ACRO

Acro combines dance technique with strength, conditioning, balance, and flexibility to help dancers become stronger and more versatile performers. Build strength, flexibility, control, and confidence while safely progressing through acrobatic skills such as cartwheels, walkovers, back handsprings, aerials, and more.

In addition to developing exciting acrobatic skills, Acro training can improve overall dance technique, including leaps, turns, coordination, and body control.

PLACEMENT POLICY

MC Dance offers a full Acro program for various ages and skill levels and is certified through Acrobatic Arts. Acro placements are determined by MC Dance faculty to ensure every dancer is training safely and progressing at the appropriate pace. Advancement is based on mastery of required skills, strength, flexibility, technique, and consistency, rather than age alone.

ACRO CLASSES

LEVEL 1 - BEGINNER

Perfect for dancers who are new to acro or beginning their tumbling journey. This class builds strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and confidence while introducing foundational acro skills through safe, progressive instruction.

Requirements
No previous acro experience required.

Skills Include

Forward & backward rolls
Bridges
Handstands
Cartwheel preparation
Flexibility training
Balance & coordination
Core strength

LEVEL 2 - ADVANCED BEGINNER

Designed for dancers who have mastered foundational skills and are ready to progress into beginning tumbling. Students continue building strength and flexibility while developing proper technique and control.

Requirements

Strong bridge
Kickover (or close to mastering)
Cartwheel
Controlled handstand

Skills Include

Front & back limbers
Front & back walkover progressions
Roundoff
One-handed cartwheel
Valdez preparation
Side aerial preparation

LEVEL 3 - INTERMEDIATE

For intermediate acrobats who are ready to develop advanced tumbling skills while refining strength, flexibility, technique, and performance quality. Dancers begin connecting skills and learning more advanced acro combinations.

Requirements

Front walkover
Back walkover
Roundoff
Valdez
Strong flexibility and body control

Skills Include

Side aerial
Front aerial preparation
Back handspring drills
Advanced balances
Walkover combinations
Partnering fundamentals

LEVEL 4 - ADVANCED

Our most advanced acro class is designed for experienced acrobats who demonstrate exceptional strength, flexibility, control, and technique. This class focuses on advanced tumbling, combinations, partnering, and performance-ready skills.

Requirements

Side aerial
Front aerial (or consistently progressing)
Back handspring
Strong acro combinations
Excellent flexibility, strength, and technique

Skills Include

Aerial combinations
Front aerial
Back handspring series
Front & back tuck drills
540s
Advanced partnering
Elite acro sequences

WHY TAKE ACRO?

This is a question we get very often! Gymnastics and acrobatics (or acro for short) share very similar skill sets yet they are very different in how the overall look of the performance is, and how they train and execute the material.

Acrobatics is designed as a supplement to dance training and is usually taught in a dance studio with a sprung floor that is designed for shock absorption beneath a hard surface like wood. Gymnasts work on a spring floor that is designed with actual coils embedded in the mat for optimal rebound and protection during hard-hitting tumbling passes.

Another difference is gymnastics and acrobatics is the use of certain pieces of equipment such as beams or bars to assist in creating challenging and visually stunning routines.

In acrobatics there is no use of equipment, the dancers ARE the apparatus. It is very common to "stack" or build platforms out of dancers through partnering to create exciting layers within a performance.

The focus in both acro and gymnastics is strength, balance and flexibility but the difference in execution lies in the transition of movement. A gymnast may run into a round-off back handspring full-twisting back lay-out, while an acro dancer may perform a softer, more lyrical line, such as an illusion swinging into a cartwheel, back handspring to a heel stretch and tilt a la seconde. Two very impressive passes, with two very distinct “looks” and intentions. For many the difference is described as "Gymnastics is a sport and Acrobatics is an art. What do you think?

MC Dance offers a full acrobatics program and is certified through Acrobatic Arts. Register now to try your first Acro class!