“Hi Everyone! My name is Iram Ramirez, I am 22 years old, I’m from Camargo Chihuahua Mexico, I have been an Aerialist for almost 5 years, instructor and choreographer in Alpha Dance Studio for 3 years. I am a student of Business Administration at the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, I speak Spanish and English.
I have competed in the Mexican convention called Expression Dance winning first place in senior category duo and first in Solo Senior category in hoop, and was choreographer for a first place routine category Teens duo and third in Senior category duo.
I was a finalist in the international competition U.S. Aerial 2016 getting a 3rd place in ratings, also I am known as one of the top 6 international aerialists by that international organization of Aerial Dance.
I have taught workshops in different parts of Mexico and the United States as well as in Douglas Arizona at the academy “BB Dancer” in March and in October 2016, I taught workshop in the city of San Jose Costa Rica at the academy Krama Yoga in September 2016 and in Mexicali Baja California Mx at the academy “Danza Vertical” in January 2017.”
Photo: Dani Cisneros Ramirez
1. How did you start aerial silks? What was challenging for you when you just started?
Well, I started aerial silks because I went to an Aerial competition here in Chihuahua Mexico by Expression Dance, and I thought that aerial arts were just for girls, but then I saw 3 guys competing, I was amazed, because they did some strength stuff and I loved it. Then I said to myself that I have to try it and…. Here I am!
At the beginning the most challenging things were all the drops, I used to hate them soooooo much!, but now we are good friends.
2. Do you focus mainly on aerial silks or do you also train with other apparatus? Where do you perform and train?
My favorite apparatus are silks, I love them because you can do a lot of things there, you can play with them, dance with them and you can do a lot of wraps or poses that you also can do in other apparatus, but also I like Lyra (Aerial Hoop), and I train in Alpha Dance Studio, it’s a dance academy here in Camargo and I’ve been there for almost 5 years, I also dance Jazz and Hip Hop (most of the people don’t know that).
3. How is circus scene in Mexico and in the USA in your opinion?
Well for me it’s better in the USA, because more people love to go and watch all the shows and don’t have any problem to pay for them, in Mexico it’s not so popular, because as Mexicans we don’t have the habit of taking time for a circus show and similar stuff.
4. How often and how long do you train?
I teach aerial 10 hours weekly and I train for 5 hours weekly.
Photo: Dani Cisneros Ramirez
5. What are the best exercises to strengthen the shoulders?
There are a lot of them, one is hanging in the lyra and pulling you up with the strength of the shoulders without bending your elbows, and there is another one in silks – doing a Christ pose, and opening and closing the poses, it helps for back strength too.
6. What do you do for a warm-up before the training?
I start from the top, moving my head, shoulders, hands, then go lower to the chest, hips, knees and feet. After the warm-up I stretch my body, legs and back, do splits and middle splits. At the end I warm up in the silks with pulling up and holding, inversions and with more flexibility stuff and then I’m ready to start.
7. How was your flexibility development from the moment you started aerial arts till now?
Which exercises helped you the best in back bending? What tips can you give for anybody who is working on their flexibility?
My improvement was so big, for back bend you have to try to touch your feet with your head, many people think that a good back bend is trying to touch your butt with your head, but if you do this you are just crunching your back and it won’t help a lot, so if you lengthen your back you will see better results and the best advice/tip that I can give you guys is, after a flexibility class or after you were working your flexibility you have to rest, if you don’t rest you will get injury and no one wants that… it’s HORRIBLE!
Photo: Dani Cisneros Ramirez
8. How was your experience at the US Aerials?
How did you prepare your choreography? How were your feelings when you entered the stage and after your performance? What advice would you give to those who would like to participate in the US Aerials?
It was an amazing experience, I loved when, all the people that don’t even know me, were clapping and yelling, when I was in the scenario, it was so special for me.
I did my own choreography with some personal moves, I started choreographing in my head, then I did it on silks.
Well I wasn’t scared or nervous because all of us had a rehearsal before the show, so I think I was more nervous in the rehearsal than in the show. After my performance I felt so happy for me, because I did it so well, all the people were yelling and clapping, then all my friends and family, who saw my performance online were texting me a lot of positive things so, I was so happy.
My advice is… Do it! Try it! Never be afraid, and you have to know always that we are learning all the time, every day, so if you don’t win, don’t be sad, just raise your head and train to be better than you, but the most important thing is, always be humble, that will help you a lot.
9. Where one can book you for a show or visit your classes and workshops?
You can book a workshop, private classes and performance via e-mail: iramramirezads@hotmail.com or you can send me a message via Instagram or Facebook. You can check my work on Social Media and follow me. If you guys have a question or need an advice, I would be so glad to answer all those questions via DM.
This was my performance at the US Aerial, check it!
Featured photos: Dani Cisneros Ramirez
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