The simple answer is, there are LOTS of differences!

Click Here to watch a short video from Acrobatic Arts Examiner Wendy who explains this question.

If you’ve ever watched a gymnastics floor routine, you’ll notice the hard-hitting, advanced tumbling lines, executed with power and precision. Gymnasts focus on “sticking the landing”, because every fall, wobble, or off-step is a deduction to their overall score and can be the difference between winning and losing.

Acro Dance is an art form specifically designed for dancers. Acro has softer, more lyrical-looking lines, with emphasis on lengthening “through” the tricks and holding beautiful balances with interesting variations. The focus is on seamlessly blending acrobatics with dance, and avoiding obvious preparations before each trick. 

In short, Gymnastics is a sport; Acro Dance is an art form.

Gymnasts train on a sprung-floor, with actual springs built into the mats: a forgiving surface to repeatedly practice advanced tumbling passes on over and over again.

Acro Dancers perform on a hard stage, and must train the body to withstand the impact of the floor. Dancers don’t get the “rebound” action out of a hard floor like gymnasts do out of a spring-floor. Therefore, dancers train to get the necessary lift from their bodies, and emphasis on a strong “hub” (hips, glutes, core) is a must.

Gymnastics tricks are usually performed in a “hollow-body” position (think: laying down on the back in a “banana” position with the arms and legs hovering off the ground; chin tucked; pulling in through the core).

Acro tricks are usually performed in an “open-body” position (think: laying down on the stomach in a “superman” position with the arms and legs lengthening and hovering off the ground; chin open and looking past the fingertips).

Because Gymnastics and Acro Dance are two different techniques, they require different training regimes.

Dancers that take Acro become stronger, safer, and more diverse dancers, which will, in turn, create more impressive, exciting, and artistic dancing.

Acro Dancers should not seek out additional training at gymnastics or cheer clubs.

Many gymnastics and cheer clubs offer “Acro For Dancers” classes, to try to help dancers get additional outside training to practice their skills.

Since Acro Dance classes are just one facet to the students’ overall dance timetable, often dancers will look for additional ways to practice and perfect their Acrobatic tricks outside of the studio.

This is a mistake, because gymnastics coaches & cheer coaches teach “Acro” with a gymnastic technical approach as acrobatic teachers teach "Acro" with a Acro Dance technical approach.

Currently the minimum age is 6 years old.

Register from our website which then will lead you to our Portal where you can enrol into classes.

Yes

No, girls and boys all work on the same skills in Acro.

Nothing in the academy is split by gender unlike Gymnastics (e.g. Men's Artistic, Women's Artistic).

No. Both girls & boys all learn the same and treated equally at PADA.

Our emails can end up in your emails Junk Mail (Spam) Folder, please check here first before contacting us.

Some emails (e.g. your monthly class fees invoice) is powered by Class Manager (our Portal).

We don't allow septactors which is inline with our Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy.

Normally we close during school holidays but on occasions some normal classes will run in the school holidays.

Normal classes that do run in the school holidays are optional and students won't be charged if not attending.

E-Invoices gets sent via Portal & Email. Bank Transfer details are on the invoice.

Yes, all new students receive the Free Class Free for every classes they are enrolled to.

Not at first no, but after 1 month of joining parents/carers need to order uniform. We want to make sure the have settled & enjoy coming to the academy.

During the first month & while waiting for uniform to arrive for new students to wear fitted t-shirt, fitted vest, shorts, leggings, crop top, leotard or unitard.

No baggy clothing for classes at all.

Payments will be taken weekly for about a month & then monthly payments will be taken from then on.

On your enrolment email, there will be a date when the monthly payments will start.

Yes, this is compulsory at the academy.

We believe this will make students feel they are part of a team, place of belonging & look professional.

All tops must be our Logo Uniform but all bottoms can be either our Logo Uniform or Plain Black.

Order & pay for uniform on our online store on our website. Uniform can take 3-5 weeks for delivery.

Pick up from your child's next class once you have received an email when it's ready to be collected.

My Acro App is an app for tablets or phones for students to practice their Acrobatic Arts Level at home, it's mainly for students who would like to take acro exams.

From Acrobatic Arts;

"Now students can practice at home with a program vetted by Acrobatic Arts

professionals. This tool works in tandem with guided classroom training, still

with a strong focus on safety and technique. Parents and teachers can monitor

student progress to ensure high success rate in student’s acrobatic training."

No you don't have to, you can rent the level from us.

Once you have chosen your rental package and paid the invoice then you will need to send us the Device ID or the QR Code which is in the settings on the App so we can activate the Acrobatic Arts Level to the device.

See the My Acro App page on our website for more information.