Curtain Climbers Aerial Silks

How Did She Do That?!

The Curtain Climbers Club Aerial Performance Hypnotizes Pub-Goers at The Black Sheep

Man, woman or beast, a Dugger never misses a chance to see a creature in a leotard, especially one that dangles artistically from pub ceilings on long silk sashes.

After the Art Walk on Friday, April 3, a group of Ashland artists temporarily deemed The Curtain Climbers Club put on a hypnotizing show at The Black Sheep Pub.  Five artists took to the fabric, including pub owner Susan Chester.

“The first time I saw aerial silks in person was at Burning Man 2006,” Susan recalled. “I was riding my bike and when I saw the performer flying in the wind I came to a skidding halt, my mouth dropped open and I said ‘I want to learn to do that!’”

Upon returning to Ashland, Susan attended a pole dancing class in Le Cirque Center and saw a poster about an upcoming aerial silks workshop to be taught by Laura Stokes. “That was all it took for me to fall down the rabbit hole of the aerial world,” Susan said. “And oh my, what a world I have landed in.”

If you’ve never seen an aerial silk performance, you have truly lived an unfulfilled life.  The show is more accurately described as an acrobatic dance performance that takes place on two fabric sashes that hang from the ceiling.  Suspended in midair without any sort of safety device (accept years of training), the aerial artist uses a number of intricate twists and contortions to wrap the silks around every inch of their athletic bodies.

The result is an aerial ballet that has the viewer spellbound by the graceful movements, and in a state of absolute disbelief at the body positions they are able to hold.

“We are dancer/athletes and adhere to a healthy lifestyle to maintain our strength and flexibility,” Susan said. “We practice a lot of yoga, and enjoy other activities such as biking, hiking, other styles of dance (I love tango), tumbling, etc…”

Other members of the aerial dance company include Kristi Chipowsky, Susan Sherrill, Cheyenne Swartz and Erika Baake.  All of whom carried out thrilling performances.

Like with any adventure sport, there are calculated risks involved in aerial performances (such as unwinding madly down the sash from 25 feet in the air like a human yo-yo).  “Attention, focus and knowledge are of utmost importance,” Susan said. “Of course we practice with mats, and there are many safety procedures to ensure we don't get hurt.  I have had a couple of 'near misses' while performing, but both times managed to recover without falling.”

That was in the beginning, when the nerves of performing live were still a burden. “But now I don't even flinch at performance, it's just so much fun!” Susan said “And I love giving the audience a thrill!”

The Curtain Climbers will be performing at The Black Sheep each First Friday at 9 pm.  Susan also has three to four events to take place in the Armory that are still in the planning stage during the months of April, May and June.  So stay tuned for more excitement soon.

If you’d like to learn some aerial skills yourself, classes will be starting up again soon.  Susan can be contacted directly by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone 890-1803 for information or planning events.  And to get you even more excited for the next First Friday, there are videos of her performances at www.myspace.com/dizysusanita.