Located two blocks south of Canal Street, right by the river, is the Trapeze School. You can take a group or an individual trapeze lesson. The prices vary. The lessons are the cheapest on a weekday morning. The most expensive lesson is an individual class at $65 per hour.

Are there any restrictions?
You have to be at least six years old to participate. I'm ten years old now.

How was it?
The trapeze was amazing. It felt like floating in air! I thought it was scary to climb up the ladder because it looked unstable. Halfway up, I saw that just a small rope tied the ladder to a pole, but it didn't come loose during my lesson.

When you get up the ladder, they hook your harness to a cable so you don't fall. The harnesses are very tight. It is a relief at the end to take them off!

First you learn the arm hang. I thought it was very easy to do this. If the teachers think you're good enough at the arm hang and you're a boy, they will teach you a trick called bird's nest. If you're good and you're a girl, they will teach you a trick called split. There's a practice bar close to the ground where you learn these things.

Then it's high in the air you go! I was good at the advanced position, too, so they let me do a catch! This means I got flung through the air. A coach caught my arms, and I caught his arms at the same time! I also enjoyed learning with my uncle. He was a beginner, too, so it was comforting to know he was going to have the same experience.

Bottom line
This was a very good experience for me, and I will remember it for a very long time. I would not recommend this to someone with weak legs or arms, but if you're healthy, I would say: "Go for it!"

For more information:
You can call the school at 917-797-1872 or visit www.trapezeschool.com.