A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes, metal straps, or chains, from a ceiling support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or flying, and may be performed solo, double, triple or as a group act.[1]
Trapeze artists, in lithograph by Calvert Litho. Co., 1890.
The name of the apparatus reflects the trapezoid shape made by the horizontal bar, ropes and ceiling support.[2]
The art of trapeze performance is reported to have been developed by Jules Léotard, a young French acrobat and aerialist, in Toulouse in the mid-19th century. He is said to have used his father's swimming pool to practice.[3] However, the name "trapeze" can be found in books dating as far back as twenty years earlier, before Léotard was born. One such example is George Roland's “An Introductory Course of Modern Gymnastic Exercises”,[4] published in 1832. Roland proposes the idea that the trapeze might owe its origin to Colonel Amoros, but ultimately deems the question of origin "unimportant to the present subject".
The name was applied in French (trapèze) from the resemblance of the apparatus to a trapezium or irregular four-sided figure.[5]
Types of trapezeedit
Static trapeze refers to a trapeze act in which the performer moves around the bar and ropes, performing a wide range of movements including balances, drops, hangs while the bar itself stays generally static. The difficulty on a static trapeze is making every move look effortless. It is like dance, in that most people of a reasonable level of strength can get onto the trapeze bar for the first time and perform some basic tricks, but an experienced artist will do them with much more grace and style.
Swinging trapeze (or swinging single trapeze) refers to an act performed on a trapeze swinging in a forward–backward motion. The performer builds up swing from a still position, and uses the momentum of the swing to execute the tricks. Usually tricks on a swinging trapeze are thrown on the peaks of the swing and involve dynamic movements that require precise timing. Most of the tricks begin with the performer sitting or standing on the bar and end with the performer catching the bar in his/her hands or in an ankle hang (hanging by the ankles by bracing them between the rope and the bar). This act requires a great deal of strength, grace, and flexibility.[1] The trapeze bar is weighted and often has cable inside the supporting ropes for extra strength to withstand the dynamic forces of the swing.
Flying trapeze refers to a trapeze act where a performer, or "flier," grabs the trapeze bar and jumps off a high platform, or pedestal board, so that gravity creates the swing. The swing's parts are the "force out" (sometimes called the "cast out") at the far end of the first swing, the beat back and the rise (also known as "seven") as the performer swings back above the pedestal board, and then the trick is thrown at the far end of the second swing. The performer often releases the bar and is caught by another performer, the "catcher," who hangs by their knees on another trapeze, or sometimes on a cradle, which can be either stationary or also swinging. People of any size are able to execute basic trapeze maneuvers. Flying trapeze is generally done over a net, or occasionally over water. However, some smaller rigs, usually created for teaching purposes, use mats instead of a net.
In the UK, many outdoor education centres offer an activity known as 'leap of faith'. This activity invites participants to climb to the top of a narrow pole and jump, arms outstretched, to grab a trapeze bar. Similar to the flying trapeze, gravity creates the swing. In this type of activity, participants are attached via rope and harness and an added challenge to get your legs over the trapeze can be included.
Washington trapeze (also known as head trapeze or heavy trapeze) refers to a variation on static and swinging trapeze where the aerialist performs various headstand skills on the bar, which is typically much heavier than a normal trapeze bar and has a small (about 4-inch round) headstand platform on it. The trapeze is supported by wire cables rather than ropes, and the apparatus will often be lifted and lowered during the act.[1]
Dance trapeze (also known as single-point trapeze) refers to a trapeze used by many modern dance companies in aerial dance. The ropes of the trapeze are often both attached to a single swivel, allowing the trapeze to spin in either small or large circles.
Double trapeze (also known as the French trapeze) is a variation on the static trapeze, and features two performers working together on the same trapeze to perform figures and bear each other's weight. It can also be performed swinging, in which case the act is called swinging double trapeze.[1]
Triple trapeze
Multiple trapeze refers to a number of different shapes and sizes of trapeze, including double trapeze, triple trapeze and larger multiples designed for use by multiple simultaneous flyers. Shaped trapezes are apparatuses that can take virtually any shape imaginable.
Duplex trapeze refers to any trapeze with two layers of hand bars, one on top of the other, such that acrobats can jump from the upper bar and land (or be caught by a catcher) on the lower.
Hovey Burgess, Judy Finelli. Circus Techniques. Brian Dube, 1989. (ISBN0917643003)
Carrie Heller. Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual. National Writers Press, 2004. (ISBN0881001368)
Jayne C. Bernasconi and Nancy E. Smith. Aerial Dance. United States: Human Kinetics, 2008. (ISBN0736073965) View at Google Books
Elena Zanzu, M.A. Il Trapezio Oscillante: Storie di Circo nell'Aria. (The Swinging Trapeze: Histories of the Circus in the Air.) Bologna University, Italy, 2004–2005. Language: Italian.
Referencesedit
^ abcd. National Institute of Circus Arts. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2009.
^Jones, Paul Anthony (14 October 2019). The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities: A Yearbook of Forgotten Words. University of Chicago Press. p. 317. ISBN978-0-226-64670-1. from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
^"Jules Léotard". Victoria and Albert Museum. from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
^Roland, George (1832). "An Introductory Course of Modern Gymnastic Exercises. G. Roland. from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Trapeze". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 213.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trapezes.
Look up trapeze in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Desiree Belmarez. "Trapeze Tests Grace and Style." Denver Post. August 24, 2007.
Bloomington once capital of 'aerial kingdom' – Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois newspaper)
trapeze, this, article, about, aerial, apparatus, other, uses, disambiguation, trapeze, short, horizontal, hung, ropes, metal, straps, chains, from, ceiling, support, aerial, apparatus, commonly, found, circus, performances, acts, static, spinning, rigged, fro. This article is about the aerial apparatus For other uses see Trapeze disambiguation A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes metal straps or chains from a ceiling support It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances Trapeze acts may be static spinning rigged from a single point swinging or flying and may be performed solo double triple or as a group act 1 Trapeze artists in lithograph by Calvert Litho Co 1890 The name of the apparatus reflects the trapezoid shape made by the horizontal bar ropes and ceiling support 2 Contents 1 History 2 Types of trapeze 3 Further reading 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe art of trapeze performance is reported to have been developed by Jules Leotard a young French acrobat and aerialist in Toulouse in the mid 19th century He is said to have used his father s swimming pool to practice 3 However the name trapeze can be found in books dating as far back as twenty years earlier before Leotard was born One such example is George Roland s An Introductory Course of Modern Gymnastic Exercises 4 published in 1832 Roland proposes the idea that the trapeze might owe its origin to Colonel Amoros but ultimately deems the question of origin unimportant to the present subject The name was applied in French trapeze from the resemblance of the apparatus to a trapezium or irregular four sided figure 5 Types of trapeze editStatic trapeze refers to a trapeze act in which the performer moves around the bar and ropes performing a wide range of movements including balances drops hangs while the bar itself stays generally static The difficulty on a static trapeze is making every move look effortless It is like dance in that most people of a reasonable level of strength can get onto the trapeze bar for the first time and perform some basic tricks but an experienced artist will do them with much more grace and style Swinging trapeze or swinging single trapeze refers to an act performed on a trapeze swinging in a forward backward motion The performer builds up swing from a still position and uses the momentum of the swing to execute the tricks Usually tricks on a swinging trapeze are thrown on the peaks of the swing and involve dynamic movements that require precise timing Most of the tricks begin with the performer sitting or standing on the bar and end with the performer catching the bar in his her hands or in an ankle hang hanging by the ankles by bracing them between the rope and the bar This act requires a great deal of strength grace and flexibility 1 The trapeze bar is weighted and often has cable inside the supporting ropes for extra strength to withstand the dynamic forces of the swing Flying trapeze refers to a trapeze act where a performer or flier grabs the trapeze bar and jumps off a high platform or pedestal board so that gravity creates the swing The swing s parts are the force out sometimes called the cast out at the far end of the first swing the beat back and the rise also known as seven as the performer swings back above the pedestal board and then the trick is thrown at the far end of the second swing The performer often releases the bar and is caught by another performer the catcher who hangs by their knees on another trapeze or sometimes on a cradle which can be either stationary or also swinging People of any size are able to execute basic trapeze maneuvers Flying trapeze is generally done over a net or occasionally over water However some smaller rigs usually created for teaching purposes use mats instead of a net In the UK many outdoor education centres offer an activity known as leap of faith This activity invites participants to climb to the top of a narrow pole and jump arms outstretched to grab a trapeze bar Similar to the flying trapeze gravity creates the swing In this type of activity participants are attached via rope and harness and an added challenge to get your legs over the trapeze can be included Washington trapeze also known as head trapeze or heavy trapeze refers to a variation on static and swinging trapeze where the aerialist performs various headstand skills on the bar which is typically much heavier than a normal trapeze bar and has a small about 4 inch round headstand platform on it The trapeze is supported by wire cables rather than ropes and the apparatus will often be lifted and lowered during the act 1 Dance trapeze also known as single point trapeze refers to a trapeze used by many modern dance companies in aerial dance The ropes of the trapeze are often both attached to a single swivel allowing the trapeze to spin in either small or large circles Double trapeze also known as the French trapeze is a variation on the static trapeze and features two performers working together on the same trapeze to perform figures and bear each other s weight It can also be performed swinging in which case the act is called swinging double trapeze 1 nbsp Triple trapeze Multiple trapeze refers to a number of different shapes and sizes of trapeze including double trapeze triple trapeze and larger multiples designed for use by multiple simultaneous flyers Shaped trapezes are apparatuses that can take virtually any shape imaginable Duplex trapeze refers to any trapeze with two layers of hand bars one on top of the other such that acrobats can jump from the upper bar and land or be caught by a catcher on the lower Further reading editSharon McCutcheon Geoff Perrem Circus in Schools Handbook Tarook Publishing 2004 ISBN 0975687409 Hovey Burgess Judy Finelli Circus Techniques Brian Dube 1989 ISBN 0917643003 Carrie Heller Aerial Circus Training and Safety Manual National Writers Press 2004 ISBN 0881001368 Jayne C Bernasconi and Nancy E Smith Aerial Dance United States Human Kinetics 2008 ISBN 0736073965 View at Google Books Elena Zanzu M A Il Trapezio Oscillante Storie di Circo nell Aria The Swinging Trapeze Histories of the Circus in the Air Bologna University Italy 2004 2005 Language Italian References edit a b c d Circus Dictionary National Institute of Circus Arts Archived from the original on July 19 2011 Retrieved October 1 2009 Jones Paul Anthony 14 October 2019 The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities A Yearbook of Forgotten Words University of Chicago Press p 317 ISBN 978 0 226 64670 1 Archived from the original on 24 June 2021 Retrieved 22 June 2021 Jules Leotard Victoria and Albert Museum Archived from the original on 2016 03 12 Retrieved 2016 04 12 Roland George 1832 An Introductory Course of Modern Gymnastic Exercises G Roland Archived from the original on 7 March 2024 Retrieved 28 October 2022 nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Trapeze Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 27 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 213 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trapezes nbsp Look up trapeze in Wiktionary the free dictionary European Federation of Professional Circus Schools FEDEC Desiree Belmarez Trapeze Tests Grace and Style Denver Post August 24 2007 The physics of the flying trapeze Bloomington once capital of aerial kingdom Pantagraph Bloomington Illinois newspaper Fred and Harry Green The Flying LaVans McLean County Museum of History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Trapeze amp oldid 1216446190, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
