Frequently Asked Questions
But I’m not strong enough!
We hear this one a lot. Everyone is strong enough to begin! Host of Sparrows works with you to determine your starting level so that you are safe and have fun! If you stick with it, circus will make you stronger.
What do I wear?
Tight-fitting and stretchy clothing. Yoga pants, leggings, and dancewear are all good choices. Make sure that your bottoms cover the backs of your knees but leave your feet bare. Tops should fully cover your torso and not be too loose–and it’s always a good idea to wear or bring something that covers your armpits.
Do you have a weight limit?
No! Students of all shapes and sizes are welcome and encouraged to join us! (Our equipment can handle thousands of pounds of force, so we promise it will hold YOU!)
What if I have an injury or physical limitation?
That’s okay! (So do some of us.) Tell us about it, and we will work with you to modify your activities to keep you healthy and safe. If your injury or condition is severe, we may ask you for a doctor’s note clearing you to fly.
But I’ve never taken dance, gymnastics, or aerial before…
That’s okay! Many of the Sparrows didn’t have a background in those things, either! (Some of us do, but a lot of us came to circus without any of that.)
I’m afraid of heights…
So are some of us! You won’t ever have to go higher in the air than you are willing to go–and if that means you choose to skip some moves, that’s okay. If our experience is worth going by, you’ll become more comfortable as you learn, and someday you’ll find yourself higher than you ever thought you’d go!
Can I Try This at Home?
Please don’t! Aerial and circus are great workouts and super fun, but they also involve risks. Even if you’ve seen aerial or circus on YouTube and think you know how to do something, professionals have years of training. Aerial and circus instructors have spent years learning their craft, including how to rig equipment safely, how to spot problems with skills, how to help a student get down from the air, and where tricks tend to “go wrong,” in addition to learning skills and tricks of their own. In order to be safe, you will need to spend just as much time learning and training, and will need an engineer and a rigger to make sure any at-home equipment is safe!