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Aerial HOOP (Lyra) Teacher Trainings

About
​The following courses are part of the Born to Fly™ Aerial Teacher Certificate Program.  All who meet the prerequisites are welcome to train with us, and the certificate is optional.

Teaching Philosophy and Methods
Aerial hoop is gaining popularity because it fits beautifully in spaces with lower ceiling heights.  However, starting students with traditional mounts is not the most accessible way to begin an aerial journey.  Our hoop program begins with lower rigging to make the apparatus more available and progresses in difficulty from that point.  If you teach early beginners, you may wish to take the Fabric/Sling Level 0 Teacher Training - the home base apparatus is sling, but we also translate skills to low trapezes and hoops.  We do allow participants to enter our program at Aerial Hoop Level 1, and Level 0 is not required.

Teaching aerial hoop requires a clear understanding of the skills, progressions, technique, spotting, diverse learning styles, and classroom management to help students find success.  It’s important to notice what a student is ready to progress, and then find unique ways for them to engage with level appropriate material. This allows you to reach more learners and to stay fresh in your own teaching over the long haul.  By entering each class with a beginner’s mind, you will learn something new every time you teach.
 
In the Born to Fly™ methodology, we expose our students to aerial theory early on through puzzles and challenge their artistry through creative tasks.  Our goal is to develop an aerialist’s strength, intelligence, and artistry simultaneously so nothing gets left behind.  We ask students to spend more time with each skill, which allows them to build strength over a longer period of time before progressing to the next level.
Aerial Hoop Level 1 Teacher Training
Please see our course schedule for upcoming courses by one of our providers. Please note that their prerequisites may differ from what is listed below. 
Prerequisites:  
  • One year of experience on aerial hoop.
  • Must be at an intermediate level (can do basic inversions).  Submit an audition video (see below).
  • Previous experience in teaching is recommended but not required.

Audition Video:  Email video here.
Connect these skills in a sequence in any order:
  • straddle inversion under the hoop (without using the ground)
  • tuck inversion to knee hang on the top bar of the hoop (without feet touching the top bar).
  • 3 "in the hoop" skills.

Required Reading:  Order books here.
  • The Aerial Hoop Manual Vol. 1 by Rebekah Leach and Julianna Hane
  •  The Aerial Teacher’s Handbook by Julianna Hane.  


What You Will Learn:  This training focuses on Introductory and Level 1 Hoop skills as well as safety, spotting techniques, progressions, and classroom management. We begin with the seated skills on the low hoop, then quickly transition into mounts and other classic skill families like mermaid, horse, lion, and more.  Inversion progressions are also a mainstay in level 1, particularly addressing mounts under the bar.  Another focus of this training is developing sequences with clean transitions that teach students how to use the hoop more efficiently.  At the end of the week, you will walk away with 6 months -1 year of teaching material depending on your student population.  You will also leave with basic composition exercises to instill creativity in your classes from the beginning.