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The perfect fusion of dance and gymnastics. Our acro program builds strength, flexibility, balance, and body control — all in a safe, structured, and fun environment for ages 4 and up.
Acrobatic dance — or acro — is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing disciplines in the dance world. It combines the artistry and musicality of dance with the strength, flexibility, and athleticism of gymnastics. The result is something that captivates audiences and challenges dancers in entirely new ways.
At Steps Dance Center in Aurora, IL, our acro program is built around safety first and progression second. Students are never pushed into skills they haven't earned. Every cartwheel, bridge, and back walkover is built on a foundation of proper conditioning, flexibility, and technique — taught by experienced faculty who understand both dance and acrobatic movement.
Acro is one of the most popular additions to a dancer's training at Steps — and one of the most impressive skills to watch on stage.
Best Fit
New to Acro
Main Skills to Look For
Forward roll; bridge preparation;
cartwheel and supported handstand
progressions
Best Fit
Basics becoming independent
Main Skills to Look For
Forward and backward rolls;
cartwheel; handstand kick-up; bridge
kickover with help
Best Fit
Strong basics and beginning
walkovers
Main Skills to Look For
Cartwheel both sides; one-handed
cartwheel; roundoff; front or back
walkover developing
Best Fit
Independent walkovers and stronger
inversions
Main Skills to Look For
Front and back walkovers; walkover
connections; elbow stand; aerial and
back-handspring drills
Best Fit
Beginning flight skills and connected
passes
Main Skills to Look For
Side aerial; back handspring, front
aerial developing or independent;
advanced walkovers; strong inversion
control
Best Fit
Consistent advanced skills and
technique
Main Skills to Look For
Multiple aerial or handspring skills;
connected passes; advanced
balances; flight-skill refinement
Students do not need every skill listed. Placement is based on overall strength, flexibility, control, safe technique and consistent execution.
Final placement is determined by the instructor so each dancer is placed in the safest and most productive class.
Please reach us at info@stepsdancecenteronline.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
No. Our Intro to Acro class is designed specifically for children with no gymnastics or acrobatic experience whatsoever. We start from the very beginning — body awareness, basic flexibility, and foundational positions — and build up from there. Many of our most skilled acro students started with zero gymnastics background.
We welcome acro students starting at age 4 in our Intro to Acro class. At this age, classes are play-based and focus on body awareness and basic flexibility rather than formal acrobatic skills. This gives young students a safe and fun introduction to the discipline before more structured training begins.
Yes — when taught properly, acro is a safe and highly beneficial activity for children. At Steps Dance Center, safety is built into every aspect of our acro program: our Harlequin sprung floors absorb impact, our instructors are trained in professional spotting technique, skills are only introduced when prerequisite skills are mastered, and our small class sizes ensure every student is closely supervised at all times.
Acro dance is distinct from gymnastics in that it combines acrobatic skills with dance artistry, choreography, and musicality. Acro dancers don't use gymnastics apparatus (bars, beams, vault) — instead, they integrate skills like back walkovers, handsprings, and aerials into dance performance. The goal is artistic expression as much as athletic skill. Many families find acro to be the perfect blend of both worlds.
Yes! Acro students showcase the skills they have learned in our annual June Recital at Neuqua Valley High School. Acro numbers are consistently among the most exciting moments of our recital — audiences love seeing the combination of dance and acrobatic skill on stage. Students also perform at our Holiday Show in December.
Absolutely — and this is one of the most compelling reasons to add acro to your dancer's training. The strength, flexibility, and body control developed through acro directly improve performance in ballet, lyrical, contemporary, and jazz. Competitive dancers especially benefit from acro training, as acrobatic skills are highly valued in competition routines and scored accordingly by judges.
We are located at 4054 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora, IL 60504 — minutes from Naperville, Oswego, Montgomery, and Lisle, right at the Fox Valley Center off Route 59. Free parking is available on-site. Call us at (630) 499-5678 or email info@stepsdancecenteronline.com with any questions.
4054 Fox Valley Center Dr.
Aurora, IL 60504
(630) 499-5678
info@stepsdancecenteronline.com
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