Chair acrobatics

The use of chairs as props in acrobatics falls into three broad categories: balancing, vaulting and contortion.

Balancing

In chair balancing, one or more acrobats balance on one or more chairs. The chair(s) may be balanced on other objects and/or on just one or two legs while the acrobat(s) themselves may also perform balancing acts on the chair.

The chairs used in balance may have notches cut out or extra pieces of material added to allow them to be stacked at otherwise unstable angles.

Chair balancing acts have been featured in the Cirque du Soleil shows Nouvelle Experience, La Nouba, Dralion, Koozå, Kurios, and Crystal.

Vaulting

In chair vaulting, the acrobat jumps or tumbles over a chair. Sometimes the chair is used as a launching platform, and sometimes it is carried by the athlete while performing the vault.

Contortion

Chair contortionists use the chair as a prop for moulding their bodies around.

v t e Circus skills
Acrobatics, balance, and contortion	Acrobalance Adagio Aerial hoop Aerial silk Aerial straps Balance board Chair acrobatics Chinese pole Cloud swing Contortion Corde lisse Cradle Cyr wheel Hair hang Hand to hand Human pyramid Perch Risley Rolling globe Roman ladders Russian bar Russian swing Slacklining Slackwire Spanish web Tightrope Trapeze Flying Static Trick riding
Juggling and object manipulation	Bullwhip Cigar box manipulation Contact juggling Diabolo Hat manipulation Twirling Baton Hoop Plate Fire performance Fire breathing Fire eating Firewalking Toss juggling
Vaulting	Equestrian vaulting Human cannonball Teeterboard Trampoline
Other	Animal trainer Lion taming Clown Circus clown Globe of death Human firecracker Puppeteer Ringmaster Strongman Target girl Wheel of Death
Related	Carny Circus school Roustabout Showman Sideshow Flea circus
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