Take flight with a unique aerial training opportunity

The 4-weekend aerial training programme is an unpaid development opportunity to train with the UK’s most prominent circus company. We offer £40 per weekend towards travel and subsidence. 

The rehearsal and show week (wc 15 and 22 September 2025) are paid opportunities at £610 per week, in line with the Independent Theatre Council recommended fees. 

No prior experience is necessary although participants should have a good level of physical fitness. Although not essential, this opportunity will suit individuals with some movement experience, including, but not limited to movement-based artists, dancers, climbers, circus performers, gymnasts, pole dancers, early career aerial performers.  

This Bradford 2025 commission has not been announced, so we cannot talk publicly about who we are working with. You will meet the company at the taster sessions in February and we will let you know when we can talk publicly about this exciting outdoor project. 

You will meet the Bradford 2025 Engagement Coordinator on the day who will be your point of contact on the day (as well as throughout the process).

The session will begin with a physical warm-up followed by an introduction to the project and team.  You will receive a taster of aerial hoop and working in a climbing harness to explore ascending and descending techniques on a single line. We will be looking at core fitness, control and giving you a chance to try some of the skills we will work with in the training. 

Bradford 2025 is committed to ensuring accessibility and removing barriers to participation. If you have specific access needs, let us know, and we will do what we can to accommodate them. Our priority is your safety and there are limitations to what is possible through harness work. 

The programme will focus on training in aerial harness performance. You will be working at height with climbing/abseil equipment, as well as exploring two double point harness techniques that allow somersault like rotation.  There will also be a small module of exploration with more traditional circus aerial equipment like rope, aerial silks, and aerial hoop.  Participants will learn new skills under expert guidance covering new movement techniques, safe use of equipment, confidence working at height and creating vocabulary on the equipment leading to a performance.  You will need a good degree of fitness, good body awareness and a head for heights. 

There is a reception area where someone could wait for you during your taster session. 

Yes please do! 

We will give preference to people from Bradford for this opportunity with the ambition to develop career development of aerial performers within the district during Bradford 2025.  

We welcome applications from anyone that is interested in this opportunity and is able to arrange accommodation during the training weekends, rehearsal and performance dates. 

We are seeking people who we feel will be successful in learning the skills we are teaching and will benefit from taking part in the training.  

While you don’t need a specific body type or a lot of upper body strength to take part training, we will be looking for people who have a good basic level of fitness, good spatial awareness and the commitment to continual improvement through the progressions in the training programme.  We are looking for potential rather than instant perfection. 

There are opportunities through other Bradford 2025 projects, you can sign up to participate with us here. If you want to get involved with Bradford 2025 more widely, volunteering might be the right fit for you. Find out more here. To find out more about City of Culture and what’s coming up, sign up for our newsletter here. 

We will ask you to sign a training and performance contract, to demonstrate both parties’ commitment to the project before embarking on the training programme. 

You will complete the 4-weekend aerial training programme at the end of which you must be able to demonstrate a level of competence and understanding before confirmation of an aerial performance part in the show.  

This is part of our commitment to your safety, the safety of others in the company and the delivery of a quality show as part of Bradford 2025.  

If you can’t make all these, unfortunately, there won’t be enough time to get you ready to be safe and at your best for the final event.  

For the taster session please come in the clothing you can train in, but please avoid wearing very baggy clothing as it can get tangled in the equipment.

Please make sure your clothing covers your waist, stomach and hips. You may also want to bring additional layers (like and extra pair of leggings or tracksuit bottoms for comfort).

Please avoid wearing jewellery and please be ready to tie your hair back if you have long hair.

Most of the session will be in barefoot or socks but please bring a pair of trainers, plimsoles or sports/dance shoe for the session. 

For the performance costumes will be designed for the team so you will not need to spend any of your own money buying new clothes for this performance.