Christina Van Loo
By Alex Douglas
In the short almost 40 year history of Sports Acrobatics/Acrobatic Gymnastics, there have been athletes who have gone on to professional performing careers. Acrobatics is an activity that can be performed much longer than Artistic Gymnastics. The longevity is in two fronts. The first front is in physical ability. Because acrobatics works with other people, the physical load is shared with the partners. There is still an end to a performing career due to physical inability, but an acrobat can perform into his or her late 40's unlike Artistic gymnasts who tend to retire by their 30's. The second front is venue. The only venue for making a living in Artistic Gymnastics is coaching. Coaches all over the world will play in gymnastics as part of their pleasure in coaching, but they are not being paid to perform gymnastics. But acrobatics has all of theater as a venue to get paid as a performer. The equipment of Artistic gymnastics is very bulky and is best used in the circus as a performance medium. But when you look at gymnastics equipment in the circus it is always jazzed up for greater entertainment value. The high bar will be used in the circus only as a box bar with 2 to 4 gymnasts swing pipe together. But acrobatics requires no equpment and is easily performed on stage, or in commercials, or movies, and even on the street and in bars.
Christina Van Loo is an example of an acrobat who has had a rich career in the performing arts after leaving Sports Acrobatics. Christina began her Sports Acrobatics career when she was 8 years old in the New Orleans Acrobatic Team. The first time I met her was in 1985 when I came down for the combined USAF/USSAF National Championships at Bonnabel High School in Kenner, LA. Not only was she a great athlete she was an incredible dancer. Her father, Don Van Loo, was a joyous and gracious southern gentleman who gave me great encouragement in the sport.
I competed against Jay Groves and Christina Van Loo with my partner Jan Burns all season which culminated in the 1986 USSAF Nationals in Mobile, AL where they won the gold medal. According to Christina's website, "She exhibited at the Olypic Sports Festival, the Pan American Games, the World's Sports Fair, the Perfect 10 Tour (with the US Olympic Team), the World's Fai, and the Playoffs." She has had a stellar career in the competitive world, as you can read on her own website.
Her performance career began at 19. She created a video tape series on the "Secrets of the Circus Revealed. She has performed with Paul McCartney, peformed aireal works and acrobatics, and performed as a stunt artist in films and television. One of her parnters in show business has been her former partner Sonny Brown. Sonny competed with my partner Jan Burns after I left the sport as an athlete. Sonny was, and still is, a charismatic and charming man. Christina and Sonny have a friendship that has spanned decades. Christina lives in Los Angelos where the action in theater is centered.
So, for all children and parents who are training in competition, I hope this will encourage you that acro has potential for a vibrant career beyond competition. Artistic gymnasts look at a college scholarship to pay for their career education. For them, gymnastics is a launch into something else. Cheerleaders have some scholarship potential, but according to a former team parent of mine whose older daughter had gained a cheerleading scholarship, the grant only helpped pay for books. Acro has no scholarship potential at this time. But it does have a career potential that none of the others have. This may not be desirable for some. That's OK. There are many other benefits to acrobatic training that makes it worthwhile. But for others, this may be a path to pursue.