Acrobatics

Acrobatics is a set of skills that includes tumbling, jumping, and balancing. It may involve apparatus, such as balls, poles, and tightropes. The word acrobatics is Greek, meaning "to walk on tip-toe" or "to climb up." Much of what is regarded as acrobatics can be traced to ancient dance and entertainment activities, in particular high-wire acts. Evidence of acrobatic mastery has been found in the archaeological records of many cultures, including the Chinese and Egyptians. Acrobatics is an element of gymnastics, including competitive sport, and cheerleading. It has emerged in the twenty-first century as a competitive sport outside of gymnastics. Acrobatics commonly is employed in entertainment, such as during circuses and novelty acts. The Wallenda family, for example, is known for high-wire acrobatic performances.

Background

Acrobatics has been traced to the ancient Greek traditions of military training and dance. Soldiers were expected to master physical feats that displayed their fitness and readiness for battle. They also participated in many dances, including actions involving swords and often acrobatic feats. Pyrrhic dance, for example, is a martial dance that Athenians and Spartans learned in basic military training. It includes gymnastic moves that resemble battle, and the armor-clad participants use shields and swords.

Feats of acrobatic skill were also performed by ropewalkers. These included oribats, who danced on ropes; neurobats, who walked on ropes at extreme heights; schoenobats, who crossed ropes rapidly; and acrobats, who performed tricks on the ropes. All forms of rope walking were combined under the word funambulus in 260 BCE. The word derives from the terms funis, which means "rope," and ambulare, meaning "to walk." Ropewalkers, who were popular in both Greece and Rome, were viewed as possessing almost magical abilities and were accorded special status.

Because ropewalkers were viewed as performers in Rome, they were not permitted to compete in public games. This distinction led practitioners to focus on theatrical performances. They began working and traveling with unscrupulous bands of performers, developing satirical works that targeted politics and society. By remaining on the move, they were generally spared from retribution for their pointed commentary.

The Romans began attempting to conquer Britain in 55 BCE. Eventually, they succeeded and introduced a number of Roman traditions, including the fair, or festival, to the isles. The spread of Christianity encouraged celebrations on saints' feast days, and many fairs were held near churches or cathedrals. Performers, including ropewalkers, frequented fairs. They would often set up ropes about 12 feet (3.6 meters) above the ground and surround the tightrope with a tent. At some fairs, merchants paid ropewalkers to perform in open-air venues to draw crowds.

Many ropewalkers challenged the stricter modesty of their audiences by raising the ropes to extreme heights—which inspired fear in onlookers—and adding new elements to performances, such as disrobing and redressing on the wires. By the fifth century CE, however, church leaders began banning ropewalkers and other traveling troupes from performing at fairs on church properties. The religious leaders felt that the performers were thieves and drunkards with loose morals, but not all leaders of society rejected them. Over many centuries throughout Europe, monarchs favored ropewalkers and other acrobats at celebrations.

Some acrobatic traditions have endured for centuries. Balancing on a ball or barrel, for example, was part of Christian feast day celebrations dating back to the Middle Ages, and may date even to ancient bacchanalian festivals. A time-honored tradition known as the drunk going home probably originated during the seventeenth century in France. The high-wire act involves an acrobat pretending to be inebriated. Throughout the routine, the artist seems on the point of falling off, yet despite numerous missteps and apparent losses of balance, makes it safely across to the platform. Such performances may include juggling, sitting on or hanging from the wire, and multiple changes of direction.

Overview

The Wallenda family of acrobats became internationally recognized for performances on the high wire. The family's performing tradition dates back to the eighteenth century and endures into the twenty-first century. Wallenda members are known for completing many stunts, including wire walks across the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. A hallmark of the Wallenda acts is to operate without a safety net. A number of family members have been injured and even killed performing high-wire walks. In 2017, for instance, five members of the troupe were injured performing an eight-person pyramid stunt on a high wire without a net.

Acrobatics took a new turn in 1959, when French acrobat Jules Léotard introduced the first flying trapeze act. He created the act over a swimming pool. This new entertainment featured acrobats who performed twists and flips between swinging bars. The acrobatic feats became increasingly complex.

Acrobatics further developed in two directions in the early twentieth century. The branch that relies on apparatus, such as ropes and trapezes, endures in entertainment such as the circus. The focus on pyramids and tumbling was primarily focused on exhibiting physical fitness. This branch quickly evolved into competitive sport, first in the Soviet Union (modern Russian states) and then in many other countries.

Several competitive associations involving acrobatics were created. International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) competitive gymnastics includes women's pairs, men's pairs, mixed pairs, women's groups, and men's groups. Exercises are performed on a sprung gymnastics floor and are choreographed to music. Competitors participate in three exercises: balance, dynamic, and combined. Balance exercises focus on agility, balance, flexibility, and strength. Dynamic exercises focus on flight, such as throws and catches. Judges score participants on artistic merit, difficulty, and technical execution.

Competitors in acrobatic gymnastics first learn the basics of gymnastics, such as somersaults and other tumbling and jumping skills. Athletes also work with partners and learn moves that are performed by teams of two or more people. These may involve throws, pyramids, and other formations.

Although acrobatic gymnastics is not an Olympic sport, acrobatics are integral to many events in both womens and mens gymnastics, including floor exercises, the men's rings, and vault. In 2016, the International Olympic Committee announced that acrobatic gymnastics would be included as a medal event in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Tumbling and other moves have been a part of cheerleading since the 1940s, but the routines have become increasingly complex. Competitive cheer teams incorporate acrobatics into their performances. In the United States, organizations such as the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association promote acrobatics and tumbling as a competitive sport to give female gymnasts more opportunities. Teams compete in a variety of events, including acro (acrobatic skills), pyramid, toss, and tumbling. Another event includes up to twenty-four athletes on a team performing synchronized choreography set to music.

Bibliography

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"Funambulus—A Potted History." Blondin Memorial Trust, www.blondinmemorialtrust.com/funambulus. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

“Gravity-Defying Opening Ceremony Make Olympic History.” Federation Internationale De Gymnastique, 10 Aug. 2018, www.gymnastics.sport/site/news/displaynews.php?urlNews=2218829. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Mettler, Katie. "'The Show Must Go On:' Five Acrobats of Famed Wallenda Troupe Injured Falling 25 Feet during Pyramid Stunt." Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/02/09/the-show-must-go-on-five-acrobats-of-famed-wallenda-troupe-fall-25-feet-during-pyramid-stunt/?utm‗term=.d6b66ea9a6a6. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Mulkey, Felecia. "Meet the Newest Sport for Women: Acrobatics and Tumbling." Guardian, 30 Aug. 2013, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/30/new-sport-acrobatics-and-tumbling. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Polak, Ewa. "History of Acrobatic Gymnastics." International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), June 2014, www.gymnastics.sport/site/pages/disciplines/acro-history.php. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.