A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hanging from two ropes or cables, used by acrobats high above the ground in a circus. Trapeze artists swing through the air, performing flips, twists, and catches that make audiences gasp. Some work alone on a single trapeze, building momentum to perform spectacular tricks. Others work in pairs or groups, swinging from separate trapezes and flying through the air to catch each other's hands or wrists mid-flight.

The trapeze was invented in 1859 by a French acrobat named Jules Léotard (who also gave his name to the tight-fitting garment acrobats wear). Before his innovation, circus performers mainly worked on the ground. Léotard's flying trapeze act changed circus performance forever, adding a thrilling dimension of height and danger.

Modern trapeze artists train for years to develop the strength, timing, and courage their performances require. They practice over safety nets, but real performances happen high above the circus floor. Today, some gyms offer trapeze classes where regular people can experience the thrill of swinging through the air, but without the death-defying heights of professional circus performers.