If your child is forever attempting cartwheels across the living room and using the sofa as a crash mat, you've probably wondered whether there's a class that lets them do all that — safely, and with someone who actually knows how to teach it. That's Acro. Here's a friendly, no-jargon guide for families in Northstowe and the surrounding villages, whether you're weighing up clubs for September or just curious what it all involves.
Acro (short for acrobatic dance) blends the grace of dance with the strength and tumbling skills of gymnastics. Think cartwheels, bridges, balances, walkovers and, further down the line, handsprings and aerials — all taught to flow beautifully into dance, rather than as stand-alone “tricks.”
At Stardust, our Acro programme is certified under Acrobatic Arts, a globally recognised syllabus used by schools around the world. It breaks learning into clear, sensible steps across five skill areas — flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering and tumbling — so every child develops evenly and never gets pushed past what their body is ready for. It's a proper pathway, not a free-for-all.
This is the first question most parents ask, and quite rightly. The short answer is yes — when it's taught properly, which is the whole point of a certified class.
Safety comes before skill in every single session. That means:
Children only move on to a new skill when they've mastered the one before it. There's no pressure and no leaping ahead — just solid foundations and steady, confident progress.
Our Acro classes are designed for school-aged children, starting from age 4 (Reception) in our Levels 1–2 beginner groups, right the way up to age 17 in our advanced tumbling classes. If your child is younger, our early-years Fairytale Ballet® classes are a lovely first step, and Acro is a brilliant class to move into once they've started school.
Because classes are grouped by both age and ability, a child who's brand new sits comfortably alongside others at the same stage — whatever their year group. After a trial, we'll always recommend the group that's the best fit, so your child feels settled rather than out of their depth.
It's a common question, and the two do overlap. Traditional gymnastics is usually apparatus-based (beams, bars, vaults) and geared towards competition. Acro is floor-based and rooted in dance — the goal is for those cartwheels, balances and walkovers to fold seamlessly into a routine.
For lots of families, Acro is the friendlier, more creative route: your child gets the strength, flexibility and tumbling of gymnastics, plus the performance, music and confidence of dance, all in one supportive class.
Every class follows a clear, safe structure, so children always know what's coming:
Teachers use mats, spotting and gentle guidance throughout, so children learn correct technique and feel genuinely proud of every new skill.
Parents often tell us the biggest changes happen outside the studio. Acro builds:
As one local parent, Jill from Longstanton, put it:
My daughter loves all the strength challenges and has improved so much since she started Acro with you.
Keep it simple, especially for a first class. Comfy clothes they can move and stretch in, hair tied back and out of the face, and a water bottle. Acro is done in bare feet, so no shoes needed. Please don't rush out and buy anything special just to try us — come as you are and see if they love it first.
Our Acro classes run at Northstowe Secondary College, with free parking on site, on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings — handy whether you're after an after-school activity or a weekend one. We run everything from beginner Levels 1–2 through to advanced tumbling, so there's a class to grow into as your child progresses.
We're proud to be putting down roots in Northstowe, serving families right across the village and the surrounding communities — Longstanton, Oakington, Willingham, Over, Swavesey and beyond. Whichever class you choose, you'll get the same friendly, certified, DBS-checked teachers.
The new school year is the perfect time to begin. Classes settle into fresh groups, there are new faces starting alongside your child, and it's a lovely way to channel all that back-to-school energy into something active and confidence-building. Our Acro classes are popular and some do run a waiting list, so if you're thinking about September, it's well worth booking a trial or joining the list early to secure a spot.
The easiest way to know if it's right for your child is to come along and give it a go. You can view the timetable to find an Acro class near you, then book a trial in a couple of minutes. There's no pressure and no commitment — just a chance for your child to roll, balance and find their sparkle.
Questions before you book? Message us via our contact page — we're always happy to help you find the right class.