Start
editI searched high and low for a formal definition of Acro Dance (Mr. Google indicates many others have also sought this definition) but couldn't find one, so I wrote this article to fill the void. I'm merely a dancer's dad—not a dance professional—so I have discussed only the facts I'm aware of and leave it to the experts to round out the article. Oh well, at least it's a start. Lambtron (talk) 15:22, 17 January 2008 (UTC)
- I hope you remember me: I met you at the dance studio when you were talking about the article. Just a couple of pointers: you might want to add sources - sources are very important and there are some weird editors out there who will try to delete an article without sources. I would recommend a couple of books. Note that all statements don't need to be sourced, but it might be better, for interest in the article, to source. BlackPearl14Pirate Lord-ess 02:11, 9 May 2008 (UTC)
Thanks for the feedback, BlackPearl14. I would very much like to add some sources but I've never found an authoritative book that provides more than a passing reference to acro dance. Can you recommend any suitable sources? Lambtron (talk) 18:44, 10 May 2008 (UTC)
- When I do, I shall definitely let you know. I'm sorry for not being that much of a help at this time, but I will find out soon! BlackPearl14Pirate Lord-ess 18:08, 11 May 2008 (UTC)
Not gymnastics
editI hope I haven't offended anyone, but I removed acro dance from wp gymnastics. Acro dance is fundamentally a dance discipline; it is performed at venues that are exclusively focused on dance performance, and adjudicated by dance professionals who view it in a dance context. It is not performed or adjudicated in gymnastics venues, nor does it employ gymnastics apparatus (e.g., balance beam, pommel horse, sprung floor), nor is it classified as a gymnastics sport. It's true that acro dance and gymnastics both incorporate acrobatics, so although acro dance doesn't belong in wp gymnastics there is clearly common ground here; both topics could sensibly belong to a common wp such as wp acrobatics. Comments? Lambtron (talk) 15:40, 22 September 2008 (UTC)
- Agree acro dance is not a gymnastics discipline, although most dance teaching societies here in the UK are now calling it gymnastic dance rather than acro. Either way, it should definitely be addressed in any article about acrobatics as a whole. Also think it might be a good idea to differentiate between acro and rhythmic gymnastics somewhere in the lead paragraphs as well, as I often find that people mistakenly think that the two are either the same, or similar. Crazy-dancing (talk) 18:10, 7 November 2009 (UTC)
I contrasted acro with rhythmic gymnastics per your suggestion. As for naming differences between US and UK, I'm not sure how best to resolve these. Lambtron (talk) 18:26, 8 November 2009 (UTC)
- Think it's perfect as worded, it addresses what acro dance is, as well as what it is 'not', and also gives suggestions of other terminology used to refer to acro. All bases covered methinks. Also, within the article, I wonder if it might be useful to note how acro dance can also include table work, and other 'props' such as balls, ribbons and hoops, that are not seen in any gymnastic sport other than rhythmic. btw, sorry for sticking my nose in on the article, I do teach acro, so am interested in helpnig with the creation of a comprehensive article about it. Crazy-dancing (talk) 15:01, 9 November 2009 (UTC)
I, too, am interested in producing a comprehensive article and truly appreciate the value of a fellow collaborator. I must say, though, that I've never heard of "table work" and, alas, google turned up zilch for this term in conjunction with either acro or gymnastic dance. I've been deeply involved with acro dance for more than ten years but I recognize that it's not possible to know everything, so I consulted several other experienced dance professionals and they are also mystified by this. Perhaps it's a regional term? Also, in our collective experience, props such as balls, ribbons and hoops are rarely used in acro, though I am not aware of any restrictions that would prohibit their use in acro (other than general prop restrictions at performance venues). In all of the acro performances I have ever witnessed I've seen ribbons used exactly once, and hoops and (very large exercise) balls used one time each as well (but not as they would be in rhythmic gymnastics). I've seen many other props used as well, including life-size human dummies, portable staircases, assorted chairs and sofas, various large wooden boxes, jail bars, office desks, clothing racks, automotive steering wheels, baseball bats and gloves, and wine barrels, just to name a few. Lambtron (talk) 21:32, 9 November 2009 (UTC)
- I guess prop use depends a lot on what your influences are in acro. We are one of only two dance schools in our area that use them for example, although there are many other schools teaching acro. We use ribbons, balls and hoops in most of our group routines, but rarely for solo work. In solo work we tend to use table work, which is this kind of thing, although not always with the parallettes - http://www.circusarts.org.uk/acts/arch-in-the-sky---acrobatics/images/table-feet-to-head-hs.jpg - perhaps you can tell me what you would call this? Crazy-dancing (talk) 22:05, 9 November 2009 (UTC)
At first blush this appears to be primarily acrobatic and a somewhat more distant relative of dance. I'm operating at the bleeding edge of my expertise here, but if tasked with creating Wikipedia content about table work, I would be inclined to start things off by adding a "Table work" section to acrobatics. BTW, nice image! Can you provide it, or a similar one, for use on Wikipedia? Lambtron (talk) 14:47, 10 November 2009 (UTC)
I, too, agree that acro dance is not gymnastics. There are elements of gymnastics and a gymnastic background can benefit the dancer very much in practising acro, but to be successful in this style it also requires exceptional technique and dance background. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.187.76.252 (talk) 18:52, 20 December 2012 (UTC)