Hi Reader,

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Lately, I’ve been spending my aerial training sessions repeating one sequence over and over again. As if I’m preparing for a show… but there’s no performance on the books.
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I run the sequence to various songs, or sometimes silence. Sometimes I experiment with new ways to stylize it. Other times, I just get up there, rinse, and repeat.
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After several sessions of this, I started to notice a shift — not in the sequence itself, but in how my body was interacting with the material. Each time I ran it, I uncovered more nuance. More subtlety.​
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I searched for a word to describe this shift… and landed on: Texture

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The moment that word came to me, I lit up. It perfectly described what I was feeling — and what I tend to admire in other performers. Texture is what appears when a trick transforms into something deeper and more personalized.

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When clean movement transforms into textured artistry

When we first learn an aerial skill, the focus is on mechanics — the gross motor patterns that build a foundation. We don’t get to skip this phase. This is our satin-finish wall: clean, smooth, neutral. It’s essential, because it teaches us safety, precision, and muscle memory.
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But aerial is more than just execution. It’s an artistic form of expression where we bring some essential aspect of ourselves to the material.​
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We often talk about “adding style” or “musicality” to our movement. Sometimes it’s about inhabiting a certain emotional quality in the body. These are some of the artistic tools that help us transform technique into something more unique, more authentic.

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But lately, I’ve been fascinated with something even smaller: the subtle transformations that come from repetition.​
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Why texture?

I think of it like a really good acrylic painting — the kind where you can see the buildup of brushstrokes. Where each layer adds dimension, even if it’s not flashy. There’s depth, small imprints left by your choices, your timing, your own personal stamp.

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Yes, clean and smooth movement can be beautiful — precise, efficient, and satisfying to watch.

But it can come across like a surface finish, polished but impersonal.
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There’s something magical about watching artists who bring this sort of depth to their work — when you can feel the hours they’ve spent with the material. Movement that feels lived-in. There's an authenticity in its non-uniformity. ​
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Textured movement has soul — not because it’s flawless, but because it’s been worn in, shaped by repetition and instinct until it belongs to the artist alone.
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The Practice Sequence: A Tool for Texture

Here’s a way to invite more texture into your aerial work:

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📌 Choose a sequence you’re genuinely curious about.

It can be from a piece you’re developing — or not. It just needs to hold your interest.
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📌 Commit to repetition.

Devote an entire training session to repeating this one sequence. Then again next week.
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The discipline of depth

We often prioritize taking a class or reviewing new skills in open gym. But how often do we give ourselves permission to marinate in one phrase of movement, just to see what emerges?

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If you're someone who’s easily drawn to the next shiny thing, this might feel unfamiliar—even uncomfortable. But there’s power in that discomfort. Because real growth often happens just beyond the edge of our comfort zone.

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Let the body lead the way

The more quality time you spend with a movement, the more subtle differences your body can find. The cool thing is that this will happen organically over time and repetition. It’s not something you need to think about with your brain.​
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There’s a knowingness that shows up in artists who’ve invested time with their medium. An intimate, personal fluency. It’s hard to describe — but you feel it immediately when you see it.
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So if you’re craving more depth in your aerial work, don’t reach for something new. Reach for something familiar — and repeat it until it becomes yours.

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Warmly,

Rain

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Ps. How do you feel about this type of newsletter? Rain or Sarah just sharing our current musings with you. If there’s something you’d love to hear us talk about in future emails, just hit reply and let us know!

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