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Find acro camps near you

OurKids.net lists camps and programs in dozens of cities across the country. Find your city in the list below and find acro camps near you.

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More than just day camps

For kids who love acrobatics, there are other ways to indulge this passion. See related options below:

Search ALL ACRO CAMPS AND PROGRAMS   

What kids learn in acro camps

Kids and teens learn numerous skills and habits in acro dance camp. These include physical, performance-related, and work skills. Learn more below. 

Acrobatics. Acro dance focuses heavily on acrobatics. Common acrobatic tricks kids will learn include headstands, elbow stands, handstands, and back walkovers. Aerials, double tricks, and group tricks are taught in more advanced camps and classes. Each acrobatic skill aims to improve kids’ flexibility, agility, posture, and strength.

The five divisions of acro. Acro dance focuses on five main physical skills: balancing, limbering, flexibility, tumbling, and strength. Each routine will involve a blend of tricks from each division. As kids excel in camp, the skills introduced from each section will become more complex.

Flexibility. One of the most important of the five divisions is flexibility. As kids learn new tricks, their flexibility will improve. Flexibility can help relieve tension and tightness in the body, which lowers the risk of injuries. 

Performance skills. Kids will need to deal with and find coping mechanisms for the nerves and stress that often accompany acro dance performances in front of an audience. They’ll also participate in self-assessment after each performance to help them recognize their strengths and weaknesses. These self-assessments, in addition to the performances themselves, can improve the quality of kids’ performances and be a boost to their self-esteem. 

Attitude and work ethic. The criticism and feedback given by acro dance instructors is invaluable. Instructors provide feedback to improve their students’ confidence and skills. Children recognize that this is not a critique of their character but, rather, advice they can use to improve themselves as dancers. This cultivates humility, hard work, and a positive attitude.

Spatial awareness. The complexity of each acro dance routine will challenge and improve children’s spatial awareness. Kids use their peripheral vision during routines to ensure they’re not putting a fellow dancer at risk. Good spatial awareness and performance instincts also improves children’s gross motor coordination. 

Ten benefits of acro dance camps

Acrobatic gymnastics encourages kids to get active and deepen an understanding of physical fitness. As with any sport, not all kids who enter competition will excel in the sport. However, learning about physical wellness, exploring flexibility and fitness and other passions they deepen through acrobatics, helps them form values they will take into later life. Here's a full look at all the advantages kids gain.

1. Provides a high level of activity. Kids are naturally energetic. Acro dance camps, which teach flips, turns, and jumps, help children expend this energy in useful ways. Various dances, movements, and physical activities give them a full cardio workout, keeping their hearts pumping, which can be highly beneficial for their health.
2. Strengthens the whole body. Throughout camp, instructors will provide warmup drills, exercises, and routines that strengthen kids’ legs, arms, and core muscles. Having a strong body is important, as it can improve one’s balance, gross motor coordination, and athletic potential. As kids build muscle, this can also improve their performance and help prevent injuries.
3. Increases confidence. Mastering acro dance takes time, dedication, and perseverance. Kids’ body movements and endurance are challenged in class, but the outcomes speak for themselves. Mastering a difficult dance style increases children’s confidence and helps them recognize their potential for other pursuits as well. 
4. Introduces safety skills. Safety is critical to the curriculum of acro dance camp. Although kids will have fun jumping and tumbling around, it’s important they perform each trick safely. They’ll learn how to properly use and protect their bodies while performing. In fact, young dancers will begin training by spotting one another. Learning these safety skills can improve children’s body awareness and provide the foundation for further study of dance and other physical activities.
5. Improves musicality. In solo, partnered, or group dances, kids will learn to use their energy, rhythm, and emotions with the sound of music. They’ll learn to recognize the tone, melody, and meter of each song, and perform or choreographed routines accordingly. In turn, they’ll learn how rhythm, pacing, and tempo can all contribute to polished performances.
6. Age-appropriate education. Acro is a complicated dance style filled with cartwheels, handstands, and other fun tricks. Each camp conducts classes in accordance with children’s age. This also allows kids to work alongside peers of their own age which can help them make friendships which can go far beyond camp.
7. Inspires future performers. Acro dance camp can provide the basis for a future in the performing arts. Many gymnasts, musical theatre performers, and members of Cirque du Soleil have backgrounds in dance, especially acro dance. Acro dance camps can even provide the basis for a career in the performing arts.
8. Taught by professionals. Instructors of acro dance camp are typically trained in various dances and activities such as ballet, yoga, acrobatics, pilates, and gymnastics. (Learn more below.) This enables them to provide children with the right instruction and support and to help them enjoy camp and get the most out of it. Some acro dance instructors can also help kids expand their network within the dance community.
9. Make friends! Camps encourage social interaction, help kids start new friendships and strengthen others.
10. Personal growth. The grouping and pairing aspect of acro camps helps kids learn co-operation and collaboration with others, helps them to trust others and learn about being trustworthy.  It also teaches lessons about understanding – and extending! – their limits.

Questions to ask acro camps

If you’re considering an acro dance camp for your child, you’ll want to ensure you find the right one. Don’t be shy about asking camp directors and staff questions. Below are some of the main ones you might pose to them.

• What shoes and clothing items need to be bought to camp?
• How much training do instructors have and in what areas?
• What safety measures are in place in the case of an accident or injury?
• How is class divided between solo and partnered dances?
• Will there be performances in front of an audience?
• What level will most of the other kids be at?

Related camps

If your child enjoys acro dance camp, there are many other options you might consider. There are several different kinds of dance, athletic, and performance camps that may turn out to be a good fit. The following types of camps represent just a small fraction of the possibilities out there. 

Ballet camp. The balance and flexibility kids adopt in acro dance camp is easily transferable to ballet. Kids’ musicality is explored here, as it is in ballet classes for kids, as they dance to classical music. Instructors provide in-depth instruction on strengthening the body in these camps, as well.

Ballroom dance camp. Ballroom is a dance style that requires good posture and coordination. A background in acro dance provides a great foundation for ballroom dancing. Kids will learn to dance with a partner in these classes, and showcase their newfound skills with enthralling performances.

Gymnastics camp. Gymnastics camp removes the dance aspect from acro dance and focuses on improving children’s acrobatics skills. Kids’ flexibility is developed and improved in these classes as they perform gymnastics routines using bars, beams, and the floor.

Performing arts camp. Kids aspiring to be professional performers can use many of their acro skills in a performing arts camp. Acro dancers who enjoy music and performance are often a great fit for musical theatre camp. Performing arts camps teach children about the professional aspects of dance and performance, among other things.

Combine this with more advice from OurKids.net