Author: Amalia Frick
I showed up to Le Studio late, tired and having narrowly escaped being goosed by a particularly aggressive driver. I was also unsure what to expect, because you never know what you’re stepping into when you sign up for an aerial circus class. Would I be encouraged to flail about, suspended in mid air, as an exercise in “self expression”? Or would overzealous instructors ask me to turn myself into a human rubber band, at the expense of my ability to walk for the next week?
I walked into a room with richly colored walls, a wooden dance-studio floor and high wood-beamed ceilings. Even more exciting, this place was literally dripping with apparatuses. There were lyras (hoops hanging from the ceiling), trapezes, fabrics (like long, doubled scarves for climbing), cloudswings (a big hammock of fabric), Spanish webs (rope) and even a chandelier.
As I met the five women who had gathered for our class, one thing was immediately apparent: Everyone is welcome here. I was introduced to a variety of people, from a beginner student to Lilia Stephanova, a contortionist who trains at Le Studio and is best known for her bow and arrow routine on the TV show “America’s Got Talent.”
We started with a warm up and stretches. “Ok everybody, it’s story time!” said our instructor Christine Van Loo. Complaints from the regulars immediately ensued. “Story time” is Christine’s fun spin on the traditional plank exercise, holding a push-up position, where each person must make up a few lines of a story before dropping to the ground. The exercise ends like a painful version of Mad Libs.
Then came fabric. Known to be particularly difficult, fabric is uniquely challenging because it requires an extraordinary amount of strength to hoist oneself into the air. Fabric also takes grace and poise, as the fabric sticks to sweat, creating exciting tangled knots if one is not careful.
Regardless of age, experience, strength or confidence, the women at Le Studio were open and friendly, and more than willing to answer my investigative questions. They even put on a mini-show for me at the end of the hour-and-a-half class, something I found encouraging and inspiring. Petite, sassy and tattooed Nicole Klein went first on lyra, incorporating a rare grace with this somewhat clumsy apparatus.
Next, Oxy’s own Theater major Miranda Stewart (senior) performed her cloudswing act from Le Studio’s skills show last year. Finally, Van Loo showed her skill as a professional on fabric, impressing us with her strength and passionate character.
As I left, I was sure that Le Studio was a place I’d love to frequent, though the price of $40 per class or $140 per month is too steep for my college-student budget.
This place certainly has all the quirk and theatricality associated with circus, as well as the kindness and fun that are often not. If you’re looking for a fun, thorough workout, Le Studio comes highly suggested.
For more information and photos visit: www.lestudiola.com
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