Our Aerial Dance and Aerial Circus Tutor Sophie Morris took a break from her teaching and gave us a quick interview. Read on below to find out more about our circus skills superstar, her training, background and the importance of stretching!

Tell us a little about yourself

My name is Sophie, I'm an aerialist and general circus bod with a dancers touch! What I mean is... I started as a classically trained dancer and over the years shifted over to the world of circus. I am the Aerial Circus/Aerial Dance Tutor here at Wired which involves me taking university students through their circus modules as well as teaching a number of exciting evening classes for the public.

How did you get into aerial dance and circus?

I was a latecomer to dance really. I started training in Aerobic Gymnastics when I was a teenager going on to compete at international level, but I soon shifted to dance and continued until I finished my BA Hons degree in Dance with Aerial Performance at Edge Hill University. Whilst training there I started to stilt walk, fire perform and dance for a number of different agencies across the UK and soon added aerial dance to my list of performance skills. I had been teaching dance and fitness classes across Southport, Liverpool and Cheshire for a few years. The further I got into my degree, and the more involved with circus I became, the further I moved away from dance. I starting switching the dance classes I taught for aerial classes and personal training sessions. By the time I graduated, I had performance work every week and a number of busy aerial classes across the North West! I continued to build my classes and pushed for more aerial performance opportunities, continually building my experiences and striving for bigger and better opportunities.

How did you find out about Wired Aerial Theatre?

I did the aerial pathway of my degree with Wired a few years ago and have since performed with them as a freelance Aerial Artist. Whilst recovering from surgery a few months ago, I came across the job application for an Aerial Circus and Aerial Dance Tutor at Wired, so I applied! After a lovely interview and audition I waited anxiously to see if I had the job. I found out I was successful and within two weeks I had started. I've jumped in feet first and love my new job! During the day I now get to take LIPA and Edge Hill students through the modules I did and teach a number of different aerial classes to the public in the evenings. Plus I still get to perform!

What do you do outside of Wired?

I tend to fill my time with training and performance work. I've had the chance to perform for a number of famous people, work alongside some incredible artists and feature in a few music videos along the way too! My happy place is most definitely hanging from a silk. I have worked towards developing my own dynamic style on the silks and love to perform really challenging choreography. I have a lovely aerial duet partner, Giorgia Davies, that I taught aerial to initially and then she continued her training at Circus Space in London. We often work together performing synchronised pieces and also as a duo on one piece of equipment.

What has been your most exciting or memorable performance so far?

My first big performance job was with a company down in London. I had to perform a fire show but also work on a double point harness with fireworks around me like a big star! I took the job and everything was great during rehearsals practicing at a relatively low level - somehow I managed to rotate at least 8 times as fast as possible with two huge fire fans and keep all my hair and eyebrows! During the dress rehearsal I got to the venue I was performing at - I had to open a new civic centre next to Wembley Stadium. I didn’t realize just how high I was until I got into the harness and was taken up to the same height as the top of the stadium! I looked down and all the people looked like little ants. I was utterly petrified but somehow once I was up there performing I loved it and didn’t want to come down!

What kind of training do you do?

Due to a serious injury I sustained to my shoulder last year, I have spent a lot of time evaluating how I train and during this time had to really work on what I needed to do to ensure my recovery. Now when I train I always start with a number of physio-based exercises and stretches. I start my training with the basics: hanging, climbing and inverts, and once I feel really warm I then start to train more complex sequences or moves. I also always stretch off my shoulders, back and neck after every session. I make sure I eat well, sleep well and I try not to overload my upper body with just aerial work, so I climb, train in the gym and do regular cardio workouts.

Want to learn some excellent shoulder exercises? Sophie will be sharing her stretching and training tips with us soon, so watch this space!

Image credit: Crawford & John Ltd