Technique Tip: Star Belay

Aerial Physique
1 day ago
2 min read

The holiday season is here and one of the most festive shapes I could think to share with you is the Star Belay! ⭐

This skill can be a bit finicky to get into. I've seen a few different entries, my preferred version uses a Can-Can climb leg pathway to initiate the setup, which works with whichever belay entry you like best. See below for a video breakdown and tips:

Begin from any Belay entry with one tail to each side. I'm doing the Twirlesque Belay for my entry. It's helpful to know Can-Can climb for this set-up as we use the pathway for the start of the star. Star Belay Setup

Hold one tail in each hand out to the sides.
Initiate a Can-Can climb with your right foot on the left silk. Pull the tail up toward your hip and make sure your left leg is crossed over your right.
With the opposite silk, wrap the foot of the crossed-over leg (left) from baby-toe side to big-toe side, from the outside in.
With one tail in each hand, feed slack through your hands as your arms reach up.
Lengthen your legs, keeping the silks wrapped under your arches. Continue feeding slack and lengthening until your feet are underneath you and you are upright with your legs in a small straddle.
Toss the tail with more slack across to the opposite hand so both tails meet in that hand, while you still hold the other side. This part can feel a bit tricky.
Extend your arms outward to create the top of your star.

To exit, release the silks from both hands and return to your belay.

Common mistakes

Not feeding enough slack through your hands, which creates a cramped star.
Letting the feet drift too far forward instead of stacking them underneath you.
Tossing the shorter tail over, which makes the top of the star look uneven. 🖐️Sticky hands and sweaty feet can make this setup more challenging. Wearing socks can help the wraps slide and support better slack management.

We'd love to see your Star Belay in action! Tag @aerialphysique on IG!

P.S. for more Belay entries and related skills, check out our app, Aerial Physique TV! It's like Netflix for aerialists with hundreds of tutorials, downloadable lesson plans, live class replays and more! 💫Train with us - start your free 3 day trial here.