The ONE SHOW FOUNDATION
ABOUT
Founded in early 2024, the ONE SHOW FOUNDATION is a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards of safety and excellence in aerial performance. With a deep respect for the dedication and rigorous preparation required for each refined movement, from precise rotations and dynamic lifts to fluid bends, the ONE SHOW FOUNDATION is committed to fully supporting performers, aerialists, rigging specialists, and technical crews. Through robust education, training, mentoring, and community engagement, we provide extensive resources to ensure that performers, students, and interns are thoroughly prepared and well-equipped to succeed both onstage and behind the scenes, cultivating excellence in every facet of performance.
THE MISSION
Our ONE SHOW FOUNDATION mission is to provide financial assistance to students, trainees, performers, and backstage crew in the fields of aerial arts, dance, and suspension navigation, thereby supporting the acquisition of necessary permits, licenses, and technical skills. These funds ensure that the recipients will then possess the qualifications and expertise required to operate safely and professionally within the performing arts sector.
In furtherance of our ONE SHOW FOUNDATION mission, we co-developed the Performer Flying Systems Guidelines to establish standardized industry safety practices for aerial performances. These guidelines have been formally reviewed, approved, and adopted as a national standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Board of Standards Review, ensuring compliance and safety protocols across the United States.
THE NEED
In 2013, a 31-year-old French acrobat catastrophically fell 28 meters during a show in Las Vegas when her safety cable detached due to an issue with its pulley mechanisms. This incident, though preventable, highlights the importance of strict safety protocols for performers and crew alike. According to the Wall Street Journal, our aerial performance industry’s injury rate stands at 56.2 per 100 workers which is four times higher than that of a professional sports team and five times that of high-risk industries such as construction and firefighting.
The investment related to acquiring proficiency in suspension software, validating skills, ensuring comprehensive training for both performers and flyers, and understanding the specific engineering of each rig are significant. The lack of structured vocational education and the failure to properly certify competencies have led to incidents of injury and fatality in an industry where precision is paramount and the margin for error is exceedingly narrow.
