Malaysian aerial art performer takes her passion to new heights

‘Aerial is not for everyone, but I’ll try my best to make it for everybody,’ says Lim, pictured in her home studio in Petaling Jaya. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong

Last November, Charmaine Lim became the first Malaysian aerial artiste to win best Instructor/Overall Performance at the 2021 South West Aerial Championship in Britain.

Aerial art (a range of physical disciplines involving the use of apparatuses hung from a rig) has long been regarded as another form of yoga to Malaysians, but it commands recognition on the international stage.

On that cold winter day in November, Lim’s routine on the silk hammock set to composer Hanz Zimmer’s Time impressed the panel judges at Barnfield Theatre in Exeter.

But her journey of success in the competition was nothing but smooth sailing.

The Petaling Jaya-based instructor beat 200 other online video audition submissions for a spot in the final competing circle. “When I got the email from the competition committee in Britain I couldn’t believe it at first. I thought for sure I was going to be rejected but lo and behold it was an invitation to join the competition in England,” recalls Lim in a recent interview at her studio.

“In the beginning I would’ve never thought I’d make it this far with my skills,” she admits.

Lim followed her dream to take part in a British aerial art competition last November, and she emerged with the best Instructor/Overall Performance prize. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong

“But with 10 years of consistent training and experience I finally felt confident enough to put myself (in a competition) and represent Malaysia internationally.”

Lim had been part of an aerial arts troupe since 2011 and competed regionally at the Airstars Aerial Competition in Bangkok in 2019.

Aerial art is known to Malaysians, with its popularity growing since the mid 2000s. Similar to yoga it is a form of exercise consisting of the aerial hammock, aerial silk, and aerial lyra (a suspended metal hoop).

During a performance, its routines require significant core strength, muscle control, and mental focus. The result is a graceful showcase that looks deceptively effortless to pull off.

A chance to shine

The South West Aerial Championship started in 2019 and is organised by British aerial instructors Phil Burden and Kathy Pearce. As the competition is held in England most of its previous prize winners have been local aerial artistes. This made Lim the only Asian competitor in the adult category last year.

To achieve her dream, Lim had to face the realities of the pandemic situation in Malaysia, which saw several lockdowns enforced. But she was focused and wanted to compete, while following all the international health and travel regulations.

Booking tickets to Britain shortly after Malaysia’s third MCO proved to be a challenge for Lim, especially the fact that she had to travel alone.

“I was so busy preparing the documents needed to fly to Britain and to enter the competition that I didn’t even get much time to train properly for the championship,” says Lim.

Lim reveals she barely had time for intensive training sessions before she left for the British competition. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong

“Thankfully I had a safe journey to Britain, but this was my first time there and I was totally lost.”

Through her first days in London she relied on buses and the kindness of strangers to get her to the competition grounds in Exeter. When she finally stumbled into the Barnfield Theatre she was greeted warmly by Pearce and the rest of the fellow aerial performers. The kindness of these new friends helped her settle in the new environment.

Battling with the cold weather and the new “no-rice” diet, Lim spent a few days training as much as she could for the competition. The anxiety of being in a completely new environment did take its toll on her mental and physical performance during her practise sessions.

Furthermore, the trip back home to Malaysia was also becoming uncertain due to the instability of travel border regulations. Extra precautions had to be made with travelling and accommodation. But as the big day drew near Lim cleared her mind. On competition day, she didn’t want to dwell on the noise around her. She went in to do what she does best, perform.

“The competition experience was amazing!” says Lim.

Performing alone for nearly two pandemic years, she was pumped up to see an audience at the competition venue.

Lim was cheered on by fellow performers as if she was one of their own troupe. The dazzling display of athleticism and sportsmanship inspired Lim greatly. She would have been happy to participate and enjoy the competition. But she outdid herself when she took home the best Instructor/Overall Performance prize for Malaysia.

Today, Lim remains grateful for her experiences, good or bad. She resides in her humble apartment, custom fitted with mountain climbing ropes that hold up her hammocks and hoops. Everything is self-funded.

Without support from an official body of aerial art in Malaysia, Lim and friends have taken the lead to establish some form of support for other aspiring (niche sport/arts) athletes like herself.

“People in Malaysia still see aerial art as a form of dance with ‘extreme’ poses so they don’t see the skill needed to perform such feats. It’s very much a sport.”

With top pole dancers regularly competing in international competitions, and the sport even considered at the Olympics, Lim hopes that aerial art will also gain further recognition, especially in Malaysia.

At present, Lim will continue her mission to train new talent in her aerial art studio, including male dancers.

“Aerial is not for everyone, but I’ll try my best to make it for everybody,” she promises.