Bet You Didn’t Know: Coach Michael!

Hello everyone and happy Sunday!

This week’s interview is with Coach Michael! 

What is your name, position, and how long have you been working at Akrosphere?

Michael Edwards – Coach, Akme Instant Circus Company Co-Director, Akrosphere Camp Director, and Ace/Ayco certified trainer. I have been coaching at Akrosphere for about three years.

What is your apparatus of choice?

Duo Trapeze all day every day!

What is your background?

My background is circus and aerial arts. I started cirque when I was 11 years old. I actually was drawn to juggling first, although in the program I started in you did everything. I learned to juggle three balls in one day and clubs in one week because it was something that just clicked for me.  I started because my parents signed me up for a summer camp.  

What was your first circus job?

My first circus job was over 17 years ago. I did some juggling for an event and I just loved it.

Any difficulties in your training/working?

The biggest difficulty has been my leg injury. I was in my late twenties when my doctors found out I had serious damage to my hip due to tennis as a teenager. It’s been a huge struggle for me, however it’s the main reason I have focused on coaching and being the best coach I can be.

Despite difficulties, why do you love it?

Circus arts has so many amazing parts to it. It’s hard to just say one. I guess I love circus arts because it challenges you, mentally and physically. It inspires you to be a better version of yourself everyday. In circus and aerial arts there’s always a way to improve, there’s always something new to discover or learn, and you can express who you are. Cirque praises you for being the person you are no matter how weird that is!

Words of encouragement for our students?

Dude circus is hard! Work hard and commit to it. Your hard work will show. There’s no limit to what you can do if you work hard enough. Also, ask your coaches how to improve. If you speak up we can help you be the best circus artist you can be!

If you’ve been keeping up with these interviews, I feel like there is a common theme with how hard circus is, but that if you continue to try and work hard, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. I feel so cheesy as I write this, but it’s so true! Coach Michael couldn’t have said it any better. Next week you’ll get to know a bit more about Coach Sarah! 

Catch you next week!

Mar