Acrobatic Gymnastics is a sport that intends to blend acrobatic stunts with dance. Therefore, it is a form of acrobatic dance. Coaches tend not to understand dance, specfically the male coaches, and will often hire a choreographer to create the routines. The goal is to have the dance and acrobatic stunts flow seamlessly in and out of one another to create an organic whole. Too often the routines are fragmented. This part is dance, now this part is stunts. Competition rules have an artistry deduction which is meant to encourage that seamless flow of dance and stunts. A great routine will have an inherent artistic quality that lifts the routine from a mere exercise to an artistic expression of the performers.
The dance world has expressed contempt to the gymnastics community in calling our routines "mere exercises" and, frankly, I agree. The very nature of competition with rules allowing and forbidding what may be done is the reason it will never rise to an artistic performance. Dance studios enter competition, too, however. Competition is a valuable tool of the craft. It directs training into correct and aesthetic techniques, raising the craft to a high standard. But craft is not art. Art can violate all rules of craft, and be art, whereas craft can never be art. For art is that intangible quality that touches the human heart. Great writers such as JRR Tolkien and Jane Austin have violated many basic rules of craft in their writing, yet have touched the hearts of millions.
The videos in this part of the website are online for the sake of encouraging artistry in competition, and art in exhibitions. Group Gymnastics has the potential of developing art in their performance section. Adult acrobats who wish to make a living performing have that choice in what they create for their performing companies. Hopefully these videos will provide artistic stimulation for everyone, no matter where you are in acrobatics.