Swinging Through The Air Over Eisenhower Park

BY AMANDA OLSEN aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

While it may fill many people with awe and fear, there are an intrepid few who dream of flying the trapeze. For those brave individuals, there is I.Fly Trapeze. Located in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, this training facility was founded in 2006 by brothers Marco and Anthony Rosamilia.

Invented by the French acrobat Jules Léotard in 1859, a trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a ceiling support. Trapeze acts may be static, swinging or flying, and may be performed solo or as a group act. The name trapeze reflects the trapezoid shape made by the horizontal bar, ropes and ceiling support.

For the trapeze curious, I.Fly offers classes for ages 4 and up. There are no height or weight restrictions; as long as you are able to hold yourself up by the arms, you can participate. It is not necessary to be able to do a pull-up. The routines are all based on timing and physics. Because the facility is outdoors, classes are not conducted in steady rain. Otherwise, the show must go on. If it does rain on the scheduled day, participants are notified and rescheduled.

Classes are between 60 and 90 minutes, have between four and 10 fliers, and cost from $65 to $75. Comfortable clothing that fits close to the skin is required. No footwear is allowed during the lesson, so wear socks. The classes are conducted in a safety harness, with a net, and attached to safety lines held by the instructor. Staff also assist on the take-off platform. Spectators are welcome at no charge and even have their own designated seating area.

First-timers are given instruction on the ground, a demo on the trapeze, and step-by-step instruction as they’re flying. There is a low practice bar to help students perfect their positions. The instructors create a safe, no-pressure, encouraging environment. The instructors have seen it all, so they are ready to help anyone overcome their hesitation or fear.

I.Fly trapeze has the only circusfocused, intensive summer camp. They have three two-week sessions where campers learn flying trapeze and a number of other circus acts. At the end of each two-week session, the campers put on a full show for family and friends. They also hold professional flying trapeze and circus performances on a monthly basis.

ON THE COVER:

La Cassandra singing at last year’s Westbury Arts Summer Concert Series. Her new album can be found on Spotify and all music streaming platforms.

This year’s Westbury Arts Summer Concert line-up:

July 1 and 2 Blowhole, two performances of a staged reading by Long Island playwright, Aly Kantor (July 1 at 7 p.m. and July 2 at 3 p.m.)

July 6—The Hambones (country, American folk rock)

July 9—Westbury’s Got Talent/Open Mic from 6 to 8 p.m.

July 13—Hitman Blues Band (blues, rock)

July 20—Sabori the Salsa and Latin Jazz Band (Salsa, Latin jazz)

July 27—Andre Phillips Steel Band (Island, Soul)

Aug. 3—Paige Patterson (Standards, Blues, Soul)

Aug. 10—Quintrepid (original Jazz)

Aug. 17—Way Back When Band (60s, 70s, 80s classic rock & pop)

Aug. 24—Bachatu with Gissele Garcia (Bachata, Latin)

Aug. 31—Bells 2.0 (Soul, Funk)

Summer Concert Series shows are from 7 to 10 p.m. unless otherwise noted.