Aerial Silk gains popularity in Alpena
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Aerial Silk instructor Kim Watkins sprays a light coating of liquid rosin onto one of her student’s hands on March 3. The spray helps add grip and helps prevent slipping while up in the air on the ribbon.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Aerial Silk instructor Kim Watkins watches one of her students execute a technique while suspended in air by a large ribbon. Watkins said there are beginner, intermediate, advanced, and adult classes in Alpena.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A pair of Aerial Silk students practice doing the splits while suspended in midair while at class on March 2.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz The Aerial Silk students execute their grand finale to their routine that was done to the popular Pitbull song “Fireball.” The performance lasted about three minutes and featured many spins, twists, and flips while in the air.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz The students in Aerial Silk learn how to use knots, tie, and wrap themselves with the ribbons that help prevent them from falling while they perform complicated tricks in the air.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Aerial Silk students learn to safely dangle upside down and do quick slips and spins while on their ribbon.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Students of Aerial Silk stand in formation as they prepare to ascend their ribbons during a class on March 2. Once airborne, the students practiced their three-minute routine.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Aerial Silk instructor Kim Watkins sprays a light coating of liquid rosin onto one of her student’s hands on March 3. The spray helps add grip and helps prevent slipping while up in the air on the ribbon.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Aerial Silk instructor Kim Watkins watches one of her students execute a technique while suspended in air by a large ribbon. Watkins said there are beginner, intermediate, advanced, and adult classes in Alpena.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz A pair of Aerial Silk students practice doing the splits while suspended in midair while at class on March 2.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz The Aerial Silk students execute their grand finale to their routine that was done to the popular Pitbull song “Fireball.” The performance lasted about three minutes and featured many spins, twists, and flips while in the air.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz The students in Aerial Silk learn how to use knots, tie, and wrap themselves with the ribbons that help prevent them from falling while they perform complicated tricks in the air.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Aerial Silk students learn to safely dangle upside down and do quick slips and spins while on their ribbon.
News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Students of Aerial Silk stand in formation as they prepare to ascend their ribbons during a class on March 2. Once airborne, the students practiced their three-minute routine.
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ALPENA -- The long, brightly colored ribbons catch your eye when you first walk into the Aerial Silk class at the APlex, but the acrobatics, and ballet the students perform while suspended in air is the most impressive.
Kim Watkins instructs the classes for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students, and an adult class for any ability.
Students can perform from their dangling ribbons a few feet off the ground or much higher, all the while posing, twisting, and spinning before quickly returning to the padded mat below them.
Watkins said the program started in 2019 but was forced on a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said it was becoming popular before the pandemic and, now that classes have resumed, more people are signing up again. Watkins said Aerial Silk is a good way for people of any age, size, or ability to get exercise and express themselves creatively through their aerial maneuvers.
"It has just exploded," Watkins said. "We had to add an intermediate group because I had so many in the beginners class."
The advanced class performed a choreographed routine in the gym at the APlex in early March to the song "Fireball" by Pitbull, where the performers showed off their skill in tandem while battling gravity.
Watkins said Aerial Silk and spending time in the air dancing on the curtain, is a way for people to let loose and escape from the pressures of school and work.
"It is a stress reliever, expressive, and just so much fun," she said. "Yes, it is a workout. It is a hard workout, and you work every muscle in your body. But, it's fun and you don't realize you're working out."
When students become more advanced and master techniques and aerial moves, Watkins said it becomes very mesmerizing to those who are watching.
"It is like Cirque du Soleil," Watkins said. "There is so much expression to it. Anything you can dream up, you can do."
The beginner class teaches students how to tie knots in the silk and how to build strength and dexterity. Watkins said much of the time students work on the floor until they are ready to begin climbing at the intermediate level, where they begin to learn aerial tricks about five feet off the floor.
"They will learn to do splits in the air and flips and twists," she said.
The advanced group practices 15 feet in the air, with more complicated moves.
"They are the ones who do the three-minute routine," Watkins said.
The adult class is made up of all levels of expertise, and Watkins said there is never any pressure for students to do more than they want. However, she said she will teach them whatever they want.
"We just get together and have a good time," she said.