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A Risley or Risley act (also antipode or antipodism) is any circus acrobalance posture where the base person is lying supine, supporting one or more flyers with hands, feet and/or other parts of the body; spinning a person or object using only one's feet.

The act is named after Richard Risley Carlisle (1814–1874) who developed this kind of act in the United States.^[1]

Risleys can be separated into three general categories of skills:

Skills that are based with the hands
Skills that are based with the feet
Other

References

^ "Risley act", Merriam-Webster.com. (subscription required)

v t e Circus skills
Acrobatics, balance, and contortion	Acrobalance Adagio Aerial hoop Aerial silk Aerial straps Balance board Chair acrobatics Chinese pole Cloud swing Contortion Corde lisse Cradle Cyr wheel Hair hang Hand to hand Human pyramid Perch Risley Rolling globe Roman ladders Russian bar Russian swing Slacklining Slackwire Spanish web Tightrope Trapeze Flying Static Trick riding
Juggling and object manipulation	Bullwhip Cigar box manipulation Contact juggling Diabolo Hat manipulation Twirling Baton Hoop Plate Fire performance Fire breathing Fire eating Firewalking Toss juggling
Vaulting	Equestrian vaulting Human cannonball Teeterboard Trampoline
Other	Animal trainer Lion taming Clown Circus clown Globe of death Human firecracker Ringmaster Strongman Target girl Wheel of Death
Related	Circus school Roustabout Sideshow Flea circus
Category Commons

See also

References