Elevate - Hair Suspension workshop

ELEVATE is a two-day immersive hair suspension workshop exploring tension and release through technique, breathwork, embodiment, and play. Open to all experience levels, participants will build confidence, refine skills, and explore creative movement in a supportive environment. The weekend includes a special focus in grounding breathwork, as well as work on body awareness, suspension practice, and dynamic rigging exploration — with opportunities for experienced participants to experiment with systems like counterweights, 2:1 setups, and winch-assisted suspension. ELEVATE is designed to cultivate presence, curiosity, trust, and freedom within suspension practice.





About your teachers
Felipe Reyes ran away with a traditional circus in 1998, beginning a lifelong journey in the world of circus arts. In 2001, he joined the prestigious Circolombia, where he completed a five-year degree as a professional circus artist.
Since then, Felipe has performed internationally, working across the world while being mainly based in London. Alongside his performing career, he is also a professional rigger and specialist teacher in hair hanging, mouth hanging, and multiple aerial disciplines.

Paloma is a circus artist, teacher and body-based researcher specialising in hair suspension. Trained between Argentina and the UK, she has been teaching circus arts for over eight years, with the last four dedicated to her hair suspension practice. For the past two years, she has been leading workshops in the UK, Spain and online, focusing on technique, breathwork and the relationship between physical practice, presence and endurance.
Her work moves between circus, performance and social-cultural research, exploring the body as a space for transformation, attention and expanded states of perception. She is particularly interested in suspension as both a physical and meditative practice — a space where breathing, focus and trust become central tools for exploration.






A Two-Day Hair Suspension Workshop
Join us for two immersive days dedicated to the exploration of hair suspension through technique, breathwork, embodiment, and play.
ELEVATE is designed for practitioners who want to both start and deepen their relationship with hair suspension in a supportive and creatively stimulating environment. Across the weekend, participants will have space to refine technical understanding, build confidence in the air, and explore new possibilities through guided exercises and open play.
This workshop welcomes mixed experience levels. Whether you are trying it for the first time, developing your foundations or already experienced in suspension practice, the structure of the weekend allows participants to work at an appropriate pace while still sharing a collective learning environment.
Alongside suspension practice, we will focus on:
• Breath work for grounding, endurance, and nervous system regulation
• body awareness and positioning
• creative exploration and movement play
• adapting to different suspension dynamics and sensations

Intermediate and advanced participants will also have opportunities to experiment with multiple rigging configurations and dynamic systems, including:
• 2:1 systems
• counterweight setups
• winch-assisted suspension
• collaborative exploration with the rigging team
The intention of ELEVATE is not only to train technique, but to cultivate curiosity, presence, trust, and freedom within suspension practice.






DAY-BY-DAY
DAY 1 — Foundations, Breath & Flight
The first day focuses on building strong foundations for safe, embodied, and confident hair suspension practice.
We will explore preparation techniques, materials, body positioning, with a special focus on breathwork, and nervous system awareness to help participants better understand how to work with sensation, tension, and movement while suspended.
Participants will work through guided exercises designed to improve:
• alignment and posture
• endurance and relaxation
• communication and spotting
• transitions in and out of suspension
• confidence in movement and exploration
The afternoon opens into structured conversation and playtime, where participants can begin integrating techniques into freer movement and personal exploration.
This day is suitable for new and developing practitioners as well as experienced students wanting to refine fundamentals of the hairdo, breath work and practice.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Hair length around shoulders not bleached at the roots.
- All materials will be provided for beginners and suggestions on things to bring will be sent upon registration.
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DAY 2 — Beyond Suspension: Dynamic Rigging & Creative Exploration
The second day is oriented toward intermediate and advanced practitioners who want to deepen technical and creative possibilities within hair suspension.
Participants will explore a wider range of rigging systems and dynamic configurations, including:
• 2:1 systems
• counterweight work
• winch systems
• variable tension and directional setups
• partner and collaborative experimentation
The focus of the day is adaptability, responsiveness, and creative play within different rigging environments.
We will continue integrating breath, embodiment, and movement awareness while giving participants more freedom to investigate their own practice with support from the instructional and rigging team.
Advanced participants may join for Day 2 only, though attending both days is recommended for the fullest experience.
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About the Space
Aircraft Circus Academy is located at:
Unit 7A Mellish House
Harrington Way
SE18 5NR
The space is easily accessible by public transport and there is parking available nearby.
Participants will have access to a kitchen area for storing food and snacks throughout the workshop. The studio also features a large mirror space, ideal for hair preparation, adjustments, and movement exploration during suspension practice.