Aerial Arts Performing: When You Work In The Air
Recently, I was privileged to experience a live performance of “Diamonds” at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. And when I say privileged, I really mean privileged. I’ve been to several Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas. But IMHO “Diamonds” bested them all. Up close. Personal. You could see and feel the emotion in the eyes of the performers. You could connect with them, and sense their passion. It was almost like being part of the performance.
The “Diamonds” performance is one of many productions created by Darla Davis and the talented staff of Aeris Aerial Arts. Darla has been striving to create an avenue for aspiring and would-be performers on the aesthetics, beauty, polished and refined technique of the ethereal Circus Art of Aerial Acrobatics, Ground Acrobatics, and Contortion. I would put a huge emphasis on art aspect, for the results are nothing less than artful.
Darla utilizes the core principles of Cirque Training to supply her students with the skills they need to achieve a successful career in one of the most thrilling fields around. Her students have gone on to perform for Cruise Ships, Music Videos, Movies, Le Reve, Cirque Du Soleil, Theme Parks, and more. Aeris Aerial also does introductory classes, for those who want to take the plunge (literally) into aerial performance.
As much as anything, I found her energy and passion refreshing. It’s easy to sense it in the mission statement of Aeris Aerial:
I was able to chat with Darla briefly after the performance, and told her I wanted to know more of her story and what Aeris Aerial was about. We later connected again, and she shared these insights with me.
1. I found the Diamonds show inspirational. And amazing that these were amateurs! What was your motivation in creating this kind of training and performing experience?
It is important to me to show the world that it doesn’t matter the age, gender , or privileges a person is born into. If you have a dream, you can achieve it. It is all up to you.
2. What’s been your most memorable or most rewarding experience in working with your students?
Watching my students move on to Cirque Du Soleil, or Britney Spears’ show, Celebrity Cruise Ships, Tuacahn, Le Reve, and other prominent shows . Watching their very dreams unfold before their eyes. There is no other feeling like it.
3 Tell me about the student who surprised you most.
All of my students inspire me. Especially the children. Children trust with open hearts. They have very little fears and so much trust. They teach me so much about confidence, character, honesty, hope, dreams, and achieving goals. They are the little inspirations of the entire school. They are angels.
4. What would you tell young women about daring to take on new adventures in life?
This answer can tie in with the one above.. Confidence is everything to a young woman. When a girl is covered in confidence she is protected from the evil words, persuasions, and criticisms of the world. She carries her own world with her. What happens if you dare to do something great, and then fail? What is the worst that could happen? You learn. You learn, and now you’re smarter, and now you’re ready to attack your next dream with so much more knowledge and confidence.
If you dare enough times, I promise you, you will catch your vision. You will find your dream. If your journey is easy, and your roads are simple, your story will not be inspirational. I tell my students this a lot… ” if you want to achieve something great, your story has to be great. Every story has a trial. And the harder the trial, the greater the ending. Start making your story.”
5. What are your plans for your training and the future with your work?
I want to develop the first theatrical Circus Performing Arts Group in Utah. I want to have a home for all of these amazing talented people. It does not fit in everyone’s lives to move to Vegas. There needs to be a creative outlet here for them, and means for which to have a professional shot at this art form within our own state. I am currently working on becoming a non-profit and a resident of our prominent theaters downtown to achieve this. That way we have our training facility for their development, but also a theater and a want and demand for shows here in Utah for these amazing people to share their talents, and for us to share our stories through art.
About Darla Davis
Darla Davis has trained with Cirque de Soleil Trainers and Affiliates, Barnum and Bailey, Cirque USA., and Chimal. She has also traveled with Cirque USA, Transocean Circus, White Circus, J & D Entertainment. She has performed in over 800 venues of private, corporate, and professional entertainment.
