Acrobatics vs Gymnastics: Exploring the Differences
At Infinite Edge Movement, we celebrate the art of movement in many forms, particularly the spectacular discipline of acrobatics. While both gymnastics and acrobatics showcase incredible strength, flexibility, and skill, they each have unique characteristics that set them apart. Let's delve into the differences between gymnastics and acrobatics, helping you understand which might be the perfect fit for your interests and goals.
Gymnastics: The Art of Precision and Grace
1. Disciplines and Apparatuses
Gymnastics is a structured sport comprising various disciplines, each with its own set of apparatuses. The main disciplines include artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics, trampoline, and tumbling.
Artistic Gymnastics: This discipline is divided into men's and women's events. Men's events include floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar. Women's events include vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.
Rhythmic Gymnastics: This discipline combines elements of ballet, dance, and gymnastics, performed with apparatuses like ribbons, hoops, balls, clubs, and ropes.
Acrobatic Gymnastics: This discipline is divided into small groups – Women’s pair, men’s pair, mixed pair (male base and female top), women’s trio, men’s four. All categories perform two or three floor exercise routines including Balance, Dynamic and Combined routines. The routine is a combination of partner skills, individual skills and tumbling.
Trampoline and Tumbling: This discipline focuses on performing acrobatic movements while bouncing on a trampoline or executing tumbling passes on a spring floor/tumble track.
2. Training and Technique
Gymnastics training emphasises precision, form, and technical execution. Athletes spend years perfecting their routines, which are judged based on difficulty, execution, and artistry.
3. Competitions and Scoring
In gymnastics competitions, athletes perform routines that are evaluated by a panel of judges. Scores are awarded based on the complexity of the routine (difficulty score) and the quality of performance (execution score). The goal is to achieve a high difficulty routine with flawless execution.
Acrobatics: The Spectacle of Strength and Coordination
1. Variety of Disciplines
Acrobatics encompasses a wide range of disciplines, often performed in circus arts, dance, and performance arts settings. Some of the most popular forms of acrobatics include:
Floor Acrobatics: This involves gymnastic skills, tumbling, skill variations
Aerial Acrobatics: Artists perform on apparatuses like aerial silks and lyra (aerial hoop)
Trampoline and Circus: At IEM, we include this discipline, combined with circus arts which focuses on performing acrobatic movements while bouncing on a trampoline combined with other circus elements e.g. hula hoop, handstand bars, juggling
Partner and Group Acrobatics: Performers work in pairs or groups to execute lifts, balances, and dynamic movements.
Hand balancing: Students use handstand bars, handstand blocks and floor work focusing on balance on the hands, requiring exceptional strength, control, and stability.
Contortion: The art of performing extreme flexibility feats, showcasing extraordinary range of motion and fluidity in movement.
2. Training and Technique
Acrobatic training focuses heavily on strength, balance, and coordination as well as execution of skills and sequences of skills. Unlike gymnastics, where routines are often predefined, acrobatic skills and performances are more fluid and can incorporate more elements of artistry. Training includes mastering individual skills and learning to work harmoniously with partners/groups of individuals or apparatuses.
3. Performance and Presentation
While acrobatics can be competitive such as in the Dance Industry or Performing Arts/Circus competitions, it is often performed as a form of entertainment. Acrobatics routines are designed to awe and inspire audiences with gravity-defying feats and creative choreography. The emphasis is on visual impact, innovation, and seamless transitions.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Features | Gymnastics | Acrobatics |
|---|---|---|
| Disciplines | Artistic, Rhythmic, Acrobatics, Trampoline, Tumbling | Floor, Aerial, Trampoline, Partner/Group |
| Apparatuses | Specific to each discipline | Various, including aerial apparatuses |
| Training Focus | Precision, form, technical execution | Strength, balance, coordination, fluidity |
| Competitions | Structured routines, judged on difficulty and execution | Often performance-based, more creative and variety, individual focused |
| Performance Style | Formal, often competitive | Creative, often aesthetic-focused |
Choosing Your Path at Infinite Edge Movement
At Infinite Edge Movement, we offer specialised programs for a variety of acrobatics classes. Our acrobatics classes cater to those looking to explore the thrilling and artistic side of movement. We provide instruction floor acrobatics, aerial arts, trampoline and circus, encouraging creativity and innovation in every discipline.
Whether you're drawn to floor work of gymnastics or the creative, dynamic world of aerial acrobatics, our experienced instructors are here to guide you every step of the way.
If your child is most interested in floor skills learnt in gymnastics, our floor acro class is the one for you.
If they are looking to fly high, we highly recommend our trampoline and aerials classes.
At Infinite Edge Movement, we believe in nurturing each athlete's unique talents and helping them reach their full potential. Whether you choose floor acrobatics of any other class, you'll find a supportive community and a passion for excellence.
Ready to embark on your movement journey? Join us at Infinite Edge Movement and discover the incredible possibilities of acrobatics in many forms.
