FM AERIAL PERFORMER GUIDE
**Written by Lynnea Eckhoff, one of our aerial Instructors!
“Is performing right for me?”
To know if you are ready to start performing, ask yourself these questions:
Do you want to perform? Some people genuinely do not get enjoyment out of putting their abilities on display for other people, so make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons!
Have you learned enough skills to put together a routine? This will depend on the apparatus, but having six to ten skills in your arsenal is usually enough to choreograph something.
Do you have the endurance to be on your apparatus for at least three minutes? If you don’t, we can work with that! However, you will feel most successful if you can build up your strength beyond what you’ll need for your performance.
Do you have the time to commit to extra training? This means open studio time (weekly is ideal) and private lessons (optional, but encouraged). Just coming to group classes will not prepare you for a performance. You will need to consistently dedicate time for training and creating your routine.
If you answered yes to all of these questions, you’re ready to start performing!
Ideal Performance Timeline
*Please note: this is just a guideline and we know that life happens! You may get sick or injured, or have something else come up that means you will miss a week of open studio time. This timeline is designed to ensure that you feel prepared, even if you have to adjust some weeks. Also, your instructors are here for you - we are happy to assist in creating a routine that is unique to you and help you find your performance style.
10-12 weeks before performance: Start creating your routine. Identify which skills show off your strengths and that you enjoy doing. You can either create a routine around a specific song you want to use, or you can find music later. Ask an instructor for input. If you are planning on taking a private lesson or two, start looking at dates/times to schedule these with an instructor.
8-10 weeks before performance: Aim to have your routine 25% choreographed during this time. Take a private lesson, especially if you’re struggling to start the process.
6-8 weeks before performance: Aim to have your routine 50% choreographed during this time. This is the time to finalize your song choice as well. Start thinking about your costume (optional!) and give yourself time to order and exchange/return items as needed. Discount Dance and Dancewear Solutions are awesome resources and have multiple options at different price points.
5 weeks before performance: Aim to have your routine 75% choreographed at this point. This would be a good time for a second private lesson.
4 weeks before performance: Take a break from your routine. You can still train and go to class, but give yourself a week off from working on your performance. Your body and your brain will enjoy focusing on something else.
3 weeks before performance: Come back to your routine and finish any choreography that is still needed. Ask others to watch your routine and give feedback. This also allows you the experience of performing in front of your peers.
2 weeks before performance: Your routine should be done at this point, only adding the finishing touches and making small tweaks/adjustments. Practice your routine in the outfit/costume you want to wear for the performance.
1 week before performance: Cut back on classes, especially if they are within a few days of the performance. You should keep your body moving during this week but you want to feel rested and strong on the day of the show. Continue to eat well and fuel your muscles. Start going to bed earlier and get lots of rest, just in case you don’t sleep well the day or two before the performance.
Day before performance: Dress rehearsal - we will run the whole show so you will have a chance to do your routine one more time and get a feel for what the day of the performance will be like. Eat well so you have energy for the next day!
Day of performance: This is it, you’re ready to go! Warm up, drink lots of water, fuel your body, and have fun. You got this!
Miscellaneous Tips and Tricks
A few things to consider and words of wisdom as you prepare to perform:
Scheduling: When planning your training schedule, look ahead to any days/weeks when you know you will not be available. Are you taking any vacations, will you be out of town for work, do you have upcoming family commitments? Do you have a huge school project and you know you’ll be stressed and tired before/after the due date? Are there major holidays coming up where the studio will be closed? Remember that winter weather may cause the studio to close if it is too snowy and icy.
Choreography: It is a good idea to stick to skills you know you can do consistently. Programming skills that are at the top of your ability level can be stressful, as there is less confidence that you can do it well on performance day. This can also lead to injury if you are only training the hardest skills you know. Remember that you might not feel 100% on the day of the show so it is better to know you can still get through your routine successfully no matter what.
Injury prevention: Injuries happen but there are things we can do to prevent them and lessen their impact on our training. Make sure you are warming up before you do any kind of training and that you are giving yourself enough time off the apparatus to recover. Sleep, hydration, and nutrition also contribute to keeping our bodies healthy and strong. Here is a great article on injuries: https://www.thepolephysio.com/post/hurt-vs-harm
Health: Whether it is cold/flu season or not, it’s always good to give your immune system a fighting chance. You may want to wear a mask and socially distance a few weeks prior to the performance as well to ensure you don’t become sick right before the show.
Costumes: Costumes are fun but not necessary - you can wear your regular studio clothes for the performance. Please make sure all parts of your costume are appropriate for your apparatus (ex: no zippers for silks) and consult an instructor if you have questions.
Music choice: Most routines are 3-5 minutes long, so if your song is longer than that, we can fade out the music (or start part way through the song) to match the timing of your choreography.
Group performances: If you aren’t feeling ready for a solo performance, you could put together a group number! This can be a duet with your aerial bestie, or a larger group routine. Please let your instructor know if you’d like to perform with another person or a group of people and we will help coordinate.