07/06/2026

theSunday Special VI ON SUNDAY JUNE 7, 2026

More than just circus tricks

Ű BY ASHIQIN AHMAD lifestyle@thesundaily.com

S USPENDED mid-air with nothing but silks, hoops or harnesses holding them up, aerial performers often make gravity-defying movements look effortless. To audiences, the performances can appear graceful, theatrical and almost dreamlike, but behind every polished routine lies years of bruises, physical conditioning and relentless discipline. In Malaysia, aerial arts and pole performance continue to occupy a niche space despite slowly building a passionate and growing community. From aerial silks and pole choreography to bungee-based movement classes, the industry exists somewhere between sport and art, requiring athletic precision and creative expression. For many performers, the biggest challenge is not the physical training itself but convincing people to take the discipline seriously. Founded in 2006, Viva Vertical has spent nearly two decades trying to change that perception. As Malaysia’s first dedicated circus school and home to the Viva Circus troupe, the studio has built a reputation for nurturing local talent while promoting aerial arts through performances, competitions and training programmes. Now, through initiatives such as Viva Circus Festival 2026 and the original production Alice Lost in Wonderland , the studio hopes to strengthen Malaysia’s aerial arts ecosystem while giving local performers a larger platform to grow.

Finding the sweet spot in aerial arts

Chan says the troupe actively explore aerial,

pole and flexibility

training classes to continously refine their skills.

Hidden

cost

behind

performance While aerial performances may only last a few minutes on stage, the preparation behind them often stretches across months of rehearsals, conditioning and production work. “From the outside, it might look like just a short performance but behind that, there’s a lot that people don’t see,” performer and show director Noah Yap told theSun . “A performer could train for months for just a few minutes on stage. Then you add things like rigging, lighting, costumes and production, and it builds up quite a bit.” Unlike conventional fitness spaces, aerial studios require specialised equipment, professional rigging systems and carefully monitored safety measures. These operational costs inevitably affect how accessible the discipline becomes for students and performers. According to marketing director and master trainer of BungeeWorkout Malaysia Yiki Chan, aerial and pole classes in Malaysia are generally positioned at a mid-range price point due to the high cost of maintaining equipment and studio facilities. “Among the different apparatus, bungee is actually the

Sport, art or both? One of the biggest challenges surrounding aerial arts is the difficulty in categorising it. The discipline demands physical endurance, strength and technical precision similar to competitive sports, yet the final performance is rooted in storytelling, creativity and emotional expression. “To me, it is naturally both, and that is what makes aerial arts so unique. The training is highly physical, but when you step onto the stage, it becomes about expression, storytelling and emotion,” Chan said. However, this overlap often leaves the industry in an awkward middle ground. Because aerial arts do not fit neatly into traditional categories, performers sometimes struggle to access institutional support from either the sports or performing arts sectors. “The challenge is because it exists between these two worlds, it does not always fit neatly into traditional categories. This affects recognition, funding and the types of opportunities available to practitioners,” Chan explained. For Yap, the artistic aspect remains central to what makes aerial performance meaningful. “When we create a show, we are not just thinking about technique. We are thinking about what kind of story we want to tell and what emotions we want the audience to feel. Movement becomes a language,” he said. See page VII

to improving their craft. “The biggest sacrifice is really time and the kind of lifestyle you choose to commit to. A lot of training happens during evenings or weekends, so while others might be resting or socialising, we are usually in the studio,” Chan said. For Yap, the sacrifices are tied more closely to uncertainty. Working on productions often means dedicating large amounts of time, energy and resources without knowing whether audiences will ultimately connect with the final result. “When you’re working on a production, there’s a lot of uncertainty. You do not always know how things will come together or how they will be received, but what keeps you going is the belief in what you are building,” he said. That uncertainty becomes especially difficult in an industry that still struggles for mainstream recognition and funding. Many performers have had to turn down competitions, training opportunities or creative ideas because of financial limitations. “Financial constraints are always part of the conversation. There are definitely ideas or concepts that we would love to explore but we have to adjust based on what is realistic at that point in time,” Yap said. Yet, rather than discouraging performers, those limitations often force them to become more resourceful and creative with what they have.

most expensive to set up, yet it is often priced the lowest because it is perceived more as a workout-based class,” she explained. The challenge with bungee classes is that each setup can only accommodate a limited number of participants at a time, which restricts class sizes and increases operational complexity. “As students advance further into the discipline, the financial commitment also becomes significantly larger. “Some of our advanced students spend approximately RM1,000 to RM1,500 per month. “These are people who actively explore aerial, pole and flexibility training classes to continuously refine their skills,” Chan said. For outsiders, spending that amount on what is often viewed as a niche hobby may seem excessive but for practitioners, the value extends beyond physical training alone. “It might look like they are paying to suffer because they leave classes with bruises. “But for them, it is about challenging themselves, pushing their limits and finding personal growth through the process,” she added. Choosing passion over comfort Like many creative industries, aerial arts often demand sacrifices that extend far beyond financial investment. Long training hours, irregular schedules and physical exhaustion become part of daily life for performers committed

Yap says the production for Alice Lost in Wonderland took a lot of time, energy and resources to make sure the experience feels complete.

Live aerial demonstration of athletes in mid-air, where there is no room for hesitation, only instinct and control.