The 5th Annual West Coast Aerial Arts Festival: November 9-12, 2017
Written by: Sabrina Turjman, 12/25/17
In sunny Costa Mesa, California, the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival was hosted by Aerial Arts America (“AAA”). A non-profit organization, AAA’s mission is to develop the standards of aerial arts education and performing arts through curriculum, accreditation, competition, performance showcases and scholarship programs.
The West Coast Aerial Arts Festival (“WCAAF”) was first held in 2013. It is the very first festival in the world that encompassed open competition (by that it meant, there were no screenings) from participants as young as seven (7) years old to seniors, and providing various divisions for each category, discipline and status level. It is also the oldest aerial arts festival standing in the United States. WCAAF started with just over 150 participants and audience members. Since then, the festival had nearly tripled, with over 500 attendees and contestants. Participants flew out from Texas, Florida, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, and aerialists from around the globe including Japan, Mexico and Canada attend the event. To date, the festival caters to all ages and skill levels. Participating amateurs and professionals are separated and further subdivided into groups categorized by age and aerial discipline. Over $2000 in consolation gifts and cash prizes are granted to overall winners. Each participant receives a swag bag, souvenir t-shirt, souvenir program that imprints all participant’s photo and bio, and a complimentary aerial or circus workshop.
Many return to the West Coast Aerial Arts Festival because of the experience they gain, friendships they make, and the fun they have. Not only can aerialists show off what they’ve worked on all year, but they are encouraged to participate in a collaborative performance after the competition. At the Culminating Exhibition and Aerial Concert which was then held on the last day of the 2017 festival (Sunday, Nov. 12), all 1st place winners were recalled to perform their winning piece. But just these winners, also featured were the remaining celebrity participants who also showcased a different kind of performance. The festival brings about the gathering of all participants in one roof as they go through this process of creating, skill sharing and performing together, completely different acts to showcase at the Culminating Night, which normally is scheduled that Sunday. With just a few hours to converge and re-grouped with others and collectively create a piece of their own, this process is well received to promote friendship and camaraderie among the participants as well as share and explore their creativity and express their talent in an enjoyable, non-stressful way. The Culminating Exhibition and Aerial Concert is a bittersweet ending to the festival, but participants know they will see each other next year.
The surge in festival goers is attributed to the activities the festival hosts. Activities include workshops taught by highly regarded aerial arts educators in the industry. Workshops ranging from silks, corde lisse, straps, trapeze, contortion, hammock, hoop/lyra, theater arts, sword fighting and nutrition are just to name a few. Some take the opportunity to enhance their curriculum by booking a private session with those educators.
The four-day long event consists of the competition and the workshops, as well as the Culminating Exhibition and Aerial Concert, scholarship audition, silent auction, private lessons, welcome and closing night, social and performing arts night and collaborative performance. And all these would not have been made possible without the vision and execution of its creator, Ruby Karen, her husband, Luca Cecchini and the help of AAA’s core volunteers, as well are their sponsors and donors. Ruby Karen Project is the primary sponsor for the event as they facilitate, govern, and develop the event. To no avail, Ruby Karen and technical director, Luca Cecchini contribute their time, money, and resources to make this festival possible. Other sponsors include Aerial Dance Theater, Kinetic Theory, Ayres Hotels, Fusion, Aerial Animals, Trapeze School New York, Spin City, Panera Bread, Brockus Red, and Trader Joe’s.
The West Coast Aerial Arts Festival is a growth opportunity for determined and ambitious aerialists who want to be awarded for their hard work. Aerial Arts America is proud to bring about this opportunity and hopes to continue this initiative for years to come.
Aerial Arts accepts cash, in-kind, and other forms of donations and if you would like to learn more or support Aerial Arts America, please click HERE.
