Strength, Flexibility, Confidence — and the Excitement of Achieving Something New

Acro is an exciting combination of dance and acrobatic skills, giving dancers the opportunity to develop strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and control while learning how to incorporate acrobatic movements into dance.

And yes — there’s also the excitement of learning those skills that make children incredibly proud when they finally achieve them!

At Babel School of Dance, Acro isn’t simply about learning tricks.

We want our students to develop the strength, technique and control behind each skill, while becoming confident, capable dancers who understand how acrobatic movement can become part of a performance.

What is Acro?

Acro combines acrobatic elements with dance technique.

Its movements are rooted in styles including ballet, jazz, lyrical and modern dance, allowing dancers to combine their dance training with acrobatic skills.

Students gradually work on areas including:

Strength — developing the physical foundations needed to perform skills with control.

Flexibility — gradually improving range of movement.

Balance — learning how to control and stabilise the body.

Coordination — developing greater awareness and control of movement.

Technique — understanding how skills are correctly performed.

Confidence — experiencing the wonderful feeling of achieving something they have worked hard towards.

Acrobatic movements can be performed individually, with a partner or as part of a group, creating lots of opportunities for our students to work both independently and together.

Learning Acro Safely

Learning Acro is a process.

Before progressing to more challenging skills, dancers need to develop the appropriate foundations, strength, flexibility and control.

That’s why we believe in progression rather than pressure.

Every dancer is different.

One child may master a particular skill quickly, while another may need more time — and that’s absolutely fine.

Our students are encouraged to concentrate on their own progress, rather than comparing themselves with somebody else.

We want them to understand that achievement comes from listening, practising, persevering and being prepared to keep trying.

The moment when something they’ve been working towards finally clicks can be incredibly rewarding.

More Than Just Tricks

It’s easy to look at Acro and focus on the exciting skills.

But there is much more happening underneath.

Acro teaches dancers to understand and control their bodies. They learn how strength supports flexibility, how technique supports progression and how concentration is essential when learning new movements.

Most importantly, they learn that they don’t have to be able to do everything immediately.

Progress takes time.

Learning to keep trying when something feels difficult is an important part of dance training — and an important life skill too.

BATD Acro at Babel

Our Acro classes follow the British Association of Teachers of Dancing (BATD) syllabus, providing students with a structured pathway through their Acro training.

Students progressively develop their technique and skills while working towards achievable goals.

We currently offer BATD Acro examinations from:

Prep through to Grade 5

Alongside their graded examinations, students also have opportunities to participate in Dance Awards, performing individually as a soloist or working together in duos and trios.

These provide another opportunity for our dancers to develop their confidence, performance skills and sense of achievement.

Acro Examinations

Examinations can provide dancers with a clear goal and an opportunity to recognise just how much progress they have made.

Preparing for an examination encourages students to develop commitment, concentration, perseverance and attention to detail.

But, just as with all of our classes at Babel, examinations are only one part of the journey.

We want our students to work towards their goals while continuing to enjoy coming to class and loving what they do.

An examination result is an achievement.

But so is mastering a skill that once felt impossible.

So is becoming stronger.

So is having the confidence to perform.

And sometimes, simply having the determination to try again is an achievement worth celebrating.

Building Confidence Through Acro

One of the loveliest things about teaching Acro is watching a dancer’s confidence grow.

There will inevitably be skills that feel difficult at first.

Students learn to break those challenges into manageable stages, listen to their teacher, practise their foundations and gradually make progress.

Then comes that wonderful moment when they realise:

“I did it!”

Those moments matter.

They help children understand that they are capable of achieving things through patience, practice and perseverance.

Acro Complements Dance Training

Acro can be a fantastic addition to a dancer’s wider training.

The strength, flexibility, balance and body awareness developed through Acro can complement other dance styles and help dancers become more versatile performers.

For students who enjoy performing, Acro can also add another dimension to choreography and performance.

But we always want our dancers to remember:

A great Acro dancer isn’t simply the person who can perform the most impressive trick.

Technique, control, musicality, performance and the ability to integrate a skill naturally into dance are equally important.

Our Acro Teacher

Our Acro programme is led by Nisha Lakhanpaul at our Heston branch.

Classes are taught in an encouraging environment where students can challenge themselves while progressing at an appropriate pace.

We want our dancers to work hard and develop strong technique, but we also want them to feel comfortable asking questions, trying something new and understanding that they won’t necessarily achieve everything the first time.

That’s part of learning.

Acro at Heston

All of our Acro classes are currently held at our Heston branch.

We currently offer an Acro class welcoming a range of ages, allowing students to develop their skills and progress through the BATD programme.

If you’re unsure whether the class is suitable for your child, please contact us.

We can advise you about the most appropriate starting point based on your child’s age, previous dance or Acro experience and current level.

New to Acro?

That’s absolutely fine.

A child doesn’t need to arrive at Babel already able to perform acrobatic skills.

That’s what classes are for!

We want students to learn progressively, beginning with the foundations appropriate to them and developing their strength, flexibility, technique and confidence over time.

Previous dance experience can be helpful, but we look at each child individually when recommending the most appropriate way to join the class.

Acro at Babel — Every Achievement Matters

For one dancer, success might be achieving a new skill.

For another, it might be improving their flexibility.

It could be passing an examination, performing a Dance Award, developing greater strength or simply having the confidence to try something they previously thought they couldn’t do.

Progress doesn’t look the same for every child.

At Babel, we celebrate the individual journey.

We want our students to become strong, confident and capable dancers while developing the resilience to keep working towards their goals.

And we want them to have plenty of fun along the way!

Come and Try Acro at Babel

If your child loves dance and would like to explore Acro, we’d love to welcome them to our Heston branch.

Following a trial class, we can advise you on the most appropriate next step for your child.

Not Sure if Acro is Right for Your Child?

Just ask us.

We’re always happy to help.

Call or text: 07961 153666
Email: office@babeldance.co.uk

Come and discover Acro at Babel — building strength, developing confidence and celebrating every new achievement.