Functioning of the Cyr Wheel
The Cyr wheel, a captivating modern circus act, has taken the world by storm since its inception in 2003 by Canadian circus performer Daniel Cyr. This versatile device, continually pushed to its limits by performers, has become a staple in circus performances and a favourite among a fringe sports subculture known as "wheel gymnastics."
The Cyr wheel is an aluminum ring, used by performers to execute acrobatic spins and inversions. Balancing on the balls of your feet is an essential step in learning to use the wheel, with the basic posture being to stand straight up, arms extended, and hold the wheel slightly forward in front of your body.
The wheel's development can be traced back to the 1990s, when Daniel Cyr conceived the idea for its creation. The first mass-produced mono wheel, the closest predecessor of the Cyr wheel, was invented in post-war East Germany by Adalbert von Rekowski in the early 1950s. The Rhönrad, also known as the German wheel, was created by Otto Feick in Germany in 1925 and enjoyed a period of wild popularity between the two world wars.
The Cyr wheel offers several basic starts for performers, including the skate start, wheel-to-toe start, and roll-by start. For the more advanced, video tutorials can be found on instructor Sam Tribble's YouTube channel.
The International Wheel Gymnastics Federation (IRV) was founded in 1995 to continue the German tradition of competitive wheeled acrobatics. The Cyr wheel was included as a demonstration sport in the 2011 IRV world championships and as an official competitive discipline in the 2013 championships. The rules for Cyr Wheel gymnastics were updated and expanded for the June 2015 championships in Ligano, Italy.
The Cyr wheel is a device that caters to both beginners and professionals with the same apparatus. There are more than 500 wheel sports clubs worldwide, including nearly a dozen in the United States. For those interested in trying both the German Wheel and Cyr Wheel, contact the IRV member association in your country.
One of the most notable moments in the history of the Cyr wheel was when Daniel Cyr won the silver medal for a stunning routine on the Cyr wheel at the "Circus of Tomorrow World Festival" in Paris in 2003. Since then, hundreds of amateur and professional acrobats, gymnasts, and street performers worldwide have incorporated the Cyr wheel into their acts.
Doris Humphrey, an innovative American dancer, was possibly the first modern performer to incorporate a mono wheel apparatus into her act in 1923. Valérie Inertie has assembled a history of the wheel and its predecessors on her website, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolution of this captivating circus act.
The Cyr wheel continues to captivate audiences and inspire performers, offering a unique blend of acrobatics, dance, and artistry. Its popularity shows no signs of waning, as more and more performers discover the thrill of spinning and inverting within the large aluminum ring.
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