FAQs

CLASS TERM DATES 2023/24

15 April - 15 July 2024
7 September - 12 December 2024

Opening times
Mondays 6-845pm
Tuesdays Closed
Wednesdays 430-845pm
Thursdays 430-815pm
Fridays Closed
Saturdays 915-2pm
Sundays Closed

Holiday Closures
6 May
27 May - 2 June 2024
16 July - 6 September 2024
28 October - 2 November 2024
13 December - 8 January 2025

OUR CLASSES PASSES/ PACKAGES

CARNET, AERIAL ARTIST PASS OR SINGLE CLASS?
The single class is good if you want to try out our classes before committing to longer. You may cancel up to 24 hours before the class. 

The Aerial Artist passes or 10 week courses are our most cost efficient way to come to classes. 10 week Aerial Artist pass has free practice time.

The 4 and 10 class carnet, are the next most cost efficient and flexible pass. They allow you to book the class and date you prefer, when available. The 4 and 10 class carnets allow you to come to any class with spaces, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday and in different skills if you prefer. You can book online all the way to the end of term and are able to cancel up to 24 hours before. 10 class carnet is valid for 12 months, 4 skills class is valid for 6 months.

Kids, Youth or Young Peoples classes are a 10 week term. 
We offer limited scholarships for low income families.

Private classes are by request £60 per hour for 1 person during other classes. £70 for 2 persons. £150 for the private space and 1-2 students.
See our parties/ events page for more private class options.
Contact us to discuss availability.

WHICH AERIAL SKILL SHOULD I START WITH?
Generally, we recommend new students begin aerial classes by with our “introduction to aerial” course. And/or starting with learning trapeze or hoop first. This allows the new student to become accustomed to being in the air (aerial awareness), being upside down and supporting one’s own body weight upon different body parts. Both trapeze and hoop are accessed from the floor and allow students without great strength to get onto the equipment and move into shapes whilst supported by the equipment.

Gradually, as students work to improve aerial awareness and strength, they may then try and succeed with the other disciplines of Straps, Silks and Rope. These disciplines require good upper body strength to enable a student to enjoy and perform the skills safely.

Potential students with experience in Dance, Rock Climbing or similar disciplines to Aerial, such as Gymnastics or Pole Dance may initially learn aerial skills quickly. Previous physical experience often suggests level of physical awareness and strength which are valuable for aerial classes. Physical experience may allow a new aerial student to start in any of the aerial classes that we offer.

• Introduction to Aerial is for students with no previous aerial experience.

• Beginner Hoop or Beginner Trapeze or Beginner Silks for those who may have completed the Introduction to Aerial and now know what they want to specialise in.

• Silks Improvers is for improving students with experience in the introduction to aerial class or a little aerial/silks experience. They should have a knowledge of foundation moves and climbs as well as working on inverting at height.

• General Trapeze or Hoop class is for those with some aerial experience, at least 5-6 classes.

• Intermediate Silks or Rope or Straps class requires at least 1 years aerial experience.

• Intermediate Trapeze or Hoop require previous aerial training in the Discipline and working towards, dynamic moves and longer sequences. .

• Straps requires at least 1 years aerial experience. Aerial awareness, strength and high pain threshold are also needed.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN AERIAL CLASSES?
Aerial Days classes are suitable for many different body types, and for all genders from 8 years old. 

The early moves that students will learn on the equipment require less strength and flexibility than many students expect. Coming to class with some strength and flexibility is helpful but it is not a prerequisite. From the first class, the beginner aerial student may be able to perform a selection of moves on the trapeze or hoop. As aerial awareness and strength and confidence develop, so too does the complexity, quality and amount of positions on the equipment.

Whilst we can develop and improve fitness by regular class attendance, it is important to talk to us about pre existing conditions or injuries you have, so we can guide you to the correct class and when is a good time to start or resume classes.

Young people under the age of 18 years are not currently permitted in the Adult classes.

THE CLASSES
All classes begin with a group led warm up for the body and mobilisation of the joints to get the body ready for aerial work. We include core and body conditioning to support the body and gain and maintain strength. The aerial conditioning is the first part of each class on the equipment. In the skills part of the class, students first learn basic moves and later learn to link them together to create sequences. In all classes, strength, confidence and aerial ability develop gradually. As they develop, students can then learn harder moves, drops and perform sequences.

Part of the familiarity is getting used to being in the air, being upside down and supporting your own body weight with different parts of your body. 

Students are guided to work at their own pace, fully supported by the teachers. 

WHAT COULD I LEARN
With practice, students enjoy gains in strength and flexibility alongside developing exciting aerial skills and fitness. Strength is the most obvious benefit but also co-ordination, alignment, spacial awareness and confidence.

In all classes strength, confidence and aerial ability will develop gradually. So too does getting used to being in the air, being upside down and supporting your own body weight on different parts of your body. With regular attendance, students can learn more complex or more dynamic moves and link them together to perform sequences. Further along in aerial training, the skills a student may learn are some of the same skills seen in professional circus or aerial performances.

WHAT TO WEAR TO CLASS
Leggings, close fitting tracksuit pants or something comfortable that you can move in that covers the backs of your knees. Nothing too loose or baggy so it won’t fall down or get caught. On your top half, we recommend wearing a t-shirt or leotard that is long enough so it covers your mid-section and doesn’t go over your head when you go upside down. The venue has heating but working on the aerial equipment can be hot or cool so different layers are a good idea. Thick socks, leg warmers or ankle straps (like the elastic or neoprene ones for ankle sprain) to cover and protect your feet are good to bring, especially when repeating certain moves. If you are doing straps then bring some protection for your upper arms such as Tubi grip.

Clothes without zips are preferred. We ask students to remove rings, watches and bracelets. Leaving jewellery and strong perfumes at home is good idea.

CHALLENGES OF AERIAL TRAINING
By helping students develop strength, confidence and allowing the student to develop at one’s own pace, the student becomes more familiar with aerial skills and they get used to being in the air. We understand that being upside down in some positions can be confusing at first. Learning gradually to support one's own body weight with different parts of your body (e.g. hanging from your ankles), may cause discomfort. We encourage students to take it slow at first and to wear clothing to protect certain parts of the body.

VENUE FACILITIES
There are toilets and changing on the top floor near the gym.
Please be aware the venue is not wheelchair accessible as there are many stairs and no lift. The venue is a nut free zone and unfortunately dog free!

PARKING/CYCLES
Parking is free and possible in front of our venue, as well as on the surrounding streets. It can be busy on weekends so give yourself time to find a space! Weekdays there is no vehicular movement past the school 3-4pm.
If you cycle, you can bring your bicycle into the courtyard after 6pm or on weekends.

MORE QUESTIONS: 
Do you offer discounts?
Once the term has started and we determine that we have spaces in a class, we can offer them to students, low income and disability claimant’s. The space offered will be in a class not in demand.
Around 2 weeks into the term, please contact us with your skill, day and/or class preference and your discount eligibility.

If you have any other questions that we didn't answer here, please feel free to email us.

If you are lost and can’t find the entrance, you can call this number to guide you to our entrance on Croftdown Rd. 07341 855 885
(This telephone number is answered by the teachers from 15 minutes before our first class of the day. During classes they will be able to guide you to our gate, but they won’t have time to answer queries regarding classes.)

For information, class availability or anything else not on the website, please email info@aerialdays.com.

WHERE DO WE BUY OUR EQUIPMENT

We are regularly asked where to get Aerial Equipment. We recommend companies we trust to sell you fit for purpose, aerial and circus equipment. Click the picture to look at Firetoys products.

Once you have found a product you like, ask us about sizing and suitability for you or your child!