Trapeze is probably the most widely recognised of all the [aerial] [circus] acts. The [skill|skills] used in the art form a basis for almost all other aerial circus [act|acts]. The basic [apparatus] consists of a [hollow] metal bar suspended in the air by two ropes or wires, attached at each end of the bar. The term trapeze comes from the [Latin] term [trapezium], which describes the [quadrilateral] shape the bar and ropes produce when hanging.

The art of trapeze can be broken down into three main groups – [static], [swinging] and [flying trapeze].

Static Trapeze

The trapeze bar and ropes are [stationary] - no swinging [motion] is used. A performance of static trapeze usually consists of a [flowing] display of strength and [agility] with [trick|tricks] being performed both under and around the bar, and above, incorporating the ropes.

Static trapeze acts may have one, two or three or more aerialists performing at once. A doubles act (using two performers) uses a bar which has the ropes attached slightly in from the ends of the bar, creating two end pieces. A triples act (three performers) uses a wider bar, suspended by four ropes which divide the bar into what then appear to be three trapeze bars joined together.

Swinging Trapeze

A swinging [pendulum] motion of the bar is used in swinging trapeze. The performer uses the [momentum] and swing of the trapeze to perform tricks above and below the bar, including drops into ankle or toe hangs below the bar.

Flying Trapeze

This is the most [famous] of all the trapeze acts. The flying trapeze was invented in 1859 by French [acrobat] [Jules Leotard], who famously also created the [lycra] [leotard|garment] named after him. The flying trapeze is performed on a fly [rigging|rig] – a frame which consists of a [pedestal] board at one end from which the flyer takes off from, a fly bar, a catch bar and a safety net. The catcher hangs from the catch bar while the flyer takes off from the pedestal board, swings out on the fly bar and after releasing from the bar to perform a [somersault] or other trick, is caught by the catcher. Flying trapeze relies on [split second] timing in order for the swing of the fly bar and catch bar to be coordinated so that the flyer and catcher can ‘meet’ in order for a successful catch.

A flying trapeze performance is a [bated breath], gasp out loud experience for [audience|audiences]. However nothing compares to the feeling itself of [sometimes i have this dream where i am flying|flying] through the [air], the moment of [weightlessness] and the [exhileration] as your wrists are grasped in a perfectly timed catch. In the three years that I have been flying, the [ethereal] feeling of [freedom] that flying trapeze brings has never faded.

Source:

The Secret Circus:
http://hometown.aol.com/secretcircus/TrapHistory.html

Trapeze (thing)