AERIAL AMBIENCE & IMPROVISATION
Image of Aerialist Samantha Pena performing at the Aga Khan Museum, photo by Kamera Ninja.
Next In-Person Series begins Sat March 28, 2026 at Artists’ Play Dance & Circus (details below).
Scroll further for more information on the online course, available anytime.
SATURDAYS March 28, April 4, 11, 18 & 25*
2:30-4:30pm at Artists’ Play Dance & Circus *on April 25 class begins at 12:30pm (see note in description below)
Max 8 students
$300 +HST for 5 weeks (10 hours) of in-person instruction + access to online course materials
sliding scale pricing available upon request - please contact emily@herciniarts.com for a discount code
To Register: Sign up via Artists’ Play.
COURSE DETAILS
This course is an introduction to aerial ambience, also sometimes called aerial animation. This is a type of practice or performance that is durational in form, and involves sustained movements and focus from the performer. Over the course of 5 weeks, you’ll develop physical and mental endurance, gradually advancing from five to twenty minute aerial sets, all while also cultivating your creative practice.
This is an ideal course for Intermediate to Advanced level aerialists with an existing practice who want to challenge their endurance, cultivate a durational practice, and/or explore creative impulses and improvisation techniques in the air. Participants should have a strong basic technique, including being able to problem solve in the air and to perform multiple sequences in a row. The course is especially beneficial for silks artists, but can be adapted to any aerial practice.**
Sessions will consist of a group warm-up and endurance conditioning and guided ambience practice sets with creative prompts, discussion and encouragement.
Registration for the in-person series will also give you access to the online course material, which includes ambient sequencing for aerial silks, plus additional prompts for any apparatus.
*Our final session will take place on Sat April 25 as part of the Eventualize festival, where participants will have the opportunity to practice thier ambient performance skills for live audience members as they enter the space. Please note for this date the class start time will be 12:30pm for warm-up and preparation with ambient performances beginning at 1:30pm.
**please contact us if you are registering to use an apparatus other than silks so that we can ensure we have enough points and equipment to accommodate everyone
ACCESS NOTES:
This class will be taught in English and the instructor will demonstrate skills/movements as necessary for additional visual aid. Participants are encouraged to move at their own pace and to take breaks as needed. No specific technical skills are required and participants can choose skills and movements that feel good in their own bodies.
Studio: Artists' Play is located on the 2nd floor of a large industrial building and signage can be followed from most entrances, leading you up one flight of stairs to the entrance. There is a 6 inch (16cm) elevation at the main entrance to the building where there is an elevator to the 2nd floor. From the main entrance, there is a pathway marked in pink tape on the floor.
The main space is large with concrete floors that is matted in most areas, but with concrete pathways throughout the space. We are in Studio 3, where there is marley dance floor. There are multiple gender neutral washrooms. Doors are narrow and may not acccommodate a larger mobility device. Doors are all manual and do not have grab bars.
Transportation: The venue is accessible by TTC via the 72 Pape bus from Pape station, the Carlton Streetcar (via Gerrard st E) or the Queen Streetcar. Bike racks are available just outside the building and there is a bike share station at Dundas/Carlaw as well as several other nearby stations. There is metered street parking on Carlaw. An underground Green P parking lot is available across the street beside Crow's Theatre.
COVID-19: We ask those with active symptoms of any sickness not to come to class for the health and safety of all participants. Although masks are no longer required for indoor activities, participants are welcome to wear a mask or face covering throughout the class. Hercinia Arts recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and requirements and best practices will continue to fluctuate. We will be in compliance with government regulations at the time of this workshop, and reserve the right to make additional changes to requirements based on recommended best practice from health professionals. Updates will be sent to registered participants. We ask those with active symptoms of any sickness not to come to class for the health and safety of all participants.
Sliding Scale Pricing: For this course we are offering sliding scale options of 25% or 50% off. Contact us for details.
Choose the price within the range offered that feels financially accessible to you. We offer the prompts below as a suggestion of how to interpret this, however ultimately it is up to you as only you know your situation.
Choose the low end - If you are an artist, gig worker, or otherwise precariously or under-employed.
Choose the mid-range - If you are gainfully employed, but have limited access to additional resources.
Choose the high end - If you have access to wealth/assets, investments/savings or own property.
If the low end of the sliding scale still presents a barrier to accessing the course, contact us and we will make accommodations where possible.
We regret that we are not able to offer ASL interpretation for this event. If you have any other access needs please let us know and we will make accommodations where possible.
ONLINE COURSE (available on it’s own, or included in fee for in-person course):
The course is designed to take place over approximately 5 weeks, with a weekly practice in mind, but with options to self-pace as much as you need. Once registered, you’ll have access to the material for a minimum of 6 months. It is completely asynchronous and self-directed. While the program is laid out for you, you’ll be required to create your own schedule and hold yourself accountable to the practice. It is best suited to participants who are self-motivated. If you need an accountability buddy, I encourage you to sign up with a friend.
What’s included:
- training plans for 5 phases of progressions for ambience practice
- videos & written instructions for 10 sequences/skills that are well suited to ambience
- specially created music mixes to practice to
- conditioning exercises to help advance your endurance
- tips to up your ambience game
- optional creative prompts to fuel your exploration time in the air
What you need:
- access to a safe aerial point with at least 14 ft (4.25m) of height, and aerial silks, for a weekly or twice weekly session of at least 90min (up to an optional 3 hrs)
- stopwatch/timer
- water bottle & rosin (suggested)
- notebook (optional)
- device for playing music (optional)
- device for filming your practice (optional)
Accessibility:
- instructions for the course material are provided in writing on the website and available for download as PDFs
- sequences/skill videos provided include a version in real time and slowed down 50%, audio description is provided in the video with closed captioning available - all sequence instructions are also available in a downloadable PDF
- this is a self-directed course and participants are encouraged to progress at their own pace and to modify exercises to best suit their body
- if you have particular access needs, please contact us at hello@herciniarts.com and we will make modifications/accommodations where possible
Cost: $125 (+ 13% HST for Canadian residents)
This is the full price of the course. Sliding scale pricing is also available down to $50 for those facing financial barriers. Additional financial support is also available to BIPOC artists through our training bursary program.
Optional add on: Personalized Feedback (either written notes or voice recorded, as requested)
$40 for up to 30min of video footage - sliding scale down to $30 available
You can follow up by email at any time throughout the course to request this add on.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR ONLINE COURSE ONLY:
Send a payment for the full amount through our PAYPAL or via e-transfer to hello@herciniarts.com. In the message section, include your email address and the name of the course you are registering for. We’ll be in touch within 48 hours to confirm receipt and send you a weblink and password to access the course. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 48 hours, please follow up with us via email.
Refund policy: Due to the nature of the course material, unfortunately we cannot offer refunds once access information has been sent.
About the creator:
Emily Hughes has been a silks specialist since the first day they were introduced to her then home studio, Main Space School of Circus Arts, and she struggled to climb these strange bouncy ropes. Over the past nearly 20 years, she’s cultivated an international performance career that draws on her training in theatre and circus, with a particular love for durational performance and pushing her endurance. She’s been teaching for just as long, with a focus on foundational aerial technique and encouraging creative pathways in students ranging from beginner to (pre-)professional. She has a teaching certification in Intro to Teaching Aerials and Aerial Hoop Foundations through Nimble Arts and has taken circus pedagogy workshops with Angola Murdoch, Sarah Poole and Erin Ball, building on her foundational teaching mentorship through Marsha Kennington & Harbourfront Circus Camp begun as a teenager. She also holds a BFA in Theatre Performance: Acting from Toronto Metropolitan University and is a passionate student of Pochinko Clown.
For any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at hello@herciniarts.com.