Amber Monson glides through the air, twenty feet from the floor, suspended from the rafters by only two long strands of fabric. There is no safety net.
She wraps herself in intricate knots, stretching and twisting into seemingly impossible positions, then plunging toward the ground in a death-defying roll with the silk curling wildly through the air.
Known as “aerial silks,” it’s a mesmerizing combination of grace, core strength, flexibility, and athleticism right out of Cirque du Soleil.
Monson, a self-described adrenaline junkie and rock climber from Atlanta, took up silks several years ago when she found it difficult to get to the mountains regularly.
“I love the mystique of fabric,” she says. “I come out and play with the silks on the ground and people think this is just a scarf performance. Then I wrap myself, my feet go off the ground and I go. I build the drama and intensity with teases and surprises. ”
She performs her routines at music concerts, conventions, fashion shows, sporting events, special events, and nightclub openings. Because of the physical demands, a silks routine rarely lasts more than 15 minutes.
Monson is dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle of nutrition, exercise, and mental fitness. A graduate of Georgia Tech, she’s an avid reader who does not own a television. She prefers endeavors such as rock climbing and aerial silks since they’re both physically and mentally challenging.
