AERIAL DOWNLOADS.COM

This Summer, Dragonfly Aerial CO was looking to expand into another local facility.  We found a building that would be perfect!  Stu Roc from Westrig, gave us a preliminary consultation and then referred us to a structural engineer to finalize an estimate for our rigging point safety.  At the end of the day, we received an estimate for a minimum of $7,000. in structural reinforcement support requirements for this new studio in order for us to get it stamped.  Now, I am certainly not opposed to investing $7,000 or more into a new studio to have an engineers stamp for safety, and the knowledge that I have done everything possible to keep our students flying safe.  That is a small price to pay in the big picture, however, the question came to me, do I want to invest that much money into someone elses building?  (Our plan is to open an actual circus center in the Springs in the future- at which point we would most likely move from this space.  When we move, I will lose all of that money from the tenant improvements.  In addition, what if when the riggers and engineers get up in the roof, they find issues that would actually increase the estimate considerably?  This is a strong possibility.  

 

Then I attended Rebekah Leach's open house for her new studio, AerialWorks in Castle Rock, CO and saw the gorgeous trussing system she uses to film her videos for www.aerialdancing.com.  I realized, I DON'T HAVE to LOSE MY INVESTMENT if I ever move! I could actually bring in a trussing system and take it with me when I go!  ...and not just any trussing system, an 18', 20' or higher free standing trussing system that can also be anchored to concrete walls.  This system is rated for dynamic aerial loads and capable of carrying thousands of pounds.  ...and with a pulley system!  Can you feel my excitement! (I guess I'm just really weird that way but I imagine any passionate aerial instructor/business owner can identify).  

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Nonetheless, I called Summer Davies from Vertical Art Dance.  Summer arrived from Utah with a representative of The ATS team. The ATS team are the guys who build those awesome courses for American Ninja Warrior.  After spending 90 minutes with me and climbing up into the 28' ceilings and around walls etc.. they devised a solution that was not only perfect for what I am trying to accomplish in this space, they also designed a unit that I could grow and expand in my new space down the road!  ...and they shaved at least $2,000 off what we were initially looking at in reinforcing the current structure. Now I will have a system that is versatile, flexible, and I can allocate the funds to reinforcement without the concern of suprise expenses! In addition, they will even come and install it.

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AerialDwonloads.com has not had a featured vendor in the past, (aside from our spotlight artist). However, I was so impressed with Vertical Art Dance and their ability to relieve us of the limitations of our performance and teaching venues, I had to share them!  Exceptional builders and vendors need to be celebrated and so Vertical Art Dance will be the first of our Spotlight Vendors! If you have had an exceptional experience with a vendor that provides for our aerial community, please email us so we can consider them as a future spotlight vendor!

 

Below, Summer will share more information on Vertical Art Dance and the services they provide.  Maybe they can do the same for you as they have done for me, when and if you are looking to open a studio or expand or even need a potable rig for engagements.

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Vertical Art Dance is proud to provide innovative and modern rigging solutions to the aerial arts industry. We have worked with our partners in the life safety equipment manufacturing industry to provide you with high quality, “rated” products for the aerial arts. Our mission is to raise the standard for safety and maintain a modern precedence within the aerial arts community.

 

Whether you are starting up a brand new aerial arts studio, adding aerial arts as an additional activity to your current facility (yoga, dance, fitness studio or climbing gym) or an experienced aerialist wanting to have a rig in your own home, we can help you design and build your perfect aerial arts space without involving expensive engineers and designers. 

 

How we accomplish this is simple, we have developed and extended products to create safe, rated, adjustable aerial arts rigging systems. these systems are modular, light weight, rigged with modern life safety gear and installed to related industry standard requirements. Thanks to Vertical art Dance, you never have to design or use an “unrated” rigging system or hang from an old building piece that wasn't meant for that sort of load.   

 

Part 1 - Truss:  

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We work together with several different aluminum truss companies to design simple, strong and easy to set up free standing truss structures for the aerial arts. There are several different types and styles of truss. When you purchase your truss from us we consult you and the truss manufacture on which type of truss will suite your needs best. There are many great benefits of purchasing your own aluminum truss structure. 

 

The top 3 benefits are: 

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• Invest in yourself and your business! It’s time to stop letting building limitations get in the way of your aerial arts needs. The truss we sell is rated, engineered and built by certified T.U.V. welders. When used properly it goes above and beyond in supporting the demands needed for aerial arts activities. There’s no need to spend your hard earned money “beefing” up a property with equipment that you can not expand upon or take with you when you move. When you purchase a truss rig, you own it, it’s your investment in yourself!

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• Free standing! Truss can be configured in many different ways, shapes etc. including as a completely free standing structure. Yes, free standing! No need to rig to an existing property. You can set up your truss rig indoors or outdoors. It is mobile, lightweight and in most cases can be set up with as little as 3-4 people. It can be a more permanent installation inside a studio space or home or it can be a mobile asset and used during special events and performances. Your free standing truss structure has the ability to have single or multiple rigging points of connection. If you don't want your truss structure to sway or wiggle it can also be easily braced to a building without putting the improper loads onto the building as most aerial rigs tend to do. 

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• It’s modular! Sometimes I like to think of aluminum truss as legos. It comes in different lengths and widths. It is also available with different wall thicknesses on the piping, available in light duty and heavy duty versions, although both are incredibly strong. We can help you create a fantastic structure that fits your needs and your budget. You can start small with the goal of expanding as your business grows or moves. Your aluminum truss structure can be re-configured by adding parts to it. We can also help you to design 2 structures in 1. For example a free standing truss arch with feet can also be configured into a free standing T-Shaped structure. 

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Part 2 - Rope rigging:

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We believe that 1/2 of the aerial arts is or should be devoted to understanding your rigging. The better you are on the movement side of the art means the more you should know about whats holding you up! If you skimp on learning about your rigging, you are skimping on whats possible for you and your future. Think about it... the sky is literally the limit.

 

We assist with product research and development for Sterling and have created rigging kits specifically for use in the aerial arts. We have included rigging kits for existing anchors and for our “free standing aluminum truss structures”. We’ve re-purposed fire rated rope and the Sterling F4 device as a “load releasable LR” rigging solution for adjusting the height of your apparatus and for safely lowering a stuck student. A lower out system should be common place for most of the rigging situations found in studios and performance venues. 

 

 Vertical Art Dance can help you design a rated system to better serve your clients, teachers, or individual training needs. We offer gear, rigging consultations and technical instructional classes by our partner, ATS www.TheATSteam.com. Follow us while we create “Vertical Art Dance” in some of the wildest and remote places imaginable, we would like to inspire you to be safer and to “Get Vertical”!!

 

~ Summer Davies, Founder Vertical Art Dance

 

Check out our “Aerial Safety Resources” page on our website offering you aerial safety rigging videos & methodology at your fingertips! 

 

https://verticalartdance.com/aerial-safety-resources/

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