For most LSU students, the Music and Dramatic Arts building doesn’t stand out among the many others here on campus. But for a select few, this has become a place for them to take their learning to new heights both literally and figuratively; all because of aerial silks.
Aerial silks is an art that combines strength, creativity and bravery. For senior Morgan Hunter, the journey started with a leap of faith.
“I was scared once, and I did it, and now I’m here,” LSU senior Morgan Hunter said.
The program is open to absolutely anyone. And despite her lack of experience in the dancing realm, Hunter found the studio to become a place of growth both physically and emotionally through the help of her instructors and newly found peers.
“Being able to let loose and I guess be myself truthfully and convey emotion with my body . . . learning that not everything has to be meticulous and perfect but knowing that you can do weird things with your body and have fun with it,” Hunter said.
And while beginner classes are packed with eager participants, the lack of advocacy for the class leads to not so packed advanced courses as students usually don’t discover the class until their senior year.
“We get to 4031 with three, four, five students only,” Aerial Silks Instructor Claudio de Silva said.
Silva’s hope for the program is to see more students stick with the program and continue advancing.
“Yes, we need freshmen. I used to play the ‘we don’t like seniors,’ but it’s just because they go away and we never see them again,” de Silva said.
But no matter when you discover the program on your LSU journey, there’s knowledge you can gain through the program that can’t be found anywhere else.
“They come out of school able to teach, to perform. Some student also discover that this is what they want to do in life.”
From conquering fears to finding purpose, aerial silks are helping students excel in ways they may have never thought possible. If you’re interested in joining in on the fun, contact Nicholas Erickson at [email protected] for more information.
