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Contributors

 

Due to the nature of the show we produced, the amount of equipment and the size of staff we utilized, we normally signed on for 6 months or more per contract. So, I started running workshops onboard the ships for the casts, which in the majority of cases was not just the aerialists in the cast but the entire cast would join in.  It flabbergasted me what little preparation was given to these dancers expected to fulfill the role of an aerialist.  You can not play the role of an aerialist,  you have to become one. I focused on safety and conditioning as well as vocabulary and transitions.  I taught them how wraps work so that if they did get stuck, they could actually get themselves out.  …and I taught them how to wrap their wrists and prep their hands to prevent injuries,  how the hardware should look and how to inspect their equipment.  Basic, simple necessary fundamentals that were left out of the cruise ship cast training.  We had so much fun!  Many of these dancers furthered their careers as aerialists and I have students now that are Headliners themselves or have gone to work with Cirque Du Soleil, Ullalena and other professional venues all over the world.  Some we even hired ourselves to assist with the show or to cover me when I went on maternity leave!

 

I now have my own aerial school in Colorado Springs.   I’ve had students come to  me who had already bought a fabric off of e-bay and hung it from their back porch.  I’ve had aerial friends fall from 26’ because their equipment wasn’t prepared properly by the riggers of the show they were working, I see forums on facebook with posts of how actors are hired and expected to do aerial or I hear the chatter in my classes of aerialists wanting to try something they saw on you tube.  (I am not opposed to learning off of you tube, I think it is an incredible resource if viewed wisely). In even the best conditions an aerialist absorbs the risk of injury or even death.  Our passion to fly is a dangerous one. I believe the aerial world needs a regularly updated, comprehensive and obtainable resource for aerialist, created by aerialists'. A reliable resource presented by certified and insured professionals, where students can get access to clear and concise instruction on all aspects of aerial from rigging to flying and insurance to equipment. This is my vision with Aerial Downloads.com. We want to develop a community where you can grow your passion as an artist as safely as possible and where you can see what is happening in the aerial community through spotlight artists and international contributors. You need to know how to pack your own parachute…and we can teach you!

 

Thank you for visiting Aerialdownloads.com!

 

Mistia Fallon

Director, Dragonfly Aerial CO

Creator, AerialDownloads.com

 

Years ago, while producing and performing our aerial acrobatic and illusion show onboard cruise ships, I witnessed the big boom in Aerial acrobatics surfacing in production shows.  What I noticed for the most part was many of the “aerialists” were simply dancers that had been "assigned" the aerialist role in the show.  Within 6 weeks these dancers were expected to learn and perfect an aerial routine ready for install and performance, in addition to all of their other cast responsibilities and choreography!  It was apparent to me that few were given the tools they needed to safely execute the choreography while being aware of injury prevention or being armed with the knowledge of how to save themselves should they run into unforeseen challenges with rigging etc…

Michele Abplanalp is the result of over 13 years in the performing arts. The past five years she has been closely engaged in the film industry as a working crew member, professional actor and independent filmmaker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She has been a training aerialist since 2013, under the tutelage of Mistia Fallon, carrying on the tradition of circus arts her parents passed down.

 

In performing, it is her utmost goal to be open and vulnerable in her presentation of the work and connect intimately with the audience, whether it is in the air or through the screen. She is currently working towards her bachelors in Psychology. Michele is responsible for the majority of the AerialDownloads.com directory management, input and research.

The Colorado Dragonflies

demonstrator for aerialdownloads.com and placed her as an artistic laison to.director Mistia Fallon at Dragonfly Aerial CO, creator of  aerialdownloads.com.

Chloe says, "Mistia continues to be a mentor and inspiration for many of my future goals and aspirations. She has become a source of strength and she encourages me to perform and be ambitious as a professional aerialist in many different types of apparatuses ranging from aerial silk and hoop, to lyra and static trapeze." 

     While safety is the number one priority for myself and the students I help to instruct, I am also highly passionate and lighthearted about my technical skill and style. I include my background in honors dance to help choreograph many different styles of routines and aerial acts. I pride myself in learning quickly and having the courage to try new and exciting things whenever I have the opportunity to do so. I have made lifelong friends through the aerial community and plan to increase my network of friends, teachers, events and vocabulary.

    In the future Chloe aspires to make her own performance costumes, learn new styles and methods, choreograph more aerial dances, educate other people about aerial arts, help other aerial enthusiasts break through limitations and make her love for aerial arts her everyday occupation.

You may recognize Chloe Welton

from the aerialdownloads.com instructional videos. However,you may be suprised to find that Chloe just recently began practicing aerial dance recently as a way to stay healthy and active. Chloes natural physical abilities paired with her artistic creativity and passion for aerial dance earned her the primary

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