Soaring Success: Flying Royals Elevate Iowa State Fair

A Unique Performance from the Sky

Imagine getting a bird's eye view of the Iowa State Fair, zipping through the air with the wind whipping across your face. From their trapeze rigging thirty-five feet up, that's the view April and Justin Chodkowski have seen six times a day. As the troupe leaders of the Flying Royals, this husband and wife duo brings an extraordinary performance to the fairgrounds, captivating audiences with their aerial acrobatics.

The Flying Royals are a traveling group of elite trapeze artists hailing from across the Americas and Europe. April and Justin Chodkowski, known as Catcher and Flier since 2009, started their journey together in the world of trapeze. It wasn't until 2018 that the Flying Royals were officially formed. Their formation came after a chance encounter during a stint with La Nouba, a now-closed Cirque du Soleil show at Disney Springs in Florida. During that time, they were approached by someone who wished to revive the criss-crossing trapeze act that is now synonymous with the Flying Royals.

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Watching performers zip through the air, seemingly exempt from the laws of gravity, is impressive enough on its own. However, what makes the Flying Royals' act even more remarkable is the fact that an act of this caliber has not been performed for over twenty years. The unique rigging used by the Flying Royals doesn’t come with a YouTube tutorial. Instead, the couple is pioneering new tricks and sequences simply by trying them out.

According to the Royals’ website, the criss-crossing trapeze act was originally performed by the Great Otari Troupe in the 1950s. It was later revived in the mid-1990s by the Caballero family but then faded into obscurity. The Flying Royals brought it back to life with a modern twist, wowing audiences with never-before-seen tricks.

“We share the airspace as we complete these quasi-traditional maneuvers, but a lot of them are stuff we’ve completely come up with on our own,” April Chodkowski said. “We’re the only act of its kind, so you can only see them here on our rig.”

While trapeze is the main focus of their performance at the Iowa State Fair, the Flying Royals are multi-talented. They also showcase juggling, slack wire balancing, aerial silks, and acrobatics at various events across the United States. April Chodkowski estimated that each show at the fair attracts around 1,500 people. With six shows a day for eleven days, the Iowa State Fair becomes one of the largest audiences the Flying Royals have ever performed for.

“This is our first time in Des Moines, and it’s absolutely the best fair we’ve been to yet,” Justin Chodkowski said. “The biggest, the most amount of people. It’s a little difficult out here because of the weather, but the amount of people surrounding us and watching our shows just puts it all to rest as much as possible.”

The Flying Royals continue to captivate audiences with their daring performances, blending tradition with innovation. Their presence at the Iowa State Fair adds a unique and thrilling dimension to the event, making it a must-see for anyone looking for an unforgettable experience.