Choose an Awesome Aerial Coach Instead of a *Questionable* One

How do you find a great aerial teacher? Nowadays, anyone can take a few classes, hang out their shingle, and call themselves an instructor; so how do you tell the difference between an awesome aerial coach and a questionable one? Well, Dear Danglers, that’s the question we’re diving into today.

What to Look For

Some things are non-negotiable, and some are purely matters of preference. In the non-negotiable camp:

• They’ve been around the aerial block a few times. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a newbie instructor – we’ve all gotta start somewhere! That said, an unseasoned coach may not be the best fit for you personally. If you struggle with issues of fear, are working around injuries, or this is your first foray into “organized movement” (think dance, martial arts, etc.), look for a coach that specializes in adult recreational students and has been teaching for a good long while.
•  A good reputation as an instructor. Ask around! Most aerial coaches are more than happy to give you the names of several teachers they think are excellent, and tell you why.
•  A low rate of incidents. “Incidents” refer to students falling, injuries, accidents, etc. Trust me when I say that you do not want an instructor whose students routinely drop out of the sky. While the occasional bump or bruise is an unavoidable part of any physical undertaking, if your class is “raining students,” find another teacher pronto.
•  Rigging expertise. Look for an instructor who regularly takes the time to educate you about your rigging. You need to understand what’s holding you in the air and why – your life depends on it.
•  Emphasis on safety. Practice safe silks! You do NOT want an STD (Silk Trauma/Disaster). Your teacher should carefully explain how to wrap things. OK, I’ll stop now.
• Clear methodology and pedagogy. Is there a method to the madness? Does your instructor have a clear teaching philosophy, vision for their students, and a clear roadmap for getting them there? Or are they clearly winging it and teaching whatever bits of flotsam and jetsam they’ve gleaned from Instagram today? 
• Insurance. Your teacher should be insured by a source recognized in the industry (example: ISERA). This shows a level of professional commitment, forethought, and common sense.

Non Essential

Now, in the “non-essential” category, here are a few things to consider:

• Pricing in line with industry standards. There’s a place for bargain hunting, but your aerial class is not it. If you have most instructors charging around $35 for a single class in NYC, and one is charging $20, this should send up a big red flag. Price makes a big statement about who you are and what your instruction is worth.
• A large movement vocabulary. You want a teacher with lots to teach you. Or, train with several good coaches – this is a great way to expand your repertoire of moves and get different feedback.
•  Chemistry. While technically not essential, you should have reasonably good chemistry with your instructor. Some may favor a driven task-master, some need a sunshine-y cheerleader, some like a super-technical teacher. Find someone who’s style fits with your personality.
• A word about certifications. As of 2023, there is still no governing body issuing certifications in the USA. What does that mean? Just that there’s no such thing as a “certified” aerial instructor, only instructors who have received certificates of completion from an aerial teaching program (this is kind of a sensitive subject in the aerial community). In essence, a certification does not mean your instructor has met any sort of national standard for accreditation; it does mean that they took a course and pursued teacher-specific instruction. There are some GREAT teacher training courses out there, and I think taking dedicated classes on how to teach aerial skills is PHENOMENAL! We’ll see what the future will bring on this front! Regardless, look for a coach that is always trying to get better and learn new things.

What to Avoid Like the Plague

Well, pretty much the opposite of what I detailed above! Avoid inexperience – that teacher who’s only been studying for a month or two is NOT qualified to teach you. A poor reputation, no clear methodology or pedagogy, cheap classes, students dropping like flies, all things to avoid like the plague.

Hope this helps! As always, if you liked this content, please share it and give me a follow on the socials!