Acrobat on the Quad (By Clara Carter-Klauschie)

Nearly every day at lunchtime, Zavier Shorts is out on the quad, performing and practicing acrobatics. Most Hami students have at one time paused in their daily routine to marvel at this spectacle, recognizing his control, artistry, and talent. These impromptu “shows” have become a remarkable feature of the lunchtime landscape. 

Though Zavier’s acro sessions may have transformed into a somewhat normalized aspect of Hami culture over the course of this year, it's worth shining a light on his unique story. Stopping to quietly observe from across the quad, I’ve always wondered what drives him to practice his craft so consistently. I’ve long been mesmerized by his skill, but lacking in the motivation and confidence to approach. An interview for Muse Magazine was both the perfect excuse and the necessary push to walk about 20 feet from my normal spot and start up a conversation. 

Zavier Shorts

It’s no surprise that Zavier is an AMPA Student, enrolled in the dance program. His interest in gymnastics began at age six, when he became motivated to self-train. Zavier was a fan of the popular family-oriented channel, “Brataley Family,” mentioning that “there were these two sisters that were really good at gymnastics, and they inspired me to start.” After growing his skills and confidence through self-teaching and studying his YouTuber role-models, Zavier began taking classes at the LA School of Gymnastics. He continued with classes for roughly two and a half years, quitting when he discovered that it wasn’t his most central passion.

Zavier explains the root of this decision, saying, “I wanted to do acro-dance instead. So, that's what I’m working towards now.” He describes the role of practice at school in his acro-dance journey, citing the importance of consistency and patience. Zavier quit stretching for a long period and began to work towards getting his flexibility back in his ninth grade year. He sees the dance program at Hamilton as an important aspect of his return to training, mentioning, “I started taking dance class in High school, once I got to ninth grade, so that sparked my interest in gymnastics training again.” Ever since setting this goal, he’s been tumbling roughly every other day and stretching “almost every day” to maximize flexibility. 

Zavier even tailors his wardrobe choices to accommodate acro practice and stretching, explaining that putting on jeans in the morning is essentially choosing to take a day off from stretching. A large part of his routine centers around the cumulative goal of broadening his skill set, fueled by a deep passion for acro. Like so many AMPA students, Zavier thrives in the spotlight, enjoying the performance aspect of his lunchtime practice. While he does love to “show off,” this is merely an added perk on his path of skill development.  

Zavier urges students who are beginners in gymnastics to appreciate their journey, advising, “Be patient with your training because when you’re just starting out it’s very easy to get overly ambitious about it, to the point where you start to be hard on yourself.” He had lofty expectations for skill development following a lengthy training hiatus, soon learning that progress could only be made in incremental steps. Giving advice to those rekindling interest in their sport or art, Zavier explains, “You can’t just jump right into the more advanced stuff, you have to work up to it. You need to start with simple skills.” 

Starting with the simple is a piece of advice that rings true across disciplines, whether or not you choose to boldly tumble across the quad on the daily. Taking a page out of Zavier’s book means putting in the extra hours towards your craft to create something meaningful. Pursuing one’s passions, no matter how lengthy the journey, can provide a priceless sense of clarity and fulfillment. So don’t lie in wait for an outside force to shift your course. The next time you notice Zavier on the quad, let it be your motivation to set out on a consistent journey towards your goals.