Pulling in Aerial Acrobatics – Technique, Movement, and Intuition | With Marie-Michelle Faber and Jean-François Faber
Registration deadline
November 23, 2025
Maximum number of participants
8
Cost
Subsidized Rate: 35.00$Actual Value: 231.00$
Description
When?
November 28, 2025
2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Where?
Académie de cirque de Montréal
This training is intended for individuals who are required to operate pulley systems used in the circus arts to lift, lower, or stabilize an aerial artist. Known as “pulling,” this essential role relies on a deep understanding of mechanical systems, keen observation of the body in motion, and perfect coordination with the performing artist.
Through this training, participants will:
- Understand and operate pulley systems (type 3:1 and other variants) used in human rigging
- Develop safety reflexes, load management skills, and anticipation of movements
- Learn to read an artist’s rhythm, breath, and intentions to support their movements with precision and care
- Collaborate smoothly with artists, building a strong relationship of trust
Teaching Approach:
The training is led by Jean-François Faber, a rigging specialist in human rigging, and Marie-Michelle Faber, a specialist in human performance and aerial movement. Their combined approaches unite technical precision, safety, and artistic sensitivity. One embodies the rigor of mechanical systems, the other the poetry of the suspended body.
Together, they offer a full immersion where the participant is simultaneously a technician, a stage partner, and the invisible guardian of the artist.
Objective:
To develop conscious, sensitive, and skilled pulling techniques capable of supporting creative work while ensuring the safety and harmony of aerial performance.
Instructors:
Jean-François Faber – Human Rigging Specialist
With 25 years of experience in the world of human rigging, Jean-François Faber is a leading figure in the performing arts and circus world. Specializing in the design, installation, and operation of human rigging systems, he masters the subtle balance between technical and artistic demands.
Throughout his career, Jean-François has collaborated with world-renowned artists, contributing to shows that push the boundaries of what is possible. Whether for large-scale ambitious productions or more intimate creations, his expertise ensures the safety of the artists while enhancing their creative vision.
Jean-François Faber is more than a technician: he is the invisible dancer who helps the artist shine on stage.
Marie-Michelle Faber – Human Performance Specialist
With over 25 years on the world’s greatest stages, she 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 dedicates herself to pushing the boundaries of the possible, exploring new ways of storytelling through the body and technology.
While Jean-François Faber ensures safety and technical precision, her expertise lies in fluidity, aesthetics, and creativity. Together, they weave a dialogue that blends the rigor of rigging systems with the poetic momentum of the artists. Their complementarity allows them to transform ideas into motion, guiding artists so that each gesture becomes an emotion shared with the audience.