Even though we mostly love the daily training, it can be difficult if we are feeling tired, injured, or burnt out. The hardest thing is staying at the top of our game All the time. We don't have off-seasons like many athletes do so we need to maintain our high-performance levels all the time.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
We began working together in 2012. We had both worked as solo aerial performers previously but came together and began creating duo aerial acts. Brett was an acrobat in his teenage years and I was a Ballet dancer.
2. How and when did you decide to pursue aerial performing?
Transitioned from Ballet to aerial at 18 years of age after seeing the Aerial Silks performance in Cirque du Soleil's Quidam, I was obsessed! Brett; Saw some woman at his acrobatic studio practicing rope when he was about 16 and felt an instant connection, he needed to learn more!
3. How do you ensure you stay strong and fit enough to perform?
We practice Aerial about 5 days per week for about 2 hours. We begin with a full-body warm-up and stretch on the ground and then work on different projects in the air.
It might be an upcoming performance or a workshop or simply workshopping come combinations that interest us. We are always creating and perfecting. This dedication keeps us fit and strong enough to perform regularly.
4. What is the most challenging part of being an aerial performer?
Even though we mostly love the daily training, it can be difficult if we are feeling tired, injured, or burnt out. The hardest thing is staying at the top of our game All the time. We don't have off-seasons like many athletes do so we need to maintain our high-performance levels all the time.
5. Share your best performance that you both put together?
Our best performance/most popular is our duo silks performance that we performed inside a ring of fire at the Crucible in Oakland, California.
6. What is the hardest part when you are performing aerial art?
Being clean and technical while also expressive. If we 'throw it all away and get lost in the emotion of the moment there is a danger of making a technical error so we constantly need to find that sweet spot between emotion (artistry) and technique.
7. What's the most important advice you would give to aspiring aerial performers?
Rather than focus on your dream job/contract, focus instead on creating one or two incredible aerial acts that truly express who you are as an aerial artist.
Chances are that once you do this, the contracts and jobs will fall in your lap but regardless; you will feel completely fulfilled and have built a strong artistic identity which is so important in this profession.
8. Which is your favorite book and why?
Infinite possibilities by Mike Dooley. I am a big believer in the power of positive thinking and in using visualization to bring dreams to life!
Womack and Bowman are celebrated aerial performers, educators, and entrepreneurs. Based out of Los Angeles the duo regularly tours the country as guest aerial artists for opera and ballet companies, symphony orchestras, dance festivals, and contemporary circus companies. They have appeared in numerous films and commercials and in television shows and print campaigns.
Their mission is to inspire and empower aerialists all over the globe to reach their full potential with accessible, world-class aerial education as well as push the boundaries of contemporary circus through innovative performances, choreography, and production.
Interviewed By - Anshika Maurya
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