Acrobatics

History

Acrobatic traditions are found in many cultures, and there is evidence that the earliest such traditions occurred thousands of years ago. For example, Minoan art from contains depictions of acrobatic feats on the backs of bulls. Ancient Greeks practiced acrobatics, and the noble court displays of the European Middle Ages would often include acrobatic performances that included juggling.

In China, acrobatics have been a part of the culture since the Tang dynasty (618–907). Acrobatics were part of village harvest festivals. During the Tang dynasty, acrobatics saw much the same sort of development as European acrobatics saw during the Middle Ages, with court displays during the 7th through 10th century dominating the practice. Acrobatics continues to be an important part of modern Chinese variety art.

Though the term initially applied to tightrope walking, in the 19th century, a form of performance art including circus acts began to use the term as well. In the late 19th century, tumbling and other acrobatic and gymnastic activities became competitive sport in Europe.

Acrobatics has often served as a subject for fine art. Examples of this are paintings such as Acrobats at the Cirque Fernando (Francisca and Angelina Wartenberg) by Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, which depicts two German acrobatic sisters, and Acrobats in a Paris suburb by Viktor Vasnetsov.

Types

Acrobalance

Main article: Acrobalance

Acrobalance is a floor based acrobatic art that involves balances, lifts and creating shapes performed in pairs or groups.

Acro dance

Main article: Acro dance

Acro dance is a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements.

Aerial

Aerial is acrobatics performed in the air on a suspended apparatus.

Trapeze

Main article: Trapeze

A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a support. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or flying, and may be performed solo, double, triple or as a group act.

Corde lisse

Main article: Corde lisse

Corde lisse is a skill or act that involves acrobatics on a vertically hanging rope. The name is French for "smooth rope".

Cloud swing

Main article: Cloud swing

Cloud swing is a skill that usually combines static and swinging trapeze skills, drops, holds and rebound lifts.

Cradle

Main article: Cradle (circus act)

Cradle (also known as aerial cradle or casting cradle) is a type of aerial circus skill in which a performer hangs by their knees from a large rectangular frame and swings, tosses, and catches another performer

Silks

Main article: Aerial silk

Aerial silks is a type of aerial skill in which one or more artists perform aerial acrobatics while hanging from a long length of fabric suspended from a frame or ceiling.

Hoop

Main article: Aerial hoop

Aerial hoop (also known as the lyra, aerial ring or cerceau/''cerceaux''') is a circular steel apparatus (resembling a hula hoop) suspended from the ceiling or a frame, on which artists may perform aerial acrobatics. It can be used static, spinning, or swinging.

Gallery of aerial artists

| File:Steben Twins.jpeg|A fixed doubles trapeze act | File:Pirates of the Sky 6.jpg|Aerial hoop act | File:Immortal Circus.jpg|Aerial silks

Contortion

Main article: Contortion

Contortion (sometimes contortionism) is a performance art in which performers called contortionists showcase their skills of extreme physical flexibility

| File:An acrobat performing in the contortion act of Cirque du Soleil's Nouvelle Expérience, 1994.jpg|Contortionist performing with Cirque du Soleil

Rope and wire walking

Main article: Tightrope walking, Slacklining

Tightrope walking, also called funambulism, is the skill of walking along a thin wire or rope. Its earliest performance has been traced to Ancient Greece. It is commonly associated with the circus. Other skills similar to tightrope walking include slack rope walking and slacklining.

| File:Acrobat.jpg|High wire act | File:Korea-Jeonju-Jultagi-02.jpg|Korean tightrope-walking, Jultagi

Tumbling

Main article: Tumbling (gymnastics)

Tumbling is an acrobatic skill involving rolls, twists, somersaults and other rotational activities using the whole body. Its origin can be traced to ancient China, Ancient Greece and ancient Egypt. Tumbling continued in medieval times and then in circuses and theatre before becoming a competitive sport.

References

References

1. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Da%29krobate%2Fw ἀκροβατέω], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''[[A Greek–English Lexicon]]'', [[Perseus Project]]
2. (June 2014). "Bronze Age acrobats: Denmark, Egypt, Crete". World Archaeology.
3. "redpanda2000".
4. "Chinese - Languages and ESL Division - Pasadena City College".
5. "Circus Dictionary". National Institute of Circus Arts.
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7. "Tumbling {{!}} acrobatics".