Trapeze (disambiguation) facts for kids

A trapeze is a special piece of equipment used by acrobats and performers to do amazing tricks high in the air! It's usually a short horizontal bar hanging from two ropes. People swing, flip, and perform incredible stunts on it, often as part of a circus show.

What is a Trapeze?

A trapeze is a simple but strong piece of equipment. It has a metal or wooden bar, usually about 2 feet (60 cm) long, attached to two ropes or wires. These ropes hang down from a high ceiling or frame. Acrobats use the trapeze to swing, hang, and perform incredible aerial acts.

Types of Trapeze Acts

There are different ways performers use a trapeze:

• Static Trapeze: In this act, the trapeze bar stays mostly still. The performer uses strength and flexibility to do poses, spins, and drops around the bar and ropes. It's like aerial yoga, but much more dynamic!
• Swinging Trapeze: Here, the performer swings back and forth on the trapeze, often doing flips and twists while in motion. This requires great timing and control.
• Flying Trapeze: This is perhaps the most famous type. It involves two trapezes and at least two performers. One performer (the "flyer") swings from one trapeze and then lets go, flying through the air to be caught by another performer (the "catcher") swinging on a different trapeze. It's a thrilling act that shows incredible trust and teamwork!

History of the Trapeze

The flying trapeze was invented in 1859 by a French acrobat named Jules Léotard. He was the first to perform aerial stunts using a bar and ropes, swinging from one to another. His act was so popular that the special tight-fitting suit he wore became known as a "leotard," which dancers and gymnasts still wear today!

Other Meanings of "Trapeze"

The word "trapeze" can also refer to other things, not just the circus equipment.

In Sailing

A trapeze in sailing is a wire that connects a sailor to the mast of a small sailboat, like a dinghy. It allows the sailor to lean far out over the side of the boat while sailing fast. This helps to balance the boat and stop it from tipping over in strong winds. It's a bit like an acrobat's trapeze, but for keeping a boat steady!

In Entertainment

• Film: Trapeze is the name of a 1956 movie about circus performers, starring Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis. It's a classic film that shows the drama and excitement of the trapeze world.
• Music: Trapeze was also the name of a rock band from the United Kingdom in the 1970s. They released several albums, including one called Trapeze in 1970 and another in 1976.
• Books: There's a 2012 novel called Trapeze by Simon Mawer. It was originally published with a different title, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky.
• Ballet: Trapeze is also the name of a ballet created by the famous composer Sergei Prokofiev.

See also

In Spanish: Trapecio para niños

• Trapezoid or trapezium, a four-sided shape with at least one pair of parallel sides.