DEPARTMENTS

Grace Against Gravity

May/June 2012

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Grace Against Gravity

Photo: Toni Gauthier

Using swaths of nylon tricot material to suspend herself, sophomore Alison Ge strikes a double-arm flag pose during a winter quarter aerial fabrics showcase. Spurred by student interest, Stanford Outdoor Education has offered classes in aerial fabrics—a circus-arts form that has grown in popularity in recent years—since 2008. Students come from a variety of backgrounds: Some are gymnasts or dancers (Ge has a background in figure skating), other are wrestlers or rock climbers. And some have no athletic background at all—they just come to hang out.

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