Acrobatic gymnastics (Acro) is the gymnastics discipline where partnerships of gymnasts work together and perform acrobatic moves, dance and tumbling, set to music on a 12m x 12m sprung floor. It is performed in pairs or groups usually in the following partnerships: - 2 females (women's pair); 2 males (men's pair), mixed pair (a male base and female top), women's group (3 females), men's group (4 males)
The partnerships will have gymnasts of similar skill levels but vary in height but be balanced out to complement each other in order to carry out the complex moves that are part of Acro gymnastics. Some gymnasts will perform as “bases” which have supporting and/or pitching roles, while other (sometimes smaller gymnasts) will perform as “tops”
The Acro routines are performed in three different types, depending on level:
balance routine where the focus is on strength, poise and flexibility; a 'dynamic' routine which includes throws, somersaults and catches, and a 'combined' routine which includes elements from both balance and dynamic.
In competition, partnerships perform a routine to music, that has usually been choreographed specifically for them.