Dance - not good at acro

[DanceMumTaxi]

Dd does absolutely loads of dance. She’s only 7 but competes with a group and in solo’s. This week she’ll be at the studio 6 days (it’s a lot, but she loves it, does well at school etc so it’s not a problem for us). She’s pretty good and has won quite a few solo’s with her song and dance, but her acro isn’t good and I feel it’ll really hold her back and she gets upset about it. She can do forward rolls, head to feet, cartwheels/one handed cartwheels, drop back into bridge from standing. But can’t do an ariel, kick over, front/back walkover etc. She works hard but is scared. Her front splits on both legs are good, but I feel like her acro is really going to hold her back. So many of the routines seem to be full of acro tricks. Has anyone whose dd/ds dances got any advice please? Did they get better as they got older? How did you help? Or are some just naturally very talented at acro. I’d really like to help her. Thanks dance mums/dads.

I think it's an accident waiting to happen, the acro dance, they've also introduced a TDCI acro comp and you can do acro dance grades. They do these tricks on wooden stages, at the competitions and festivals, without mats...

Can you imagine doing sports acro in such a way - wouldn't be allowed and the gymnasts are probably safer with hours of strength training, technique and conditioning, compared with how they're taught by the dance schools (some children may have gym backgrounds but far from all). It's really not good.

OP, my dd has similar concerns about her acro skills not being strong enough - her aerial isn't secure enough to use in routines, she can't do handsprings or back flips, and it does get her down a bit that others can do far more impressive tricks than she can - but she's 14 rather than 7! There is definitely more acro across the board than ever before, and I have noticed some adjudicators do seem 'wowed' by trick-heavy routines even when technique isn't great, but I have also heard an adjudicator specifically say that she didn't like lyrical routines with tricks, and others that definitely prioritise technique, musicality, emotional range etc - so it really does vary in terms of what they're looking for.
My dd is passionate about dance, she's starting at a performing arts school this year and totally focused on pursuing a career in it, but at 7 she was just in it for the enjoyment. It would worry me a bit that your dd is already so aware of her 'weaknesses' and worried about not winning comps because one area of her dance isn't good enough. I also agree with pp that she is very very young to be dancing 4-5 days per week (or more), as this is a sure recipe for burnout. My dd was only doing around 3 hours of dance at that age (ballet, tap & modern), she gradually increased this over the years, adding in different styles and some associate classes too. Competitions have been a more recent thing and although they're fun - and it's always nice to place - they definitely aren't the main focus of her dancing at all. I do worry that the dance schools that focus so heavily on competitions end up being pretty intense environments for the dancers, even if the teachers don't intend it to be like that.

There are acro dance sections at most of the dance festivals now, and the acro tricks are often used in the modern and lyrical sections. 😐

My DD is 16 and has danced since she was 4. She does 8 classes a week, in all genres and can't do acro. She can do the splits but nothing else. She has got a place at a well known dance college for dance in September and acro was never mentioned.

Acro isn't dance anyway, and lots of festival judges don't like it in dances unless it's the acro section. DD is proof it hasn't held her back , so I wouldn't worry.

@allto I know - at a recent comp I was watching, some dancers used virtually the same (acro-based) choreography in 3 different sections. To be honest, it just got really dull in the end! Maybe a sign that it's time for a change of direction...!

@DumpedByText - well done to your dd.

Yet another mum with a dance/MT DD in professional training who does no acro (in fact she can't do a cartwheel).
As others have said for long term dance you need excellent core technique, learning your basics really well.
Having a strong core is what the emphasis is really put on for them as on MT you have to do it all in 3 inch heels.
At no point prior to professional training did she do more than 3 days a week and it was only at 15 just prior to auditioning for professional training she was doing 16 hours per week across the triple threats including lesion at school for GCSE dance and drama.
We are in an area of the UK where cheer is massive and for us acro and Ariel are the preserve of the cheer classes/teams not part of dance.

Thanks everyone, it’s really interesting to hear about everyone’s experiences. It’s also really good to hear about those who have been successful even though they’re not great at acro. Maybe my view has been a bit skewed by our school and the recent comp scene. They win loads at comps, but I do take people’s points about the potential issues with this. I don’t really want to move dd, we really like the school, she’s happy and progressing well on the whole (just issues with acro), plus it’s the best school in the area (lots going on to professional training if they choose that route). To go to a similar level school would require a much longer drive, which would be really difficult.

Do you get an adjudication at the end of a class, where the adjudicator stands up and speaks? Or a comment/mark sheet from the adjudicator. (I've done speech/music festivals where you get them, but have never been to a dance one.)

I learned a lot from them about my performance, and I'm just wondering whether (while I can completely understand why she wants to be able to do them when everybody else is!) you can shift the focus a bit onto things adjudicators look for that she already does well and can improve on in her current work.

That way you can decouple the acro stuff from the competing a bit?

A bit like... you see some children playing without music from being quite young. But adjudicators will quite often say (even at higher grades) that they'd rather you played with music than without if it means you won't get all dynamics etc. Same with movement in drama, unless there's a reason and you know why your character is doing it, you shouldn't move about for the sake of it.

So it might look flashy, but adjudicators might actually not be that keen!

It's good to work on practising these things, because they're good skill to have. But you should develop it at the right pace, and because you understand it and can do it well, not just so you can do it at the next competition.

Do you get an adjudication at the end of a class, where the adjudicator stands up and speaks? Or a comment/mark sheet from the adjudicator. (I've done speech/music festivals where you get them, but have never been to a dance one.)

It depends on the festival and type, and adjudicator. You nearly always get a comment/mark sheet, but only those with medal placings might receive a verbal comment in addition.

My child does ballet so has no need of acro. She does have a gymnastics background, and competed early on, and has great flexibility (like most of the children her age) and beautiful feet and lines. She can do 'tricks' but frankly I wouldn't allow her to do aerials, and so on, on a wooden floor without safety mats.

I think it's irresponsible of the schools and the parents going along with it. I've seen safety mats used once only, with a talented child of around five years, the parents were on the stage moving thin mats). Also once in a group acro dance, but they were letting their soloists compete without mats, so.

I don't think the All England has an acro section, and other similar competitions. Some of us dance parents have discussed the safety aspect of dance acro conditions on many occasions and we think it's something that will change in the future (hopefully before someone is seriously injured).

Interesting, thanks allto.

I'm used to a 10-15 adjudication where they stand up and say "By your age (or grade) I'm hoping to see...". Then they'll either run through all the performers and give comments on them, or do a bit of a masterclass on a technique or similar.

It does sound a bit dangerous!

10-15 minute

lots go on to professional training if they choose that route

Where, exactly, do they train full-time though, and what qualifications do they end up with? And do they then go on to full-time professional careers as dancers or MT performers with big companies or in the West End?

Taxi is right not all professional training is of the same standard. Not all professional training entitles you to a spotlight profile - the shop window of the performing arts world.

We’re in the northwest. From 16-18 they carry on at our dance school (and comp team) at evenings and weekends while also attending dance college.such as Centre Pointe (other ones too) to do a BTech. After that recent places have been Wilkes, Perfromers, Urdang, Bird, Trinity and Italia Conti. Btw I’m not for one second suggesting that dd will go down this route. It’s far too early to be thinking about that.

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams wow a 15 minute adjudication. We’d be there until midnight 😂, they can go on a bit as it is. It tends to be a written comment sheet with mark and maybe a quick general comment about the quality of the section. Then verbal individual feedback for those who place, although not always.

Centre pointe is a good dance school, if it's the same I'm thinking of in the north west. I didn't know they functioned as a college, but a lot of dance schools offer Btechs and equivalent now.

Never heard of Wilkes school from that list!

Wilkes has actually got a pretty good reputation, if a bit commercial. I’d put them on a par with Performers but not quite a Bird, Laines or Urdang.

Centre Pointe have been running btec courses for quite a few years now. I’m not quite North West but Dd attended a full time dance school in the north west from age 11.

My dancer DD (9) struggles with acro. She’s got a dancers body and beautiful technique, but just can’t “get” the harder tricks. A lot is confidence with her, but she has private acro weekly and still can’t do much beyond the basics 🤷‍♀️ She is desperate to be able to, as all her friends can do it and much younger too. She gets upset too, I get it

One thing to consider. My dd is hyper mobile which looks fantastic (swayback and banana feet) but it means she hasn’t got the strength for tricks and gets injured easily.

Don't learn gymnastics from a dance studio.They teach poor and dangerous technique

Wilkes has actually got a pretty good reputation, if a bit commercial. I’d put them on a par with Performers but not quite a Bird, Laines or Urdang.

Never heard of it. If it's on a par with performers that explains it. I wondered if it had been known as something else. Other non classical - I've known of people who have gone to Bodyworks (?) then found work in MT and cruise ships.

I'm more familiar with the classical options to be fair.

👏🏻👏🏻

I was saying something similar down thread. Then they perform without safety mats in competitions!

@Scaredmumsickchild thats exactly it. Sorry to hear your dd is struggling too.
@allto I suspect it is. It’s in Manchester. I know what you mean about performing without mats. I’ve never actually seen anyone fall badly in a comp, but yes, potentially it could be very dangerous.
@Comefromaway my dd definitely isn’t hyper mobile. She has to work at her flexibility. Took her ages to get her left leg split, but she persevered and they’re really good now.