This blog is the third and last in the Trapeze series and what hasn't been discussed is the trapeze bars! Did you know there are different types? DS Trapezes, for example, is a small, UK based company that makes unique, custom made aerial equipment (with shipping worldwide) and offers many different types of trapeze bars. The type of bars they offer are: Standard Bar Trapeze, Extended Bar Trapeze, Weighted Bar Trapeze, Teardrop Trapeze, Triple Rope Trapeze, Quad Rope Trapeze (the triple and quad mentioned in the previous BLOG) and an Aerial Trapangle. Most of these bars are solid steel (and are roughly 25mm in thickness) minus the Teardrop and Trapangles which are hollow steel. While there aren't any bar length standards in the aerial world, DS Trapeze does have a starting point of 60-84 cm (23.62-31.50in) bar lengths with the triple and quad bars being 142 cm (~55.90in) and 198 cm (~77.953in) respectively.
Trapeze bars can also be made of carbon fiber (like the one in our studio). Via Innovative Composite Engineering website, "Carbon Fiber is a polymer and is sometimes known as graphite fiber. It is a very strong material that is also very lightweight. Carbon fiber is five-times stronger than steel and twice as stiff. Though carbon fiber is stronger and stiffer than steel, it is lighter than steel" They go on to note, "On top of being strong, carbon fiber: Is high in stiffness, Is high in tensile strength, Has a low weight to strength ratio, Is high in chemical resistance, Is temperature tolerant to excessive heat and Has low thermal expansion." With that, "Carbon fiber is very popular in many industries such as aerospace, automotive, military, and recreational applications."
Don Carson of Darien, Georgia, is one that makes dance trapezes with the Carbon fiber bars. "Carbon fiber is incredibly strong yet lightweight. I have destructively tested many materials over the years by breaking them. My carbon fiber bars, from 1 to 1 1/4 in. outer diameter (OD), are made so that they break at over 2000 lbs." Don continues to add regarding a positive to using carbon fiber, "A lighter bar allows the dancer to go up on the ropes with less effort and without concern for the momentum of a metal bar, were it to swing against him or her. The lighter weight allows the dancer to manipulate the trapeze more easily." When asked "Why not steel or aluminum?" Don discusses, "While this is really personal preference, there are several points to consider. The grip with bare metal is slick and becomes slippery with sweat. The carbon fiber, while smooth, has a nice texture which gives it a good grip. You can tape the metal bars, but then they don’t slide against the body as well. Also dance trapezes are usually hung about head height, making them much safer to bump into than the heavier metal bars. The weight of steel is very functional with dynamic circus trapezes, helping them track well. A carbon fiber dance trapeze, hung from two points, could be used as a circus trapeze theoretically, though its lighter weight would offer different choices to the trapeze dancer."
With our Trapeze series, we hope you have a bit more knowledge about the circus aerial apparatus. It can be overwhelming if you are looking to purchase one of your own with the many types and customization options (definitely do your research!). Even if you are not looking to purchase, this will give you an insight to what is all involved in a trapeze and that it is not just a bar with ropes, there are many parts and pieces!
****Another option for further trapeze information and reading, you can check out Aerial Animals (a traveling Circus family out of Golden, Colorado)
Written By Coach Alicia
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