

Cirque du Soleil Cirque du Soleil (, ; ) is a Canadian entertainment company and the largest contemporary circus producer in the world. Located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, Montreal, Saint-Michel, Montreal, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul on 16 Jun ...

also uses corde lisse, aerial silks and

trapeze A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes, metal straps, or chains, from a ceiling support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or ...

in some of their shows. There are many schools and circus centers that teach rope throughout the world.

Corde lisse skills

There is no single naming convention for the skills on a corde lisse. Below is a list of names of moves, some of which are similar to the gymnastic equivalent, or which are a partial description of the move (e.g. double foot tie). This is by no means a complete list, as people are discovering and inventing new moves all the time.

Some solo moves

* Back Balance * Front Balance * Arabesque * Basic upside-down hang * Basqules * Beats * Big knot * Crochet * Crucifixion * Dive * Double foot tie * Fan * Flag * Front flip * Hang * Hip key * Hip wrap knot * Horizontal flip * Knee lock * Knee lock slide * Lean out * Leg wraps (same and opposite side, left and right leg) * Loop * Miracle split * One arm hang * Piston * Rope climb (up and down) * Salto * Skip drop * Spider * Tempo swing * Windmills * C-Shape Roll-Ups

Some doubles moves

* Angel * Ankle hang * Double swan * Flower * Front balance * Leg catch

In popular culture

Christopher Nolan Sir Christopher Edward Nolan (born 30 July 1970) is a British and American filmmaker. Known for his Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters with complex storytelling, he is considered a leading filmma ...

's Batman Begins (2005) there is a scene where Bruce and his parents go to the theatre. On the stage there are a group of performers doing wheel down's on Corde Lisse that remind Bruce of bats, scaring him, and causing the family to leave. After they leave Bruce's parents are killed.

References

Aerial Arts FAQ

Introduction to Rigging: Aerialist Essentials
Pages 92-96, 101-102, 140 {{Circus skills Circus skills Acrobatic_sports