Everyone dreams of achieving the unimaginable feats performed by circus acts under the big top. For the first time, Chicagoans can brave the flying trapeze recently installed at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway, through a partnership between the Chicago Park District and The Flying Gaonas, a family of seventh generation circus performers. The organizations unveiled and demonstrated the new trapeze at a press conference on Friday, Nov. 16.
One of the four instructors, David Gaona, who has performed professionally for more than 30 years with his brother Julio, explains that the flying trapeze satisfies students’ curiosity with a completely different set of adrenaline-charged sensations, while challenging them athletically. “The trapeze works your entire upper body-back, shoulders, arms and even abdominals—but most of all, it requires a lot of will. We’ve instructed students as young as two, and as old as 80.”
After exhibiting at the Museum of Science and Industry last summer and offering outdoor lessons through the Winnetka Park District for a month and a half, the Flying Gaonas sought a permanent home in Chicago where they could teach and entertain. The broad reach of the Chicago Park District made sense, and its Broadway Armory Park’s 55-foot ceilings met the height requirement for the trapeze.
Broadway Armory will immediately begin offering Chicagoans of all ages two-hour lessons Tuesday through Friday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Classes are restricted to no more than eight students. The cost is $60 per class, or $360 for a full-session of eight classes. As part of their agreement with the Chicago Park District, The Flying Gaonas will provide one hour of free instruction Tuesday through Friday to children enrolled in Broadway Armory’s after-school program.
Beginning students work on stretching and practicing on a lower warm-up bar before confronting the actual trapeze. Once a student is ready to fly, they are equipped with a safety harness. The students work continually to perfect their swing before learning more complicated moves, such as somersaults.
The equipment includes a tall ladder, platform, ropes and trapezes, and an extremely resilient net below. The ingenious safety harness uses pulleys and ropes to enable a strong person on the ground to prevent a beginner from making an unfortunate fall.
In addition, the Gaonas will teach juggling, tumbling, tightrope and teeter board.
“The Flying Gaonas are known all over the world,” said David Gaona. The team won the prestigious Clown Award at the Festival of Monte Carlo.
“Now people can learn how it feels to fly, the basics of performance and being a trapeze artist,” he said. He said he was proud that his team would train the first African American trapeze artists in the world, such as Tracy Henderson, who moved here from Atlanta to train with them and will help to teach beginners.
“It’s an adrenaline rush. It’s very free feeling,” said North Side resident James Schubert, 32, who is also training with The Flying Gaonas to be a professional. He will help teach the beginners.
David Gaona’s wife, Yiana, performs with the group also. From Australia, she comes from eight generations of foot jugglers, people who juggle other people with their feet. Down under, her family owns the third oldest circus in the world. She met her husband while doing a show in 1993; now, their five-year-old son Yadien performs on the flying trapeze and continues the family heritage.
Unlike families which may have boring lifestyles, Yiana’s is all full of excitement. One sister is part of The Flying Wallendas, another performs in a tiger act. “That’s our life. We wouldn’t want to trade it for anything,” she said with a smile.
David’s brother, Julio, is also on the team, as is his wife Gloria. She hails from a circus family of Colombia, South America, but was actually born in Canada as the circus life is a traveling life. She met Julio in Sarasota, FL, the “winter quarters” of circus people.
“We’ve always been circus performers—we never thought the ‘town people’ would want to participate. Now we can make their dreams come true. We’re excited to be part of Chicago,” said Gloria.
The ability of Broadway Armory Park to host a flying trapeze class indicates its unusual resources. The CPD’s only completely indoor park, it encompasses 300,000 square feet and 68 rooms. A photo studio and Street Level Youth Media computer center are among its attractions. Basketball, volleyball and even indoor batting cages are available. The enormous gym is often rented for special occasions, such as the recent Sacred Heart Antiques Auction.
Partnerships with numerous groups create a win-win situation in the community, according to Keith Donovan, park supervisor. For example, the Billy Goat Theater Group receives office space and rehearsal space in exchange for providing some free children’s and adults’ theater classes there. Donovan would like to see the second floor ballroom soon offer swing dancing through a similar trade with a band for rehearsal space.
When a member of Billy Goat Theater Company saw the Flying Gaonas at the Museum of Science and Industry and heard they needed a place to perform in the winter, he realized that the creative arrangements of Broadway Armory Park might fit the bill. “He told me, I contacted them, and that’s where we came from, all within the last two months,” said Donovan.
The flying trapeze will also be featured at the Holiday Sports Fest at McCormick Place South Building Dec. 28-30, along with many other free activities, clinics, skill areas and entertainment.
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