Aerial Hammock (Sling)

Cradled poses, rolls, wraps, and flowing transitions in a fabric loop.

Usually solo.

Showcase rather than a governed sport.

Global studio practice.

The hammock's closed loop makes it more supportive and beginner-accessible than open-tail silks, but it still supports advanced aerial choreography.

The aerial hammock — also called an aerial sling — is made from a single length of fabric whose two ends are rigged to the same point, so the material hangs as a doubled loop that cradles the body like a swing or hammock. Because the fabric is already looped, it is generally more forgiving than two-tail aerial silks: the sling supports the body more readily, which makes it a common entry point for newcomers and the apparatus of choice for gentler, flowing sequences, restorative "aerial yoga," and expressive contemporary aerial dance.

Artists use the pocket of the sling to sit, lie, invert, roll, and flow through shapes, and more advanced work adds wraps, beats, and controlled drops similar to those on silks. Its accessibility and the sculptural way the fabric drapes the body have made the hammock popular in cabaret, wellness, and stage contexts alike, and it sits within the same contemporary aerial-arts family as aerial silks and the aerial hoop.