Spanish web
Encyclopedia
The Spanish web is an aerial circus skill, similar in appearance and style to corde lisse
. The name refers to both the apparatus and the performance.
The apparatus itself is a long braided rope which has been covered by a soft cotton sleeve (a "web"
) and is suspended by a gimble at one end from overhead rigging
. Towards the top of the apparatus, a small loop is attached to the main rope through which a performer will secure an ankle or wrist and be able to hang freely.
While in this position, a "web setter
" spins the rope in a wide arc around the performer creating enough centrifugal force
to push him or her into a near-horizontal position. The performer can hold onto the web in addition to hanging from the loop or can release the rope and spin separately. With the addition of an extra swivel to the loop secured to the web, it is possible for the performer to also spin on a separate axis from the rope.
Spanish web skills are often combined with corde lisse
which does not utilize a loop or a spinner, and instead is a stationary rope which the performer will wind into different knots around the body combined with various drops and locking positions.
Corde lisse
Corde lisse is an aerial circus skill or act that involves acrobatics on a vertically hanging rope. The name is French for "smooth rope".- Description :...
. The name refers to both the apparatus and the performance.
The apparatus itself is a long braided rope which has been covered by a soft cotton sleeve (a "web"
Webbing
Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibres often used in place of rope. The name webbing comes from the meshed material frequently used in its construction, which resembles a web...
) and is suspended by a gimble at one end from overhead rigging
Aerial rigging
Aerial rigging is the process of setting up equipment used to make humans fly, specifically aerial circus equipment. The field is of critical importance, and a thorough grasp of the principles of rigging is essential....
. Towards the top of the apparatus, a small loop is attached to the main rope through which a performer will secure an ankle or wrist and be able to hang freely.
While in this position, a "web setter
Roustabout
A roustabout is a labourer typically performing temporary, unskilled work. The term has traditionally been used to refer to traveling-circus workers, natural gas, or oil rig workers....
" spins the rope in a wide arc around the performer creating enough centrifugal force
Centrifugal force
Centrifugal force can generally be any force directed outward relative to some origin. More particularly, in classical mechanics, the centrifugal force is an outward force which arises when describing the motion of objects in a rotating reference frame...
to push him or her into a near-horizontal position. The performer can hold onto the web in addition to hanging from the loop or can release the rope and spin separately. With the addition of an extra swivel to the loop secured to the web, it is possible for the performer to also spin on a separate axis from the rope.
Spanish web skills are often combined with corde lisse
Corde lisse
Corde lisse is an aerial circus skill or act that involves acrobatics on a vertically hanging rope. The name is French for "smooth rope".- Description :...
which does not utilize a loop or a spinner, and instead is a stationary rope which the performer will wind into different knots around the body combined with various drops and locking positions.