Classes

NOTE:  Monarca in Flight requires proof of COVID vaccination for ALL students for ALL classes.  Mask usage is optional for all class participants.

PLEASE NOTE: The minimum age for students in our regular in-studio classes is 14.  Exceptions can be made for those with prior aerial experience.  We can also arrange private or semi-private lessons for those who don’t yet qualify for classes.

Note: Signups for aerials classes are restricted to the two weeks prior to the class date.

 

Scroll down for descriptions and prerequisites.

 

to manage your schedule on the go.

 

Aerials Program Classes

Introduction to Soft Apparatus: Silks & Sling

First-timers start here! This 60-minute class for absolute beginners will introduce you to climbing, footlocks, supported inversions, and airborne poses on the silks and sling. You will work at your own pace in a fun and safe environment.

In order to advance to Level 1 Silks or Sling, you must take at least two Intro classes.

If you have previous silks and sling experience you can submit a video of yourself working on the apparatus along with a brief description of your background for the instructors to evaluate whether you can skip the Intro class.

Introduction to Hard Apparatus: Lyra and Trapeze

First-timers start here! This 60-minute class for absolute beginners will introduce you to inversions, basic positioning inside and under the lyra and trapeze, and some simple sequencing. You will work at your own pace in a fun and safe environment.

In order to advance to Level 1 Lyra or Trapeze, you must take at least two Intro classes.

If you have previous lyra and trapeze experience you can submit a video of yourself working on the apparatus along with a brief description of your background for the instructors to evaluate whether you can skip the Intro class.

Silks

Aerial Silks Level 1

This class is for people who have passed the Introduction to Soft Apparatus course and want to learn more. In this class we will start to focus on developing good form, alignment, engagement, and technique. Students will begin to learn several different types of climbs, foot locks, inversions, and wraps to create interesting shapes and poses. Skills evaluation at course completion is required to move to the next level.

Prerequisites:  Completion of two Intro to Soft classes, or Instructor approval. (see info under the Intro description).

What the F-f-f-fabric??

A little bit of dancing, a tad bit of puzzle solving, a whole lot of WERK! Each week this class will hone in on a particular technique and/or move. There will be drills to support growth and confidence in the air, plus guided choreography prompts.

Open for all levels.

Prerequisites:  Approval for Silks Level 1

Aerial Silks Level 2

In this class we will continue to emphasize good form and technique, with additional drills for more advanced skills and more time spent off the ground and in the air. More advanced and complex skills will be taught, and students will begin to learn wraps for drops, with an eye to ensuring that students have the body awareness and technique to execute and exit them safely. Skills evaluation at course completion is required to move to the next level.

Pre-requisites: Understanding how to move the fabric around the body. Basic vocabulary and endurance.
Consecutive even footlocks (figure 8 and aerial dance). Hip key from Russian (understanding of wrap) with hip commit. Ability to invert from the floor multiple times

Aerial Silks Level 3

In this class the difficulty level will be increased, as students begin to execute drops and work towards advanced skills such as straight-arm inversions. This class will include more fabric theory and exploration for students, and more emphasis will be placed on endurance and high-level technique.

Pre-requisites: Endurance and strength: ability to stay in the air and execute multiple moves without extensive coach correction.  Basic problem solving ability/understanding of how to get out of wraps.
Competency with skills following skills:
  • Windmill Hip Key: on and off the ground
  • Climbs: standard, russian, bicycle, same side and opposite side climbs, hocks, crochet…
  • Wrapping, walking out and unwrapping drops: 360, star, front balance, salto
  • Ability to invert off the ground multiple times (does not have to be clean every time, but NO TOE TAGGING)
  • Crossback straddle inversion.


Fabric Flow and Transitions

Take more ownership of your technique in this choreography and sequencing focused class led by Gwynne Flanagan.

Prerequisites:   Requirements are footlocks in the air and a clean inversion in the air.  You must have be a Monarca Level 2 (or higher) Fabric student for at least 2 months in order to build a sufficient skill base.  Alternately send a video with a flow of 10 or more skills without coming off the fabric. Instructor permission required.  

Sling

Aerial Sling: Level 1

This class is for people who have taken the Introduction to Soft Apparatus course and want learn more about aerial sling. In this class we will work on entries, poses with closed and open sling, leg and hip wraps, twists, and inversions. Drills will be fundamental in preparing students for the next level. Skills evaluation at course completion.

Prerequisites:  Intro to Soft Apparatus and/or instructor permission (see info under the Intro description.

Mixed-level Aerial Sling

Mixed-level sling class for students of both Level 1 and Level 2. For each class the instructor will base content on the skills and abilities of the students present. Come work on what you need!

Prerequisites:  Be able to execute pull overs several times during class, front balance with no hands for 10 seconds, short arm hang for 10 seconds, long arm pike hang for 10 seconds, do 3 climbs to the top in a row.
Be able to execute double crochet, have solid Arabesque, solid hip-key, solid knowledge of a belay. Be familiar and able to execute 20 or more skills.


Aerial Lyra: Level 1

This class is for people who have taken the Introduction to Hard Apparatus course and want learn more. In this class we will work on form, shoulder engagement, skills inside and under the lyra, sequences and transitions. Drills will be fundamental in preparing students for the next level and for learning to put routines together.

Prerequisites:  Intro to Hard Apparatus and instructor permission (see info under the Intro description.


Lyra Flow

Class Description: This class will focus not just on skills, but also on learning how to put things together and make it more like dancing and flowing into the apparatus. Come prepared to challenge your body and brain with new pathways and shapes.

Prerequisites:  This class is for students who have completed our Level 1 Lyra and have been approved by instructors.

Aerial Trapeze: Level 1

This class is for people who have taken the Introduction to Hard Apparatus course and want learn more. In this class we will cover moves that are adapted from static and dance trapeze traditions and put together some short sequences. We’ll focus on body mechanics, conditioning and stretching while creating a foundation of body awareness and safety.

Prerequisites:  Intro to Hard Apparatus and/or instructor permission (see info under the Intro description.

Mixed-level Aerial Trapeze

Mixed-level trapeze class for students of both Level 1 and Level 2. For each class the instructor will base content on the skills and abilities of the students present. Come work on what you need!

Prerequisites:  Be able to execute the following skills:
Pull over, ankle hang, front balance with no hands for 10 seconds, invert from sitting, comfortable with double knee hang, short arm hang for 10 seconds, long arm pike hang for 10 seconds.
Be familiar with and able to execute 20 skills.
Or by Instructor approval.

Aerial Trapeze: Level 2

Build on the basic skills from Trapeze: Level 1 and exploring different variations and transitions. We work on dynamics, flows, transitions, skills in the ropes, and balances.

Prerequisites:  Evaluation by instructor to demonstrate sufficient mastery of Level 1 Trapeze skills, including: invert from the floor without toe-tapping or jumping, clean invert in the ropes, clean pullover to front balance, execute front balance and hold for 15 seconds, execute solid double knee hang, 1 minute flow demonstrating Trapeze 1 curriculum (min 6 skills).

Mixed-level Hard Apparatus Exploration

“Let’s get lost (and hopefully found) on hard apparatus! This class is a guided expedition: we start with known skills and ask “what if?” to help us explore new pathways, transitions, and shapes across multiple apparatuses. Our goal is to build an exploratory mindset and ask interesting questions – even if we don’t find all the answers right away.

Open to all students who have basic familiarity with hard apparatus. This class is not intended to build vocabulary but rather to stray from the beaten path, so bring your questions, curiosity, and spirit of adventure!”

Dance Trapeze

Dance trap is the quintessential apparatus to practice ease, transition-creation, and work on directional changes within spinning and swinging choreography. It can be lyrical or percussive; dynamic or static. The possibilities are endless!!
Bring some ginger!
Prerequisite: Invert under the bar without tagging feet. Invert in the ropes.

Beginning Straps

Aerial straps are all about strength. Whether you are looking to try something new, build strength for another apparatus, or try out the most badass aerial apparatus out there, this class is for you! We will be working toward inverted positions like meat hooks and back flags as well as support position skills like back balances and roll ups. Each skill begins with a modified drill to build your strength and body awareness to make the badass skills possible.

Prerequisites: consistent inversions from the floor, 10 push ups, 10 consecutive aerial classes, a desire to work hard and get stronger.

Performance Classes

Creation Tool Box

Be it a meal, a spaceship or an act… if you want to make something, you are going to need TOOLS! In this class learn how to harness the possibilities of imagination through play, experimentation and exploration on a variety of apparatuses. No choreographic experience needed. We will guide and provide ideas, pro-tips, and tricks on how to make your own creative process possible by giving you the tools to do it yourself!
Prerequisite: Clearance for Level 1 classes.

Cancellation Policy

Non-members: Classes must be cancelled at least 12 hours in advance or class credit is forfeited.

Members: Classes must be cancelled at least 12 hours in advance to avoid the following penalties:

  • 90-minute classes: Loss of credit for late cancellations; loss of credit and $15 fee for no-shows.
  • 60-minute classes:  $15 fee for late cancellations or no-shows.
Private lessons must be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance or lesson is forfeited.

You may cancel by emailing us directly at [email protected], calling the studio at 571-384-6064 or by canceling through Mindbody. If you are unable to notify us in advance of your class or appointment, please note that payment will be forfeit (non-members) or a no-show penalty will be charged to your card (members).

Unless otherwise indicated, all class packages activate on the date of purchase, not on the first visit.
It is always our intent to  offer our scheduled classes. That said, we sometimes have to cancel a class. Those who are signed up for a class we cancel will be notified as early as possible via email by the Mindbody system and will be able to reschedule for another class.  As a general rule, classes with 2 or fewer students enrolled as of 8 hours before class time will automatically be canceled.
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