LOCATION UPDATE

When: Thursday – Sunday, November 9 – 12, 2023

Where: Fairmont Private School 

Address: 1557 W Mable St, Anaheim, CA 92802

Competition will be on Nov. 10 & 11, 2023.
Workshops, Auction, Scholarship Audition and others will be spread out during the entire four (4) days. 

A detailed schedule will be posted as the festival closes in. 

There are be as many as 26 categories and divisions clustered according to age, discipline and skill available as a competition entry.  Click here for the complete Category List.

All apparatuses are welcome. However, the 3 fundamental aerial apparatuses will be their own categories. Any other apparatuses will fall under our OPEN category.

1. Aerial Tissu aka Silks, Fabric, Chiffon, Ribbon
2. Aerial Hoop aka Lyra
3. Single or Double Point Trapeze; and
4. Other standard and inventive apparatus

Novice:  Any person who, on November 1 of the event year, has had aerial arts training of up to one (1) year or 145 hours of training.   

Amateur: Any person who has not received compensation as a result of any aerial performance or for instruction. 

Semi-Professional: One who received compensation as a result of up to 3 – 5 events in a year, whether for instruction OR performance.

Professional: One who, whether intermittently or regularly receives compensation in more than 5 events/ year for either instruction or performance

Check out our Registration page for step by step instructions. See you there!

Choose between 2 packages, our BASIC and our FULL PASS.

• Basic: $150 (until Oct. 10, 2023)
  • Participation in one division
• Full Pass: $215 (until Oct. 10, 2023)      EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $175 (until Aug. 1, 2023)
  • Participation in one division + 1 Workshop +  Souvenir T-Shirt + 1 Audience Ticket* + Swag Bag
  • *Audience Ticket is limited to the day/time of your participant’s scheduled appearance.
• Basic w/ Late Fee: $200 (Oct. 11 –  31, 2023)
  • Participation in one division
• Any additional entry is $75 each.

SPECIAL PROMOTION for schools, if you bring more than 5 students, you will receive 10% CASH BACK

Generally, we do not entertain refunds.  However, for application fees, refunds are only allowed within one (2) weeks of your purchase.  If for any reason beyond these period, you are not able to participate in any way, you may transfer the payment to another participant.  Alternatively, we can apply your payment to the following year, with fees and administrative costs deducted.  To request a refund of your application fee, please notify us in writing via email

YES! If you want to compete in hoop as well as tissu, go for it! If you want to compete in a group piece in addition to your solo piece, the more the merrier! There’s no limit to how many categories you want to join.

For any additional entry, you only have to pay $75.

Please Click Here for In-Depth Insights Regarding our Judging Criteria

Since the first WCAA Festival in 2013, we have taken the judging system seriously.  It is our priority that our judging criteria be fair and competent and aimed to promote safety and awareness in the aerial arts community.

The criteria for judging will be based on technical skills, choreography and transitional interpretation, artistic elements and overall interpretation of the act as it relates to musicality, rhythm and dynamics.  The judging will be as follows:

Technical & Execution:  60% :::  Choreography: 20%  ::::  Artistry & Presentation: 20%
Total Score: 100

Consistent with our commitment to safety, the first, and primary judging criteria is Technique.  A judge is able to recognize if a contestant has “shortcut” the system, by displaying a degree of difficulty that is beyond one’s abilities.

Please note that your acts must include the following compulsory moves:

• NOVICE:  Basic/ Standard/ Universal Footlocks; Stand Alone Single Drop/ Roll/ Dive (no multiple, double or consecutive); Basic Entrances to Wraps and Inversions
• AMATEUR: Straddle Climbs; at least one (1) Roll, Drop or Dive; Flexibility; Static and Momentum; and Strength
• PROFESSIONAL/ SEMI: There is no limit provided that the contestant can safely and confidently execute the skills.

The panel consists of three (3) judges, carefully selected based on their master credentials as teachers/educators and as professional aerial artist.   One is disqualified to judge if he/she has or is a coach to a contestant, excluding workshop instructors.

Compliance of competition rules is strictly observed.   Any non-compliant action shall be penalized against the contestant’s score regardless of the wrongdoer’s knowledge/ignorance of the rules.   Noncompliance in the following areas shall result in as much as a 10 point score deduction:

• Costume compliance (including hair accessories)
• Duration of act
• Any presence of props
• Others as noted in the Judging Criteria webpage (that may be deemed unsafe, including entanglement)

If there is a tie, the score for the technical criteria shall prevail. The judges are required to score according to movements that are above the ground.  To ensure uniformity and objectivity of judging, all judges are provided with judging score guidelines (see Judging Criteria webpage)

Final scores shall comprise of the judges score, less any deductions

The fundamental categories (Silks – Lyra – Trapeze) shall have at least 3 contestants per age group.

Click Here for the Competition List of Categories and Divisions

If the required number of entrants have not been met, the organizer will make a judgment call to either move the applicant to the nearest category/ division by age, apparatus and status or open the category based on emerging necessity.

We shall adhere to the recommendations of our State and Federal COVID-19 Protocols.  Currently, testing is not required, however this may be subject to change.

Aerial Arts poses many risks including slips and falls that may result in injury or death. The organization prioritizes in safety and shall enforce any and all precautions and safety measures in order to make the event a safe place.  Mat is required.  Contestants should only perform skills that they have mastered.   If for any reason, any part of your act is considered unsafe (including any resulting entanglement), the organization has the right to end your act in order to prevent any or potential injury. Additionally, all contestants, performers and guest artists are required to sign a Release of Liability form.

Since 2013, one of the highlights of the WCAAF is the Culminating Concert that features performances by 1st place winners and last year’s 1st place overall winner.  Also included are group pieces that are put together by all participants during the choreography session scheduled on Sunday.  This process induces participants to get to know each other and work together.  Schools and coaches can also prepare in advance, a short routine for their group to present, in lieu of the collaborative grouping.  The Culminating Showcase is normally scheduled a few hours after the Awards ceremony on Sunday.  

Please check back. We shall keep everyone posted and will be announcing updates on this website as well as in our newsletters and social media

Each category will have an award consisting of a trophy/ medal and more from our sponsors.  We also have prize money for the Top 3 Overall Winners and *NEW* the Duo/Group Act Cash Prize as well. In addition, the Overall Winner will be the featured guest artist at the subsequent WCAAF.

All participants regardless of whether they are contestants or choreography artists shall be provided with participation medals, souvenir T-shirt, swag bag, and a printed/ online souvenir program. Only FULL PASS contestants are also provided with 1 Free Workshop and 1 Free audience seat. However, everyone has access to all activities including the audition for Aerial Arts America’s scholarship program.

Aerial Arts America is also raising funds and gathering sponsors for non-monetary prizes.  Information on how to get involved or donate can be found in our Sponsor/ Donor Link 

1. Sonesta Anaheim Resort 1915 S. Manchester Avenue Anaheim, CA 92802 (3.4 miles) Group Rate: $169./per night De Luxe Double, 4 occupancy (*Breakfast for 2 guests only) Deadline: October 10. 
   Event Name/ Code: Aerial Arts America
2. Ayres Costa Mesa 325 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Group Rate: $139, plus tax, which includes breakfast.Deadline: October 10