Side Saddle is a seated position that we translated from Trapeze to Aerial Hoop. It is a stylish alternative to simply sitting on the hoop and it can be done with the hands on or off. It also leads towards a few interesting shapes that can be fun to explore. As teachers we like how it demonstrates different ways to create support in the same skill. Our students like that they have an interesting way to sit on the hoop that looks dramatic and is photo worthy.
There are three entrances and exits to Side Saddle that we primarily teach, but there are many ways to get in and out of the shape which can be a fun challenge for more creative students. There are two basic entrances that we use to introduce Side Saddle and we usually choose the one that makes the most sense based on the rest of the class plan.
Become an Aerial Fit Online member to access the video for Side Saddle. This in-depth video will explain how to properly train this skill. It also includes cross references to the most important Building Blocks, Common Mistakes, Related Drills, Ground Drills, Variations, Next Steps and Sequences.
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Some of the most important aerial hoop skills, related movements, and prerequisites from our aerial video tutorial library that students should be very comfortable doing to succeed at Side Saddle.
These are the most common mistakes we see with students when they are learning how to do the aerial hoop skill Side Saddle and detailed directions on how to fix these problems to make the skill look and feel easy.
These similar aerial hoop skills and aerial drills are helpful to troubleshoot and help with problems. Students don't need to have mastered the Side Saddle to work on these related skills and drills. These drills may help your students make important connections and answer the question "What am I doing wrong?".
These are some of our favorite ground drills for aerialists for Side Saddle. They can be used as part of the ground warm up or as part of the aerial class teaching progression.
These are different variations of Side Saddle. Students should be very comfortable with the current skill before working on these different or more advanced variations. They can be used for further exploration, managing students with different levels and adding variety to aerial hoop choreography.
These are the next steps we teach to our aerial hoop students after they’re comfortable with Side Saddle. The next steps can be started right away and they lead toward specific future goals which are often the most advanced aerial hoop skills.
These are some of the more advanced hoop skills that build on the strength and control taught in Side Saddle. They are not the next immediate steps, but rather long term planning goals.
These are aerial hoop sequences, transitions, and combinations that include the aerial skill Side Saddle. They are fun, creative, and challenging sequences from our aerial video tutorial library.
