The Art of Transitions - expression, fluidity, style in aerial silks

When most people think of aerial silks, they picture dramatic drops, big poses, and of course, splits. But what if the most defining part of an aerialist’s artistry is actually everything in between?

Transitions are the connective tissue of aerial. They are the pathways, the bridges, the threads that weave one shape into the next. Without thoughtful transitions, a routine can feel like a series of disconnected snapshots. With them, movement transforms into a story and expression unique to you.

What transitions do to your performance:

• They reveal your style arguably more than tricks - while tricks are relatively defined, transitions have a lot more...room for interpretation. the HOW is going to vary a lot from person to person. Yes, the how will also vary for poses, but I personally notice it more in the in betweens.

• They give space for breath and expression, giving an aliveness and presence to the performance that can easily be diminished in just a lineup of tricks.

• In a way, it may be what audeinces remember most, because they contribute so strongly to the feeling or mood of the performance.
  

Ways to refine your transitions:

• Slow Practice: While training or working on choreography, move at half-speed, to discover opportunities and subtleties you’d miss at full pace.
  

• Pathway Awareness: Instead of focusing only on the start and end shape, ask: What is my arm doing mid-way? Where is my head turning? What are my legs saying? Are all parts of me present?
  

• Identify inefficiencies and distractions: Which hand is on top and does that help you get effectively to the next place? What direction is your spin relative to the primary body movements? (this matters!)

Learn how hand placement affects transitions in aerial silks in this virtual workshop! Early bird ends September 12th

• Texture Play: Transitions don’t always have to be smooth. Try sharpness, staccato, suspension, or a sudden shift into stillness.

• Musicality: Experiment with aligning transitions to music. Sometimes a subtle shoulder roll or a shift of weight on the beat brings the choreo alive.

• Breath & Intention: Run through part of your choreo with breath as the main focus. Fascinating!

• Micro-Moments of Posing: In the middle of a transition, pause for a breath. You may discover hidden shapes worth keeping.
  

A different way to see it:Transitions are not “in between.” They are the choreography. They are the moment where you as the artist are fully present, where you make choices about softness, sharpness, vulnerability, or power.

When you next train, try this: choose two shapes you love, and instead of focusing on them as poses, spend your whole practice exploring specifically the pathways that connect them. See how many different routes you can find, how many qualities of movement you can experiment with. See what opens for you!