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well first you can start at a trapeze school in nyc, each class is 2 hours long and ranges from 47-75 $ and nope its definitly not to late to learn! its kinda pricy but u learn a lot and its soo much fun and the instructors are very nice, when u have done a few classes you will have some experience and then u can go to a trapeze collage if your really interested! oh and u asked what it takes well really all it is is ambition and remember practice makes perfect. There are many different trapeze tricks u must learn and for some you have to be pretty flexible and you must be aceptionally strong. well hope i helped! keep me updated by e-mailing me on your sucess! hope i helped =)

oh and they i dont hink they hav trapeze on the west coast sry, but u can always try to travel to ny ; )

It is not too late to learn, although it may be too late to join a truly elite circus such as Cirque Du Soleil, as they prefer to hire performers at or reaching the peak of their physical prime. However, don't let that discourage you, as there are plenty of teachers willing to instruct students of any age, assuming that they have an eagerness to learn and determination.

For flying trapeze in particular, sheer nerve is the most important thing, followed closely by good control of one's body (which develops into muscular strength and flexibility with more training, but doesn't necessarily begin that way) and an ability to follow instructions.

There are many flying trapeze rigs throughout the country, but if you wanted to start out less ambitiously you might try static trapeze or aerial dance trapeze, which are both lower to the ground and less dangerous cousins of the flying trapeze that can develop all the skills necessary without risking your life!

Schools on both coasts: Circus Center of San Francisco and Trapeze School New York

there are good teachers all over the country. I know of several in the Bay Area. Mostly, you need many of the same physical attributes of a gymnast or dancer. Flexibility, balance and strength. If you can hold your own in a dance class, or hold a hand stand, you can probably learn to work the trapeze. But the training will be bitter.

You might want to check out some circus arts schools, like l'École nationale de cirque, in Montréal: http://www.enc.qc.ca/en/index.asp

I would assume that physical strength, fitness, and a good sense of balance would be essential.