Alyssa Ladzinski – An Xperience Interview

Alyssa Ladzinski – An Xperience Interview – by Liam Sweeny.

We met up with aerial acrobat and circus manager Alyssa Ladzinski. These are the loops she took us through.

RRX: Watching your acrobatic work isn’t something I could do drunk and not get the spins, which is why I’m glad I don’t drink. How do you avoid vertigo? Did you have problems with vertigo early on, or were you just a natch’?

AL: Spinning definitely isn’t for everyone! Some people love it from the beginning, some people rely on tips and tricks of the trade. I’ve been someone who enjoyed it from the get-go. You also learn how to “slow yourself down” with certain movements if needed. There are also hacks like taking three leg down dog hops, to help restore your natural state of balance

RRX: You need endurance and flexibility. Does improvement when you work on one affect the other equally, or may improvements in endurance require more work on flexibility, or vice versa?

AL: Other than focusing on your discipline, I think cross training is the answer here. I try to cross-train as often as possible from hot / yoga to reformer Pilates, hiking and HIIT. That way everything gets worked on and stays as balanced as possible from strength, flexibility, endurance and progressively overloading your muscles.  You can sit in a passive stretch all day long but won’t get any stronger at your end range of motion unless you start adding some weight or resistance and making it more difficult

I’ve always been more naturally flexible, but work definitely needs to be put in by everyone in their own personal bodies to achieve safe form in movements like splits for example,  meaning your hips are square and pointing straight forward.

RRX: I read that you’re a circus manager. I can imagine that’s like herding cats, probably more like herding lions. What’s the number one thing that can lead to the success or failure of a circus event, from an all-around perspective?

AL: Yes! I manage and teach at Good Karma Studio in Albany NY and also perform events like weddings, galas, festivals etc.

Aside from the obvious answers of marketing, emails, social media and PR, showcasing the local, talented performers and gathering a group of local vendors to highlight and uplift, I think support from your local community is huge when it comes to a successful event. And that comes from your own work of fostering a safe, fun, compassionate community at the studio from the ground up. We have such a beautiful circus, fitness and flow arts community in the Capital Region and at our studio specifically, have cultivated a really safe space for all walks of life. Community is everything and ours have proven that time and time again.

RRX: You were also a marketing coordinator. If television and movies are correct, a big part of the circus is promoting it in the city or town it’s going to be in. But I’m interested to know why you transitioned from marketing to circus and yoga and aerial work?

AL: My degrees are in Journalism and Marketing, so I’ve always kept my foot in the door there somehow. I love writing specifically, and just staying connected with the arts in my community.

My job trajectory has gone from marketing for MVP Arena (TUC, Knickerbocker) in Albany for concerts and sporting events, to marketing, social media and humane education at a local Horse Sanctuary called Equine Advocates, to writing and marketing for an online music publication called NYS Music and now at my current studio Good Karma.

I still maintain marketing duties in day-to-day tasks, but once I came to the studio as a student maybe, 7ish years ago, I fell in love. Pursued my trainings and certifications while starting with studio marketing and socials, eventually working my way to teaching, managing the studio, performing and acting as the studio owners right hand woman.

RRX: A part of your acrobatic work is you, but another part is the ring, the cloth streamers, the colors. It goes beyond acrobatics into art. Did you ever have a rig or set-up, or even a particular act that you love for purely artistic reasons?

AL: Yes, the Lyra hoop and silk hammock/ sling are my two disciplines, and it is all absolutely human art! I’ve had smaller rig setups in my backyard, but I have access to a studio with high ceilings I am lucky to practice in. I love both Lyra and hammock equally for different reasons, but I have to say I did just receive a brand-new Aerial Cube, so that will definitely allow my artistic ability to shine in a whole new way as I start to explore, create and perform new acts on that!

RRX: Your acrobatics, as with yoga or anything like that, involves physical dexterity, people want to have it, but struggle to get off the couch. It’s me; I’m people. Can you describe one small thing I could do to improve my dexterity from my couch, or in the course of my trips to the grocery store?

AL: Every movement matters! No matter how small or short on time you are. My belief is that we should exercise to feel good and live our lives comfortably so yes, meaning going to the grocery store, being able to get off the ground well to play with kids and grandkids. Everyone should try to start their day with a few minutes of stretching and moving their bodies. Yoga!YouTube is a great online and free resource that can help you get up and move from shorter 5/10 minute practices, to half hour or hour practices! Small things and new habits can make all the difference. Light weightlifting will always be your friend to keep your bones strong and healthy!

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