<P> Aerial silks (also known as aerial contortion, aerial ribbons, aerial tissues, fabric, ribbon, or tissu, depending on personal preference) is a type of performance in which one or more artists perform aerial acrobatics while hanging from a fabric . The fabric may be hung as two pieces, or a single piece, folded to make a loop, classified as hammock silks . Performers climb the suspended fabric without the use of safety lines and rely only on their training and skill to ensure safety . They use the fabric to wrap, suspend, fall, swing, and spiral their bodies into and out of various positions . Aerial silks may be used to fly through the air, striking poses and figures while flying . Some performers use dried or spray rosin on their hands and feet to increase the friction and grip on the fabric . </P> <P> The three main categories of tricks are climbs, wraps, and drops . Climbs employed by aerialists range from purely practical and efficient, such as the Russian climb, to athletic and elegant tricks of their own, such as the straddle climb . Wraps are static poses where aerialists wrap the silks around one or more parts of their body . In general, the more complicated the wrap, the stronger the force of friction and the less effort required to hold oneself up . Some wraps, such as the straddle - back - balance, actually allow performers to completely release their hands . Foot locks are a sub-category of wraps where the silks are wrapped around one or both feet, for instance, an ankle hang . In a drop, performers wrap themselves up high on the silks before falling to a lower position . Drops can combine aspects of free fall, rolling or otherwise rotating oneself before landing in a new pose . Preparation for a drop can make for a pretty wrap, but the ultimate goal is the fall rather than the pose . Of the three trick types, drops require the most strength and are also the most potentially dangerous . Rosin (dry or mixed with rubbing alcohol) is employed to help performers maintain their grip . Aerial silks are a demanding art and require a high degree of strength, power, flexibility, courage, stamina, and grace to practice . </P> <P> The fabrics used as silks are very strong with some give and flexibility . The fabric is 2 - way stretch polyester lycra or Tricot Nylon . The width varies depending on the routine and the acrobat . The fabric is usually quite long, as it is doubled for rigging, giving the acrobat two strips of fabric to work with as they perform . </P> <Ul> <Li> Stretch <Ul> <Li> Low stretch fabrics . Low stretch fabrics are primarily used by beginners who have not yet developed proper climbing technique . </Li> <Li> Medium stretch fabrics . Medium stretch fabrics are the principal choice of professional aerialists and graduates of professional training programs . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Width . Fabric width is mostly a personal choice . The thickness of the fabric when gathered is also influenced by the "denier", or technical thickness of the fabric's weave. 40 denier is a common choice . The following applies to 40 denier nylon fabric: <Ul> <Li> 60" - Narrow when open, thin when gathered . Fairly common simply because the fabric is widely available . </Li> <Li> 72 - 84" - Average for adult performers </Li> <Li> 96" - Wide when open, thick when gathered . Best for adults with large hands . </Li> <Li> 108" - Very wide and thick . For adults with very large hands, or specialty acts . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Length <Ul> <Li> Length is a function of the height of the space available . </Li> <Li> For beginners, it is beneficial if the fabric comes down past the ground, allowing them to practice wraps at a lower level where they can be spotted . </Li> <Li> For intermediate users and above, it is sufficient if the fabrics come down to the ground . </Li> <Li> For all users, the space required is usually between 20 feet (6 m) and 30 feet (9 m). There are a great many tricks that can be done on a 12 - to - 15 - foot (3.7 to 4.6 m) aerial fabric and a few drops require more than 30 feet, but for the most part 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 m) is best . </Li> </Ul> </Li> </Ul>

What do you call a person who does acrobatics