meet Duo Filamental

Duo Filamental, composed of Rachel Webberman and Hayley Larson, is a dynamic trapeze duo based out of San Francisco and Chicago, respectively. Friends since they were undergraduates, they initially connected through social dance (swing, blues, and contra) and continue to bring the tension and energy of that movement to their acts. They merge their curiosity and joy of research to make work that is playful, sincere, and dynamic.

Rachel (flyer) holds two MAs and is currently pursuing a PhD in ancient Mesopotamian archaeology at UC Berkeley. Her current research focuses on spectacle and acrobatics in the ancient world. As a performer she gravitates towards partnerwork; her favorite things, in both academics and circus, are research and collaboration. 

Hayley (porter) has been dancing since childhood, and holds a BA in dance from Oberlin College. Though she came to circus through aerial dance, she quickly found interest in a variety of disciplines. She now thinks of herself as a generalist, and when not catching Rachel she flys solo with Cyr wheel, hand balancing, and aerial fabric.

Since forming Duo Filamental in 2016, Hayley and Rachel are proud to have been part of the cast of Brave Space (Aloft Circus Arts), with their most recent credit being the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in summer 2022. They now spend as much time flying across the country to see each other as they do training! CV available upon request.