Aerial Silks
Officially Aerial Silks (Tissu)
AERIAL PERFORMANCE + COMPETITIVE gymnastics discipline — athletes climb, wrap, drop, and pose on 2 SUSPENDED FABRIC ('SILK') LENGTHS hanging 6-9 m from ceiling rig. Signature moves: FOOT-LOCKS, HIP-KEY WRAPS, and SPECTACULAR RELEASE-DROPS from 6m. Popularised by CIRQUE DU SOLEIL 1990s; competitive discipline via IAF (International Association of Aerial Fitness) + AERIAL ARTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Quick facts
Category
Gymnastics
Type
Individual
Players
1–2
Duration
~5 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Padded floor beneath aerial rig; overhead SUSPENSION POINT
Country of origin
🇫🇷 France
Estimated origin
Aerial silks likely originated in French circus training late 1950s (Andre Simard credited as Cirque du Soleil's key developer); Cirque du Soleil popularised globally 1990s; competitive circuit + world championships 2010s.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Perform a scored aerial ROUTINE combining CLIMBS, WRAPS, INVERSIONS, and DROPS — judged on artistry + technique.
Rules
Basic rules
TWO parallel silks hanging from single overhead point (or single silk folded — 'DOUBLE TAIL')
Signature 2-tail silks.
PERFORMER climbs + wraps silks around body to create SECURE 'LOCKS' (foot-locks, hip-key wraps, cocoon)
Signature body-lock system.
SIGNATURE MOVES: STAR DROP, ANGEL DROP, RIP DROP — release-drops of 1-6 m arrested by pre-wrapped silks
Signature dramatic drop repertoire.
COMPETITIVE ROUTINE 2-4 min to music; JUDGED on TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY (30%), ARTISTIC EXPRESSION (30%), EXECUTION (30%), STRENGTH + FLEXIBILITY (10%)
Signature judging split.
SAFETY: crash mats + trained spotter for training + specialty rigger inspected rig
Standard safety protocol.
NO KNOTS in silk except intentional performance knots
Signature no-fixed-knot rule.
IAF/POLE competition circuits standardise level 1-5 element catalog
Signature element catalog.
Scoring
Total score 100 points: technique 30, artistry 30, execution 30, strength/flex 10.
Win condition · Highest judged score wins competition.
Playing area
Called
Padded floor beneath aerial rig; overhead SUSPENSION POINT
Dimensions
Silk length 6-9 m from rig; mats 30-40 cm thick beneath performer
Equipment
AERIAL SILKS: 2 LENGTHS of specialised STRETCH POLYESTER or NYLON TRICOT (~2 m wide, 15 m long folded in half at rig point), color-varied
Signature stretch silk fabric.
OVERHEAD RIG: rated for 5-15 kN load (specialty aerial rigging — trussing + swivel + descender)
Signature aerial rigging.
CRASH MATS 30-40 cm thick beneath performer
Standard safety mat.
GRIP CHALK + ROSIN + TAPE for hand + wrist protection
Standard grip aids.
PERFORMANCE COSTUME (tight, no zippers/hooks to avoid silk snags)
Standard aerial attire.
Terminology
- Tissu
- French for 'fabric' — original name of aerial silks.
- Foot-lock
- Foundational wrap securing foot inside silk.
- Hip-key
- Wrap around hip that acts as a fulcrum for advanced tricks.
- Drop
- Controlled release from height, caught by pre-wrapped silks.
- Cocoon
- Full-body wrap creating a suspended hammock pose.
Major competitions
Aerial Arts World Championships
annual · Global (USA-hosted often) · since 2013
Pole Sports & Aerial Arts World Championships (POSA)
annual · Global · since 2015
Where it is played
Governing bodies
International Association of Aerial Fitness (IAF)
Founded 2010 · USA
Aerial Dance World (ADW)
Founded 2013 · USA
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Isabelle Chassé (CA, original Cirque du Soleil silks star)
- Chelsea Hackett (US, world champion aerial silks)
- Yulia Trofimova (RU, aerial silks world champion)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Aerial silk— Wikipedia