By Victoria Greenleaf
If you have ever imagined soaring through the air at the greatest of ease, then imagine no further: Trapeze School New York recently relocated to the West End and is more ready than ever to take on every high flyer willing to give the bar a chance.
The trapeze school was previously at Jordan’s Furniture in Reading, but in September moved to 35 Lomasney Way, just minutes from Suffolk University.
The new location is large, airy, private, and on the roof level of the Garden Garage. The facility boasts a full flying trapeze set, training equipment, mats, safety equipment, and a trampoline. TSNY is providing trapeze artists and students with more room than ever to stretch their legs and go far beyond their expectations of what flying really is.
Assistant General Manager and Instructor Mike Denton said during an interview he believes it is important that people face their fears, especially with a challenge like the flying trapeze.
“Over the course of two hours people end up doing something they didn’t think they could do,” said Denton. “They tend to question their ideas of limitation.”
The moment between the platform and the air can be terrifying, but the exhilaration and adrenaline are all that is needed to persevere.
TSNY currently has five schools in U.S. cities — Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Boston. Owned by high-fliers Dave and Anne Brown, the school’s staff and excellent facilities make it possible for every dreamer to try out the trapeze.
All staff are equipped and carefully trained with years of experience to handle students from the beginner to the master level by providing them with hands-on training and encouragement.
“We have opportunities for everyone from the thrill-seeker, to fear-facer, athlete to couch potato, casual flyer, to serious aerialist,” according to the TSNY Beantown website. “Amazingly enough, we have seen people ranging in all desires and abilities inspire each other, bring new energy to the school and enrich each other’s lives with courage and mutual support.”
Instructor Ryan Winkles urges students, spectators, and anyone else to face their fears with courage, and to tackle the fear of flying head-on.
Winkles began working at the TSNY Boston location after their move in September, and previously taught at Circus Juventas in Minnesota.
TSNY offers classes in many aerial arts, such as the flying trapeze, trampoline, silks, and conditioning training. The school is also working on expanding their curriculum even further for the future.
“We would like to make a full circus environment,” said Denton. “Circus changes people’s lives. The goal is to build a community of people who are engaged in this thing that we do.”
For some, the idea of flying across a gymnasium several dozen feet in the air is daunting or even scary. But TSNY urges people who are nervous about the aerial arts to sit in on a class and observe the flyers before making a decision to join in on the fun.
For people who would like to sign up for classes, TSNY offers a range of class times and types, running in two-hour periods, available for sign-up through their website at Boston.trapezeschool.com. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from Suffolk University’s Ridgeway or Donahue buildings on Beacon Hill — making this a great way to spruce up an everyday workout.
Face your fears, hold on tight, and don’t look down at Trapeze School New York in Boston.
