Registration deadline
November 23, 2025
Maximum participants
8 – FULL
Cost
Subsidized rate: $35.00
Actual value: $231.00
When?
November 28, 2025
2 PM – 7 PM
Where?
Montreal Circus Academy
This training is intended for individuals who operate pulley systems used in circus arts to hoist, lower, or stabilize an aerial artist. Referred to as “pulling,” this essential role relies on a thorough understanding of mechanical systems, careful observation of the body in motion, and perfect coordination with the performing artist.
Through this training, participants will:
Understand and operate pulley systems (3:1 type and other variants) used in human rigging.
Develop safety reflexes, load management, and movement anticipation.
Interpret an artist’s rhythm, breath, and intentions to accompany their movements with precision and gentleness.
Collaborate seamlessly with artists, building a relationship of trust.
Pedagogical approach:
The training is led by Jean-François Faber, a human rigging specialist, and Marie-Michelle Faber, a human performance and aerial movement specialist. Their approaches combine technical expertise, safety, and artistic sensibility. One embodies the precision of mechanical systems, the other the poetry of the suspended body.
Together, they offer a complete immersion where the participant acts as a technician, a creative partner, and the artist’s invisible guardian.
Objective:
To develop conscious, sensitive, and competent pulling techniques, capable of supporting creation while ensuring the safety and harmony of the aerial performance.
Instructors:
Jean-François Faber, Human Rigging Specialist
With 25 years of experience in human rigging, Jean-François Faber is a key figure in the world of performing arts and circus. Specializing in the design, installation, and operation of human rigging systems, he masters the subtle balance between technical and artistic requirements.
Throughout his career, Jean-François has collaborated with world-renowned artists, contributing to shows that push the boundaries of what is possible. He plays an essential role in the execution of complex aerial acts. Whether for ambitious large-scale projects or more intimate creations, his expertise guarantees the safety of artists while highlighting their vision.
Jean-François Faber is more than just a technician: he is the invisible dancer who makes the artist shine on stage.
Marie-Michelle Faber, Human Performance Specialist
With over 25 years on the world’s biggest stages, she has transitioned from the spotlight to behind-the-scenes creation, bringing a unique perspective on movement and performance. As an acrobatic designer and aerial movement specialist, she is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible, exploring new ways to tell stories through the body and technology.
While Jean-François Faber ensures safety and technical precision, her expertise focuses on fluidity, aesthetics, and creativity. Together, they weave a dialogue that blends the rigor of rigging systems with the poetic impulse of artists. Their complementarity allows them to transform ideas into movements, guiding artists so that each gesture becomes an emotion shared with the audience.