Niff Nicholls

I’m so stoked that the wonderful Amy of @willow.circus.works and @j.aerialropes are partnering with me to supply a few trapezes you can purchase for my Trapeze immersion @freqflyers Aerial Dance Festival this July. You can also get FREE SHIPPING on any CUSTOM trapeze you pre-order by June 15th! Interested? Just register for “From Out of Nothing” and I’ll send you the discount codes and all the info to order! 🎉 LINK IN MY BIO! I’ll be teaching a daily 3 hour immersion week-1 (link in bio!) ⭐️ 🌟 💫 ABOUT: FROM OUT OF NOTHING: This TRAPEZE immersion is designed to guide students in discovering their own shapes and pathways through a blend of technique, practical tools, and theory. I will share methods I have developed in my own practice—alongside theory-based frameworks—to spark new ideas and expand what feels possible. The week will start off diving into some of my favorite sequences and transitions, and we will start to see a fresh approach to shape-making and maybe even some dynamic flow. Let’s invite new ways of thinking, connecting, and moving on trapeze! Later on in the week, rather than focusing solely on individual skills, we’ll explore how we move between them. Together, we’ll investigate the transitions—the in-betweens, the unexpected moments, and the exciting new pathways that connect shapes and spark discovery. Oh and yes, we will learn some spinning! @freqflyers #ffadf2026 PHOTO by @yinetgomez_photography

Everyone always is asking me about my trapeze so here are your answers: I have many, and it depends on what I am working on. My go to recently is my @apparatus_circuslab ropes (first slide) with a bar made from fight or flight. I have a few trapezes from apparatus circus lab, and I love they can customize the ropes for each individual- I have a few different lengths/thicknesses. I also love my @leo.ropes trapeze. I have one trapeze I recovered myself and it is no where half as pretty as his work.) I also love my bar by an amazing welder who made a custom bar for my shackles, my friend @blaisegoldman . I have lots of trapezes with cotton rope with steel cables most from @fightorflightent (they no longer make trapezes!) or @duorosetrapeze (custom rope thickness) @doncarson38 Carbon fiber bars,-I switch up my bars and ropes because they have bar ends, wider or smaller, heavier, lighter etc. I like a wider bar- but that’s just me! I find some combinations work better for some skills, and I like to make sure my choreo can work across multiple types of trapezes. I advise you to try out a few kinds before you buy, put swivels on your ropes, and inspect your connections regularly.

Link in my bio / /theniff

Just a versions of a sequence I posted in March with a different ending. Keeping it here for future reference. #hipkeyentry #nifftrapeze

Fun little trapeze sequence from this week that I ALSO taught on Sling! I may like sling better. #nifftrapeze #dancetrapeze

Aerial Dance Festival 2026 Faculty Artist Spotlight ✨ We are thrilled to welcome Niff Nicholls @theniff to the Festival for the first time this year! Trapeze artists - don't miss Niff's immersion (15 hours of trapeze excellence!) Week A (July 27-31) From Out of Nothing: Trapeze Pathways 9am-12pm daily. Ages 16+ Learn More & Sign Up through our bio link. This immersion is designed to guide students in discovering their own shapes and pathways through a blend of technique, practical tools, and theory. Niff will share methods she has developed in her own practice—alongside theory-based frameworks—to spark new ideas and expand what feels possible. Niff Nicholls (she/her) has been coaching aerial arts for over two decades, specializing in progressions, technique, and innovative choreography across a wide range of aerial apparatuses. Known for her “aerial brain,” Niff has a gift for creating and envisioning unique pathways and sequences that challenge and inspire. Niff is the founder and Director of Secret Circus in Philadelphia, Pa. She has over 20 years of teaching and performing experience, from artists to producer to rigger. #trapeze #trapezeartist #trapezeskills #aerialist #aerialdance #aerialfestival #aerialdancefestival #frequentflyersaerialdance #bouldercolorado #visitboulder

Just seeing where it leads me. This is what things look like before I developed them- just feel and find and see what happens. I polished and that’s ok. Keeper or no? #nifftrapeze #dancetrapeze #secretcircusphilly

Very into this fun entry to martini from some very #NiffTrapeze staples. Working on an act 😬 and I’ll definitely be using some of these goodies. Whatcha think? Also can’t stop crying & jamming out listening to @noahkahanmusic #sorrynotsorry #dancetrapeze OH! I Have 2 spots open in my CHOREO LAB class starting MAY 4th!!

Brought this one of the archives! Still super fun! Messed around with lots of new exit ideas but my hands were pooped after a week off. Still feeling the glow of getting to be apart of @trapezeovercolorado ~ I loved meeting old friends and making some pretty stellar new ones! ❤️ #nifftrapeze #dancetrapeze #phillycircus #secretcircusphilly

I’ve been challenging a few of my students with pathway theory recently and this one has so many in one! I love how many choices here can lead you right back to the same spot. I also found a little theory staple Im going to be using forever. I love those lessons! ~Want to learn more about how I think of pathways and deep dive into recovering them for yourself? Join me for this year’s Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Festival in late July in Boulder Co! #nifftrapeze #dancetrapeze #secretcircusphilly

Playing with the “Myra” split (shape stolen from the awesome @myras.a.mess ) and decided to try going into this faux croc shape instead of my usual arm-breaker bar roll I usually do out of this exit - all thanks to seeing @taravlovise use the exit in a similar way for a real deal croc entry. #trapezetheory #nifftrapeze #secretcircusphilly #phillycircus

I’ve been having so much fun gathering some of my favorite ideas and mashing them together. Want to mash ideas together with me? I’m teaching a 15 HOUR trapeze intensive @freqflyers aerial dance festival in Colorado this July for intermediate and up level artists week A! #nifftrapeze #dancetrapeze #ffadf #phillycircus #secretcircusphilly