Community events can be literally anything! Potlucks, movie nights, game nights, bake-offs, you name it! Social time is great for making new friendships and deepening old ones.
Like many communities around the world, the most common non-class events are….
Jams! A jam is simply open time for students and community members to play in an unstructured way. Oftentimes, instructors will be in attendance, so if you need an experienced spotter for new skills with an old partner, or old skills with a new partner, you have people to ask. More importantly, this is a great time for folks to come together, have fun, and play together 🙂
Jams can be intimidating, so take a look below to see some of our tips and tricks for navigating jams at Equilibrium Acrobatics and elsewhere around the world!
Guidelines for Equilibrium:
- First and foremost, consent is key. This is true in all acro ALWAYS, but especially at jams, when you might be working with new partners, or people of different levels. Make sure your expectations are aligned, your intentions are clear, and safety measures are in place. Confusion and inconsistency can lead to injury, which brings us to…
- Safety! Acro (L basing, standing, and everything in between) carries inherent risks to the safety of all participants, including spotters and bystanders. We can’t completely eliminate all risk all the time, but we can work together to minimize it. With accurate self assessment, awareness of your partner’s level, and a focus on keeping everybody safe, we can do our best to make sure nobody gets hurt.
- To that end, please refrain from coming to jams under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This just isn’t a good idea for anybody.
- Take care to remove jewelry (necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings in particular) so that they don’t get snagged on clothing, ripped off your body, or irreparably damaged.
General Jams
If you’re new to the area, or to acro in general, jams can be intimidating. We’ve listed some tips for making your first time less stressful.
- Don’t be afraid to just jump in! Waiting for an invitation is fine, but it can help to be a little bit proactive.
- Choose your moment wisely. If you see a pair in the middle of something that looks difficult, that’s not perhaps the best moment to approach them. Instead, approach them when they break for some water or food.
- Wear clothing that you feel comfortable in. You’re going to need to stretch and bend, so it’s not a great time to wear your tightest jeans or your Sunday best.
- Take care to remov