North American Association of Flying Effects Directors (NAAFED)

03/01/2017

It's March 1st, which means the Early Bird Registration for TOP Flight 2017 is now officially open — register and reserve your hotel room before June 1st!

TOP Flight Academy, a multi-day workshop session that trains technicians, operators and performers about installing flying systems, operating flying equipment, and conducting flying choreography.

08/12/2016

Another year, another TOP Flight Academy completed.

Thank you all who helped make this year's TOP Flight Basic and TOP Flight Pro a success! We had a diverse crowd join us from all around the world, from Alabama state, Barcelona, and even Dubai. And special thanks to instructor William Ian Auld for teaching both sessions. It was certainly a busy couple of weeks for everyone!

For 2017, we will host TOP Flight Basic from August 2nd — 5th. Registration for next year's academy will open on March 1st, 2017.

We've already made preparations and reserved a block of rooms at the Red Roof Inn in DeKalb. Call the hotel at (815) 758-8661 and reserve your room today before they fill up!

08/06/2016

Day #3 of TOP Flight Basic at the beautiful Kaneland Arts Initiative and everyone is preparing for flight choreography.

07/27/2016

There are still spots available for this year's TOP Flight Academy! This year, we're offering TOP Flight Pro, which features automation and delves into more advanced material not covered in Basic.

TOP Flight Pro will be held from August 8th - 10th.

To learn more about our workshop sessions visit our registration page: http://naafed.com/top-flight-academy-about/register/

08/11/2015

“I think it’s really important, as a performer, to make sure your rigger understands the dynamic forces you’re going to going to put on the system – especially if you’re a circus performer or aerialist – because it can change the forces and strength needed of the materials.” - Kristen Noonan, Performer at Top Flight Academy of 2015

08/07/2015

08/07/2015

Our attendees began learning how to set up systems yesterday after moving our equipment to the Egyptian Theatre. We're happy and humbled to return to this beautiful stage.

08/05/2015

The first day of the 2015 Top Flight Academy has begun, and the afternoon included a rigging lecture from Tracy Nunnally. Looks like we'll fly some people soon!

07/15/2015

Congratulations, Egyptian Theatre for being voted The Best in Live Entertainment and Live Theater in DeKalb County.

Readers of the Daily Chronicle and www.daily-chronicle.com have recognized the Egyptian Theatre once again as being among the finest in DeKalb County.

07/08/2015

Kalen Larson first attended the Top Flight Academy while teaching at Michigan Technological University. Now he'll be one of the academy's featured instructors this year.

Besides working as the current General Manger of Hall Associates Flying Effects, Kalen's qualifications include working as a flying director, a technical director, and a production manager for original shows, such as "Stealing Fire" and "Beautiful: A Cirque-Tale of How the Butterfly Grew Her Wings."

Before majoring in Theatre and Speech Communication at Siena Heights University, Kalen earned his Master of Fine Arts in Technical Production from the The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Join us in the Egyptian Theatre from August 5th - 8th for Kalen Larson's instruction at the 2015 Top Flight Academy. | goo.gl/qd4Rd0

07/07/2015

We are happy and fortunate to welcome William Auld as one of our featured instructors to this year's upcoming Top Flight Academy.

William, a theatre professor at the Kent State University at Tuscarawas, brings over 20 years of experience working in theatre to this year's academy. Before teaching, William earned his MFA in Theatre: Technical Direction from Northern Illinois University, as well as his Masters in Theatre from Bowling Green State University in conjunction with the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in the United Kingdom.

Join us in the Egyptian Theatre from August 5th - 8th for William Auld's instruction at the 2015 Top Flight Academy.

William Ian Auld has been involved in theater - performing, touring and working technically - for the last twenty years and still likes it.