Last year I saw Pink.
Pink, live in concert, at Challenge Stadium, on her I’m Not Dead tour.
I wasn’t a huge fan before then, in fact, before the concert, anytime I heard the song Get the Party Started I wanted to throw myself off the highest building (plummeting to certain death) screaming “Damn you Pink! I will not get this party started! I don’t care if you’re coming up! Stay the hell away from meeeee!” Etcetera. After the concert, I was a changed woman. I loved Pink. I downloaded her CD to my iPod and listened to it religiously. I found myself trawling the internet for Pink stories and Pink gossip. I logged onto the official Pink website. I considered buying Pink merchandise. And, most importantly, I became obsessed with aerial silks.
“Aerial silks?” you ask.
Yes, aerial silks.
You see, the Pink concert was many things. It was fun, loud, raucous, raunchy and entertaining. It was also a dance and acrobatics extravaganza, with Pink performing death-defying stunts, suspended high above the crowd from aerial silks. According to Wikipedia (the most trusted of internet sources) aerial silks (also known as aerial tissu, aerial silk, ribbon, aerial fabric, aerial ballet in silk, aerial contortion, aerial curtain or even contorsion au de silk) is a circus art where a performer or performers hang and perform acrobatics while suspended by a special fabric. The suspended fabric is usually 20 to 35 feet high and performers use no safety lines, relying only on their skill. The performer uses the fabric to wrap, suspend, fall, swing and spiral their body into various positions.
Anyway, I became obsessed with aerial silks but couldn’t find a class. Then just the other week I found out that local pole dancing school She Moves now offers aerial silks classes. Woohoo! Classes are small, just six students per class, and the silks aren’t too high which makes it a little less daunting. I booked in for the term and after just two lessons, I know I am in for a tough ride. The classes are challenging and athletic, requiring co-ordination, balance and massive upper body/core strength. They teach you how to balance, climb and hang suspended from the silks, all the time looking as graceful and elegant. While I don’t have the grace thing quite worked out – I look more like a baby elephant than a swan – it is a fun hobby to have. Some might even say kooky.
Silks is something completely different, exciting and scary, definitely not for the faint hearted and not for those without some sort of gymnastics background or high level of fitness and strength. But, just like everything that doesn’t come easy, it is rewarding and gosh darn it if it aint a lot of fun too. Just to add a bit more cheese to the fondue, it reminds me that I’m Not Dead, just like the title of Pink’s album and most recent tour. Geddit? Geddit?
Bahahaha. Man, I’m funny.
Happy hobbies everyone!
THRILLS & SPILLS
Level of difficulty: 5/5
Co-ordination: 5/5
Fun: 5/5
What to wear: 3/4 or full length (tight) gym pants, singlet, no shoes.
What to bring: Towel, water bottle.
Where to go: She Moves Pole Fitness
Average cost: $260 per 6 week term. Weekly classes are 1.5 hours long.
Who to contact: www.shemoves.com.au
Aerials Silks by any other name: WA Circus School has silks classes too. Expect to pay about $400 for a class. www.circuswa.com/wacs/