The aerial hoop (also known as the lyra, aerial ring or cerceau/cerceaux) is a circular steel apparatus (resembling a hula hoop) suspended from the ceiling, on which circus artists may perform aerial acrobatics. Aerial hoops can be hollow or solid and are made in various diameters ranging from around two to four meters, depending on the size of the space and the skill level of the aerialist. It can be used static, spinning, or swinging. Lighter hoops will spin more easily (recommended for beginners); whereas when a solid heavier hoop gets momentum, it will stay spinning for much longer (which is favored by more experienced aerialists). These types of apparatuses can also be powder coated (which can come in many different colors and grits) or taped (again, range in different colors and types). The coating is not only a surface treatment that protects metals and other materials from corrosion, dents, and scratches, but helps with the aerialist grip as the steel itself can become slippery. Sometimes aerial hoops have crossbars or hand or foot loops to aid the performers well.
Aerial hoops or lyras can be double tabbed which means they are hung from two points (at equal or wider spacing as the tabs on the hoop) will swing like a trapeze (or a child's swing) and do not spin. This is also similar to how a steel square apparatus would be hung as well. However, double tab hoops that are connected to a single aerial point, can spin and swing in a multi axis plane i.e. a pendulum swing or a circular flight pattern. All double tab hoops have the ability to hinge from the tab points when the artist hangs from the top portion of the hoop making this style very different in acrobatic capacity than a single tab hoop (this is also known as a "Tippy Lyra"). Single tab hoops that are hung from a single point can spin and swing along more than one axis i.e. a pendulum swing or a circular flight pattern. Lyras can also be tab-less which means it can be hung from the spanset to a single point.
As it is seen, aerial lyras can and have been made into many shapes such as hearts, lyras with cat ears and even aerial crescent moons. Shapes like these may prevent an aerialist from doing most or all normal poses that would be obtained in a standard lyra, but can still be used for themed parties or photoshoots. Shapes like the hearts and moons can have the option to be suspended or even have a lollipop attachment and be a grounded or standing apparatus.
The 'lollipop' Lyra pole or 'Standing Lyra' is designed to satisfy the poler and aerialist as it combines both disciplines to produce a new type of artistry. The lollipop comes from a stage pole set up in which the base pole is left and a lyra is attached on top. What you are left with is an apparatus that resembles a lollipop. The lyra can also be set to spin or be static, however, the swinging aspect on this lyra is removed due to being attached to the pole. Again, an aerialist can perform most poses in the lollipop as you would in a standard lyra, but new shapes are created with an addition of the pole below.
Another aerial apparatus is an aerial orb or sphere (may also be known as an aerial atom). These are made with 2 or 3 lyras attached together and in some cases they are made with more attachments like this sphere here . Apparatuses like these are made to hold more than one person as you will often see. Again, new shapes can be created in aerial spheres than you would with just a single lyra. An aerialist can perform inside of the sphere or below (outside of the apparatus). An aerial cube works in a similar way as the orb. The cube, according to Juggle Gear, "can be used in the air or on the ground in your dance piece. Similar to Aerial hoop and Trapeze. Since the cube is big you can create wonderful symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes, requiring balance, coordination, and in groups synchronization. Designed for people performing trapeze/cradle type skills."
And lastly is the aerial spiral. Aerialist Lacy Kelly describes this apparatus as a combination of pole and lyra yet "it's more comfortable than an aerial lyra because you have horizontal and vertical levels that you can hang on, sit on, rotate in and out of etc." She does mention that with any aerial apparatus that spins, there is that dizzy factor in which people tend to get dizzy easier on spiral than on lyra alone. It will also depend on the width of the spiral. Lacy stated she has 4 spirals and each are a different size (36", 35", 32") and the "tighter the spiral, the faster it spins". Overall, it can be a beautiful apparatus to perform on just as any of the previously mentioned aerial apparatuses.
Stay tuned to future blogs on unique apparatuses!
Written by Aerial Coach Alicia
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