I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting as I first walked into the Chase St. Warehouses in search of Canopy. All I knew was that the studio offers Athens’ only flying dance and movement arts lessons, and I was about to become its newest pupil.

Coming from a marginally athletic background, complete with a brief childhood stint in dance and gymnastics, I was soon to learn my confidence might have been excessive. As I entered, I was stopped by a woman inquiring if I was there for the pole dance lessons- I was not, but I immediately knew I was in quite the interesting place.

The studio has retained many of the original warehouse fixtures, so the juxtaposition of radiantly colored silken ropes and funky lights with industrial tubes and exposed brick was a sight to behold. My lesson was to take place concurrently with the adult advanced fabrics class; watching a group of elegantly fit people entwined in fabric and climbing so effortlessly to the ceiling was humbling indeed.

I had come with a daring friend in tow, and as we met with our instructor, UGA alumna Mary Jessica Hammes, her enthusiasm and passion for the art was immediately apparent. She told us of her own origins in trapeze: her dance professor at the time, Susan Murphy, was already involved in trapeze, and Hammes ended up writing her own investigative article on the matter. She took a few lessons, and became so hooked that she returned as an instructor to the studio.

A veritable brainchild of Susan Murphy’s, the studio is a testament to the power of art within a community. Its design was completed entirely pro bono, and countless Athenians gathered to aid in its construction, from shoveling gravel to volunteering decoration. In addition to being one of the few trapeze studios in the country, Canopy sets itself apart even more through its non-profit status.

I was about to experience the magic firsthand.

Hammes got us started with warm-ups and stretches – so far so good – and quickly moved on to lesson one: getting up on the bar. As with anything so graceful and complex, there exist tried and true methods that are not to be violated by the impatience of a new student (as I learned the hard way a few times). Even mounting the wooden bar, which hangs from adjustable ropes rigged to the ceiling, requires a certain amount of upper body strength I had not been accustomed to using. Hammes patiently explained a number of other steps, evolving ultimately into actual tricks, like “the Starfish,” which involves a very limber positioning and extension of limbs.

I felt sorry for our photographer, who had to capture me in many inverted, painful positions, and my accompanying facial expressions, most of which were distorted into red-faced grimaces. It became even more enigmatic to me how Hammes and the other trapeze artists made it look so easy.

Eventually, we learned how to mount the bar, swing and jump onto another bar in mid-air. Having safely ascertained I would never do anything cooler in my entire life, I asked Hammes to tell me about her average student and what he or she typically gains from this experience. “I teach a lot of kids, mostly ages 1-5, and a few adult beginner classes. So many different groups of people come in, though: high school and college students, older people, professionals, farmers and artists. All are welcome, and all come from different backgrounds and parts of Athens. Some take it to get in shape, and this is certainly a unique workout. It combines cardiovascular endurance with high-impact training; you will sweat and burn like you’re doing Pilates. People’s bodies have been transformed.”

And what better way to tone and train than in such a unique environment?

Hammes went on to describe the welcoming nature of the studio. “There’s just no competition here, no pressure to succeed. It’s a comforting place with no expectations, except to have fun. The energy of our students and instructors is just amazing.”

Indeed, I felt no pressure as I awkwardly maneuvered myself from bar to bar, but my personal shortcomings only contributed to my determination to take even more lessons. Thankfully, with a teacher like Hammes, it’s okay to take laugh breaks. “It’s funny to hang upside down,” she said. “I laugh when I teach.”

And for those looking to see this energy up close, the studio has an upcoming production titled “Epic,” beginning the first weekend of November. The advanced fabrics and trapeze students will be performing, with many exciting maneuvers in store such as routines done completely blindfolded. Tickets can be purchased for just $15 for adults, $10 for students and $6 for children online, at the door or downtown at Dynamite Clothing, located on Jackson St. It’s a show you will not want to miss.

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