Teacher as Student

I'm currently taking my final courses in the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program. This program is meant to improve my skills as an instructor and help qualify me for my future goals. However, especially in the world of aerial circus, instructors need more than teaching skills. We need to be masters in our craft.

I need to be constantly improving my aerial circus skills in all areas. I may not be physically capable of doing every single thing I teach, but I still need to be trying to close any gaps between my theoretical knowledge and actual abilities.

To this end, I commit several hours per week to my own training. I need to keep my muscles strong and flexible in order to have the the physical conditioning necessary for the skills I teach. I need to perform, if only on occasion, so I can speak with authority on act creation and performance preparation. I need to be researching wrap theory and creating new combos to keep my mind sharp and engaged as a student myself.

There is an annual gathering of advanced practitioners in Vermont, USA called Rope Meeting. It is an opportunity for teachers to become students, students to become teachers, and artists to collaborate with and be inspired by other artists. I have wanted to attend for years, but this year, I'm making it happen. I will be able to connect in person with aerialists from all over the world who I've learned from and interacted with through Instagram to share our current projects, develop new material, and jam together.

I will also be intentional in my teaching, learning through experience, as I seek new opportunities and offer new classes, workshops, and intensives.

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0