How it’s done
Start facing each other with both hands joined and the base in a bent-knee stance. The flyer steps onto one of the base's thighs, lifts the other leg and places that foot behind the base's neck. Both partners lean away into a counterbalance, with the flyer's lower leg straight and the base staying low. The base supports the raised leg with one hand while the partners release their remaining hand grip and open their arms; the flyer can arch backwards, or take the hand grip again for a deeper backbend. To finish, the flyer returns upright, rejoins both hands and removes the foot from behind the neck before stepping down to the floor.
Before you begin
A stable Counter-balance face-to-face and a controlled step-up onto the base's thigh. The flyer needs enough hip mobility to place the raised foot without pulling on the base's neck.
Tricks to learn first
Safety notes
Avoid sudden pulling or pressure on the base's neck when placing or removing the raised foot. Use a spotter for the hand releases and backbend, as a slipping support foot can send the flyer backwards towards the floor.
Circus arts involve a significant risk of injury. Always train under qualified supervision with appropriate safety equipment. Information on this site is for reference only and is not a substitute for professional instruction. See our Terms.
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How it progresses
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What should you train before this trick?
Share a drill or conditioning exercise that helps unlock Counter-balance with foot behind catcher neck.
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