Aerial Fabric and Slack Drops in Aerial Dance

Aerial dancing is an exhilarating and fun activity, and slack drops on aerial silks add an extra layer of excitement. However, it's crucial to approach these skills with caution to ensure safety and longevity of your equipment. Here are some important tips and considerations for performing slack drops on aerial silks.

What is Slack Drop on Aerial Silks?

A slack drop involves pulling out a length of fabric and then dropping through the slack, hitting the bottom with significant force. Some slack drops involve winding the fabric behind the back, which creates additional friction.

Safety in Slack Drops 

You should never attempt a slack drop outside of a studio environment where you are being coached and spotted by a qualified instructor!

It’s imperative that a slack drop is wrapped correctly. Improper wrapping can lead to dangerous falls or excessive wear on the silks. Furthermore, always verify that you have enough clearance between yourself and the floor. Ensure you haven't pulled out more fabric than planned, which can lead to unexpected drop length. Additionally, you need to make sure your skin is covered. The friction created in slack drops can cause friction burns to exposed skin. 

Finally, it’s essential to have a gymnastics rated crash mat under you for any aerial activity, but especially drops. The “gold standard” in aerial set by the American Circus Educators is at least 6 to 8 inches thick.  

Potential impact of slack drops for your aerial silks 

Large slack drops (anything more than 3 feet) can cause fabric to melt or develop holes or puckering. Even shorter drops can damage the fabric if it wraps around itself and creates stress points.

Aerial Fabric Melting 

One significant risk associated with slack drops is the potential for fabric melting due to friction. This can occur whether the fabric is brand new or has been in use for a while. Both Tricot and Interlock fabrics are susceptible.

Wearing synthetic materials, such as nylon tights, during slack drops can exacerbate friction issues. The combination of slack drops and synthetic clothing increases the likelihood of fabric melting and subsequent damage.

Recommendation for slack drops 

While slack drops on aerial silks are undeniably fun, they are notorious for being hard on all types of aerial dance silks. The fabric is particularly vulnerable to the heat generated by friction. If you are trying to keep your fabrics in rotation for the longest amount of time, we recommend avoiding slack drops for longevity.