Flipping, Stretching & Smiling – Why Acro Dance in Ottawa is Booming

Acro Dance

When you combine the fluidity of dance with the strength and excitement of gymnastics, you get acro dance—a thrilling and empowering style that’s capturing hearts (and backflips) everywhere. If you're searching for top-tier acro dance in Ottawa, look no further than Vanessa Plettell Dance.

Acro isn’t just about tricks—it’s about technique, trust, and transformation. And at our studio, we blend safety, creativity, and strength-building to give dancers a well-rounded acro experience they’ll love from their very first cartwheel to their next level of confidence.

What is Acro Dance?

Acro dance is a fusion of classical dance technique and acrobatic elements. Think of it as the grace of ballet and jazz meeting the athleticism of gymnastics. It includes:

  • Balancing skills (like handstands and elbow stands)

  • Limbering skills (like bridges and backbends)

  • Tumbling (front and back walkovers, aerials, cartwheels)

  • Partnering and lifts

  • Flexibility and core strength development

Unlike traditional gymnastics, acro is performed on a dance floor—no springboards or mats in performance—which means dancers learn how to execute powerful movements with total control and flow.

Our classes are taught by certified instructors who understand the unique balance between artistry and athleticism. Every movement is taught progressively, with safety and proper technique as the top priorities.

Why Ottawa Families Are Loving Acro Dance

In recent years, acro dance in Ottawa has exploded in popularity—and with good reason. Parents love that it builds strength and focus. Kids love that it’s fun, exciting, and a little bit daring. And teachers love that it pushes dancers to new levels physically and mentally.

Here’s why our acro program is a hit:

Safe Skill Progression

We follow structured progressions to ensure dancers learn safely and confidently. Our instructors break down each skill step-by-step, offering spotting and modifications when needed. From cartwheels to aerials, we prioritize form and injury prevention.

Physical Benefits

Acro dancers develop excellent core strength, flexibility, balance, and spatial awareness. These skills translate across all dance styles—making acro a fantastic complement to ballet, jazz, or contemporary.

Creative Expression

At Vanessa Plettell Dance, acro isn’t just about tricks. We teach dancers how to flow between movements, tell a story, and connect with their audience. It’s this artistic edge that makes acro dance so unique and beautiful to watch.

Supportive Environment

Whether your dancer is a total beginner or has some gymnastic background, our acro classes are inclusive, encouraging, and fun. Every achievement is celebrated, and every dancer is pushed to reach their full potential—on their own timeline.

Our Acro Dance Programs

We offer acro dance in Ottawa for a wide range of ages and experience levels, including:

  • Mini Acro (ages 4–6): An introduction to movement, balance, and coordination through creative play and simple acrobatic shapes.

  • Junior Acro (ages 7–9): Students start building strength and mastering foundational skills like bridges, handstands, and safe rolls.

  • Intermediate/Teen Acro (ages 10+): Focus on advanced limbering, walkovers, balances, and the beginnings of aerial work.

  • Acro for Dancers (all levels): Perfect for dancers who want to add acro to their routines and improve versatility.

Whether your child is curious about tumbling or already dreaming of aerials and flips, there’s a class to meet them where they are—and help them grow.

Meet Our Instructors

At Vanessa Plettell Dance, our acro instructors are certified through Acrobatic Arts, a globally respected syllabus for teaching acro safely and effectively. Our teachers bring years of experience in both dance and acrobatics, along with a passion for helping students push boundaries while staying grounded—literally and figuratively.

They are trained to:

  • Teach proper spotting techniques

  • Customize progressions for different body types and strengths

  • Create choreography that blends acro into dance seamlessly

  • Keep every class engaging, goal-oriented, and fun!

Why Choose Acro Dance at Vanessa Plettell Dance?

  • ✔️ Certified, experienced instructors

  • ✔️ Safety-first progressions

  • ✔️ Small class sizes for personalized attention

  • ✔️ Age-appropriate programs from 4+

  • ✔️ Inclusive environment for all backgrounds and abilities

  • ✔️ Opportunities to perform in shows and recitals

  • ✔️ Convenient location for families across Ottawa

We’ve helped hundreds of dancers master new skills, discover new passions, and build lifelong confidence—and we can’t wait to do the same for your child.

Conclusion

If your dancer loves to move, flip, stretch, and express themselves, acro dance is the perfect fit. And when it comes to learning acro dance, Vanessa Plettell Dance offers an exceptional experience that blends strength, creativity, and heart.

Whether you're enrolling your child in their first acro class or looking for a supportive space to take their skills to the next level, our studio is ready to welcome you.

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