Acrobatics (from Greek Akros, high and bat, walking) is one of the performing arts, and is also practiced as a sport. Acrobatics involves difficult feats of balance, agility and coordination. Nearly any performance or sport which involves full-body activity – especially in short, highly controlled bursts of activity – can be considered acrobatics, and there is substantial overlap with dance, various sports such as diving and even religious practices.

History

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Western history

Acrobatic traditions are found in many cultures. In the West, Minoan art from circa 2000 BC contains depictions of acrobatic feats on the backs of bulls, which may have been a religious ritual. ^*

The court displays of the European Middle Ages would often involve acrobatic performances along with song, juggling and other activities.

Though initially the term applied to tight-rope walking, in the 19th century, a form of performance art including gymnastics and circus acts began to use the term as well. In the late 19th century, tumbling and other acrobatic / gymnastic activities became a competitive sport in Europe.

Eastern history

In China, acrobatics ("Hundred Plays") have been a part of the culture since the Western Han Dynasty, over 2500 years ago, when acrobatics were part of village harvest festivals. ^*

During the Tang Dynasty, acrobatics saw much the same sort of development as European acrobatics saw during the Middle Ages with court displays during the 7th through 10th century dominating the practice. ^*

Sports acrobatics

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The first use of acrobatics as a specific sport was in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, ^* and the first world championships were in 1974.

Sports acrobatics are judged in five categories:

• Men's
• Women's
• Mixed pairs
• Women's triples
• Men's quadruples

A sixth and seventh category for tumbling (men's and women's) were discontinued in the world championships in 1999. Many sports acrobatics groups continue to hold tumbling events, however. ^* Typically tumbling consists of three series of acrobatic elements performed on the run, including somersaults and handsprings.

The five types of event are choreographed with music. They can involve dance, tumbling and "partner skills" which can in turn involve "balance" and "tempo" skills. Tempo skills involve some form of aerial manoeuvre while balance skills involve poses and holds.

Sports acrobatics is the original and official name for the sport, though it is known as Acro-gymnastics, Acro Gymnastics or Acrogymnastics as well.

Sports acrobatics was a demonstration sport at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. ^*

See also

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• aerial tissu
• juggling
• trapeze work
• wire-walking
• contortion
• pole climbing
• springboard diving
• tower diving
• adagio
• acrobalance
• Corde lisse
• Spanish web
• Trampolining
• Tumbling
• Wushu (sport)

Performing arts | Circus skills

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