What is the latest attraction on the Santa Monica Pier this summer? Trapeze school! Not another ride at the amusement park, but a real school offering trapeze lessons to people of all ages who’ve always dreamed of flying.
Trapeze School New York (TSNY) is the largest school of its kind in the world, with locations in New York, Boston, Baltimore and now, Santa Monica. TSNY President Jonathon Conant, originally from California, opened the first school in Manhattan in 2002 with partners Anne and Dave Brown after experiencing the trapeze on vacation at a Club Med and becoming “instantly hooked.â€
Today, hundreds have been hooked in Santa Monica, including returning student Ky Matthes.
“It was my favorite thing at the circus, I had to try it,†she said.
Her friends Annie Giran and Kirsten Gronfield are also addicted.
“It seemed scary at first, but it’s pretty cool to be able to brag: ‘Hey I take trapeze lessons,’†Giran said, laughing.
Gronfield agrees and maintains that it is a safe sport: “The least safe part is driving to class.â€
In a typical two-hour lesson, students do warm up exercises, learn tricks and practice them, and can even get caught mid-air by an instructor. Students receive one-on-one attention from the friendly staff, who do everything to make it a rewarding experience.
TSNY is not a circus but attracts a lot of attention from the public. Because of its location, many people stop by to watch, take pictures and applaud, which adds to the already festive atmosphere of the pier.
Staff member Valerie Mounter moved to Santa Monica from Boston, where she worked for the school. She has a passion for trapeze and believes it benefits both mind and soul.
“Trapeze used to be so underground. It was just for circus freaks, but now, more and more people want to try it,†she said.
Trapeze is much more than flying through the air and doing tricks on a bar over a net. It’s overcoming fear for some and an adrenaline rush for others. But for everyone, it’s also a real workout.
“If you fly as a workout, you’ll have fun while working on your body,†said Conant.
Matthes agrees: “It works out your arms and abs and you do feel sore the next day, but it’s a lot more fun than going to the gym!â€
Whether you are considering taking a class to work out in a new, out-of-the-ordinary way, to overcome your fears or just for fun, take a stroll down to the pier and watch. Soon you too will be saying, “I can fly!â€
For more information about TSNY, visit www.trapezeschool.com
