Former New England Center for Circus Arts student Samantha Pitard was one of the eight circus acrobats that fell at a Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey circus show in Providence.
She’s the only performer released from the hospital so far.
The Guardian has an interview with her.
Elsie Smith, NECCA co-founder and Artistic Director, said doing aerial arts is like driving a car. ”You learn slowly, and know that there is danger in what you are doing. There are bumps and bruises and fender benders along the way, and every once in a while there is an accident like a pile up on the interstate that gets a lot of attention.”
She says some aerialists are trained to fall, “but this typically happens when there is a net or mat that makes landing precarious. Landing in a net takes training. Most aerialists are trained with safety lines and spotters, so they are trained to hold one, not to fall.”
“I don’t have the answer to why there were not extra safety wires for the rig,” she said. “The performers themselves seemed to have some safeties that attached them to the frame, but I don’t know why there were not extra back ups on the system.”
But, she says, the aerial arts are safer than driving. “Just like most people go back to driving after an accident, aerialists will usually get back to the air after a fall because they have assessed the risks and are comfortable with them.”
Pitard said just that in her interview. She hopes to return to performing soon.
Smith says “I wish Samantha and her co-workers the best of wishes as they go back to work. Performing aerials gets in your blood and going back to the air is like a NASCAR driving going back to racing. One accident is probably not enough to make you stop loving it! “
