By Sadie Atwood
Aerial Acrobatics, a new program to Gymfinity Gymnastics Lethbridge, is gaining the spotlight, says supervisor Scott Whiteside.
An increase in the facility’s request for demos is drawing more people to the aerial program.
“When someone comes to watch our athletes, I think it is instantly appealing and they can’t wait to try it,” Whiteside adds.
Merriam-webster.com defines aerial as performing and existing in the air rather than on the ground. Acrobatics is defined as a difficult or dangerous performance that demonstrates great agility or complexity.
Aerialists.org says the history of the acrobatic arts stems back as early as 2000 BC. Simple objects such as, ladders, tables, chairs, jars and plates were incorporated into performances that are still being used today. The website also states that acrobatic and aerial performances had become the highlight performance when the Circus came to American soil in 1792.
Today, many aerialists perform in Cirque du Soleil, a Quebec-based organization providing artistic entertainment.
Lethbridge College student, Katherine Odland is addicted to more then just the adrenaline rush of the sport. She is captivated by her continual progress.
“Yes the drops and some of the moves can be exhilarating, but just being able to do these types of moves with your body and how you can grow in coordination and strength I think that’s the most exhilarating for me.”
Improvement is not the only noticeable difference. It is what the athletes endure behind the scenes to achieve those enchanting moments on stage. The athletes’ bodies sustain a regular beating during practice and performance.
Jenna Lencucha, aerialist and Gymfinity coach can attest to this reality. “You need a high threshold of pain tolerance,” she said adding, “On a regular basis, I always end up with some sort of beating on my body. Your body gets used to it though, I don’t bruise as severely or as often as I used to, which is sometimes disappointing when your body hurts, but you have no wound to show for it.”
The competition to turn an athlete into a performer is a gruelling experience says Whiteside.
According to cirquedusoleil.com, the company has 1,300 performing artists from close to 50 different countries. Odland acknowledges the years of training an athlete must have. “The requirements are quite steep. A lot of people have been training in the field for about 10 years before they get on with cirque and they usually have some sort of gymnastics background before they even get into circus training.
”Strength, determination, confidence and focus are key components. Lencucha, says her favourite piece of equipment reflects who she is.
“I like the rope because it’s raw and it’s strong. I like to think I am strong.” Lencucha understands the high intensity of the sport but admits the outcome outweighs the difficulty.
“The very first time that I took aerial gymnastics or tried different poses or movements, I remember how difficult it was and that’s why I like coaching people too. I like to see how difficult they find it and how frustrating it can be abut then it’s amazing how strong your body gets over a short amount of time and it’s always exciting for me to finally get a move or get a pose that I never ever thought I would ever be able to hold.”
Despite the physical demands, aerialists like Odland and Lencucha persevere. Partnership work weighs heavy on trust, which ignites a deeply rich community among the athletes.
During practice, Lencucha and Odland fill the room with laughter whether they are holding a pose or falling out of a pose.
“We do love it. It’s a great work out and it’s fun.” Odland adds with an effortless smile. “We have a really great community of people here, which makes it easy to come back to. “The mystical beauty of the aerialist’s performances around Lethbridge has caught local’s attention.
“This year we had a significant growth in our beginner adult program. There has been a dramatic increase in our requests for demos at events.” Whiteside remarks.
The sports facility’s next performance is Cupcake Carnival, a demo for children at CASA on March 22. Several more events will follow in upcoming months.
For more information about Gymfinity Gymnastics or the aerial program, call 403-329-2706.
