What Is Aerial Silks?
Aerial silks is a movement art that blends strength, flexibility, and creativity. Performers and students use long, flowing fabric rigged from the ceiling to climb, wrap, invert, and drop in midair. It’s a practice that demands both physical and mental focus—but also delivers joy, confidence, and deep personal growth.
Whether you discovered aerial silks through social media, a live show, or just curiosity, this guide is here to help you understand what it’s all about—from the art form itself to what it’s like to learn it.
Why People Try Aerial Silks
- A unique way to build strength and confidence
- A creative outlet that’s different from the gym
- A personal challenge that’s both physical and mental
- A chance to reconnect with movement and play
The Art of Aerial Silks
Aerial silks, sometimes called tissu or fabric, originated in the circus world. It became popularized by contemporary circus companies like Cirque du Soleil and has since grown into a global art form practiced in studios and schools around the world.
In performance, aerial silks combines elegance and athleticism. The fabric allows artists to create visual illusions: floating, spinning, and free-falling with breathtaking grace. But it’s not just for professionals. Today, people of all backgrounds use silks as a tool for self-expression, empowerment, and creative fitness.
What to Expect in a Class
Beginner aerial silks classes are designed to be accessible, even for those without a fitness or dance background. You’ll start close to the ground and build strength gradually. Expect to learn basic climbs, footlocks, and inversions over time, with lots of support from your coach.
Most studios offer classes in multi-week sessions, helping you track progress while growing your skills safely. A well-structured program emphasizes proper form, body awareness, and a strong foundation.
We offer separate classes for adults and youth. Choose your path below:
Understanding the Equipment
The silks themselves are a special type of fabric—strong, slightly stretchy, and capable of bearing dynamic loads. They’re rigged from secure overhead points using hardware like carabiners, rescue 8s, and swivels, all rated for aerial use.
There are two main types of silks:
- Low-stretch (static): Easier for beginners to control
- Medium-stretch: Preferred by some performers for dynamic movement
Studios use professionally rigged equipment and thick crash mats to reduce risk and support safe learning. Starting close to the ground helps students build confidence as they gradually progress to more advanced skills.
Thinking About Rigging at Home?
It’s tempting to try aerial silks in your living room or backyard—especially after watching hours of inspiring content online. But aerial rigging is not as simple as hanging fabric from a tree limb or ceiling beam. Even with the right hardware, there are life-threatening risks if the setup is not professionally designed, tested, and inspected.
Here’s what needs to be considered for every aerial rig:
Weight Load & Structural Integrity
Your ceiling beam, tree branch, or mounting point must be able to support dynamic weight loads far beyond your body weight. A drop or swing can generate multiple times your actual mass. Just because something “feels strong” doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Tree branches are especially dangerous—they’re not designed to handle dynamic human load, and their strength is highly unpredictable. Branches may appear healthy but can be weakened by age, weather, or unseen decay. Unless you are working with a qualified arborist, you have no way of knowing if the tree is safe to rig from.
Likewise, most residential structures are not engineered to carry the directional and force loads involved in aerial work. Consulting a structural engineer is the only responsible path if you’re considering any kind of permanent ceiling rigging at home.
Proper Hardware Ratings
Only hardware specifically rated for aerial or climbing use should ever be used—including carabiners, rescue 8s, swivels, slings, and anchors. Hardware from a hardware store is not acceptable, and neither are most aerial kits sold on general retail sites. Each component must have a tested load rating with a proper safety margin.
Crash Mats & Fall Zones
Studios don’t just hang fabric—they also provide thick crash mats, spotters, and clear fall zones. These mats are professionally designed for aerial and acrobatic use, and they don’t come cheap. Proper mats are expensive, but they’re essential—especially for beginners who are still building spatial awareness and control. Practicing over carpet, grass, or foam intended for other activities does not provide adequate protection. Even short drops or missed wraps can result in serious injury without proper padding and space.
Inspection & Maintenance
Professional rigging requires routine inspection: checking fabric for runs or holes, hardware for cracks or wear, anchor points for corrosion, and rig lines for slippage. A safe setup isn’t “set it and forget it”—it’s constantly maintained. Most home setups aren’t monitored this way.
Environmental Risks
Outdoors? Sunlight degrades nylon. Rain corrodes hardware. Wind can swing you off axis—and for newcomers, this can make even basic skills feel unstable or unsafe. Training outdoors in the wind is extremely difficult. You’re essentially hanging from a sail, and the fabric’s movement becomes unpredictable and exhausting to control.
Indoors? HVAC vents, ceiling fans, drywall anchors, and light fixtures can all introduce risk. Professional environments are specifically designed to account for these factors—homes rarely are.
Bottom line: Even experienced aerialists don’t train solo at home without professional-grade setups and years of knowledge. If you’re just starting out, the safest way to learn is in a studio with trained instructors and inspected rigging.
Even with the right gear, it takes expertise to install and inspect rigging safely. That’s why training in a professional studio is so important.
Why Learn with a Coach Instead of YouTube or Instagram
Online videos can be a great source of inspiration. But when it comes to aerial silks, instruction without feedback can create dangerous habits.
Here’s what a coach provides that videos can’t:
- Real-time spotting and corrections
- Customized progressions for your body and goals
- Injury prevention through proper form
- Encouragement when you hit plateaus
- A safer, structured learning environment
Aerial silks isn’t just about learning tricks—it’s about developing body awareness, safe movement patterns, and long-term progression. That’s where a coach makes all the difference.
FAQ
Ready to Begin?
If aerial silks has sparked your interest, the next step is simple: try a class in a safe, welcoming space. Whether you’re 7 or 70, this art form meets you where you are and grows with you.
Explore classes in aerial silks, trapeze, and more—all taught by passionate coaches who care about your progress.
We offer separate classes for adults and youth. Choose your path below: