How to Perform the Flying Trapeze

Rebecca Braden: Have you ever wanted to fly through the air with the greatest of ease? Hi! I'm Rebecca Braden and welcome to watchmojo.com and today we'll be learning all about the flying trapeze. What kind of traits are you working on or practicing when you're doing the flying trapeze yourself? Simon Fortin: If someone is very graceful, it's also someone that makes it look easy that anybody could do it, but when anybody do it, and they realize that it's much harder than it looks. Rebecca Braden: Is it more of a sport or an art, what would you say? Simon Fortin: Definitely an art. Rebecca Braden: Where would you most likely see it performed? Simon Fortin: Most circuses have flying trapezes, but it's something that's very traditional, very family oriented. So it always starts with a family and they travel around. Rebecca Braden: And who would you say is most attracted to trying this activity? Simon Fortin: Most of it are people that have a child heart and the unfilled dream of doing circus and they just realize that it is possible for them to do it. Rebecca Braden: Can anyone try this activity? Simon Fortin: Definitely, from kids, adults, older people, people who self claim out of shape. It is relieved what we're trying to do here is to share circus to as many people as we could. Rebecca Braden: What about people who are afraid of heights? Simon Fortin: 9 out of 10 people are afraid of heights. So it is very normal. But it is a very safe activity, we have safety measures and everything that makes it not as scary safety wise, but is yet still in midair. Rebecca Braden: Are there any terms that we'll hear a lot about during lessons? Simon Fortin: First, you'll hear a lot, the word listo meaning ready in Spanish. We use listo a lot in circus to honor Mexicans that are to me, probably the best flyers history had. You'll hear another one very often is hap; hap meaning go in most of times, but we don't say go because it also rhymes with no. So when you have a split of a second to make a decision and you're not sure if it said go or no, but we use a lot, the word hap. Rebecca Braden: What can someone expect to be able to do at the end of their first lesson? Simon Fortin: The first trick we teach people is what we call the knee hang, meaning that you'll end up swinging by your knees upside down in midair. Rebecca Braden: Can it be considered a work off? Simon Fortin: Definitely a work off from your head to your toes, your abs, your arms, everything will work. You'll see it soon. Rebecca Braden: Thank you very much. Simon Fortin: You're very welcome.