Acro Dance Committee holds successful meeting to plan future growth

The International Dance Organization (IDO) Acro Dance Committee held a crucial meeting to review the progress of the discipline, discuss key takeaways from the 2024 World Championships, and set the stage for future development. With 21 delegates present from 15 countries across three continents, the meeting covered competition reflections, future event planning, and strategic improvements for Acro Dance within IDO.

2024 World Championships Overview
The 2024 IDO World Championships in Acrobatic Dance took place in Kielce, Poland, on November 29-30. This marked the first official World Championship for the discipline, featuring 247 competitors from 13 countries and three continents. The largest teams came from Romania (57 competitors), Canada (46), the USA (45), and the United Kingdom (44). While group and formation categories performed on the main stage, solo and duo competitors faced limited backstage and audience capacity. Despite these challenges, the event successfully showcased a high level of performance, with several standout routines impressing both judges and attendees.

Acro Dance remains a relatively new IDO discipline, but its unique nature demands increased focus on education for trainers, choreographers, and judges. The judging panel in Kielce, composed of experienced Performing Arts judges with gymnastics and acrobatics backgrounds, provided valuable insights into the scoring and execution of the discipline. Additionally, the Modern Forum held at the event facilitated discussions on the future of Acro Dance. Representatives from the USA also extended an invitation to their upcoming 2025 event in Atlantic City.

Discussion and Future Competitions
Delegates shared positive feedback about the World Championships, with representatives from Germany, the USA, and other nations expressing enthusiasm for Acro Dance’s development. Germany confirmed its interest in participating in future events, signaling the discipline’s expansion across Europe.

Looking ahead, the Continental Acro Dance Cup is scheduled to take place in Atlantic City, USA, from July 11-13, 2025. The event will feature a welcome party, masterclasses, scholarships, and international participation. Poland, Gibraltar, and Turkiye have already expressed plans to compete, while South Africa’s participation remains under discussion. Hana Svehlova, IDO Vice-President for Dance Sport Rules, encouraged European countries to support this event, emphasizing the strong commitment of North American nations to IDO competitions in Europe.

Additionally, the next World Championships have been applied for November 17-23, 2025, to be held alongside Performing Arts and Show Dance competitions. Venue details will be announced soon.

Election of Committee Chairperson
The meeting also included the election of the new IDO Acro Dance Committee Chairperson. Bonnie Dyer (Canada) was unanimously elected to the position. In her remarks, Bonnie thanked Poland for organizing the 2024 event and expressed optimism about Acro Dance’s future in IDO. She emphasized the need for enhanced education for trainers and judges, along with the importance of enforcing clear rules and competition standards.

Next Steps
Delegates agreed on the importance of structured education, with workshops planned for Atlantic City in 2025.

The next Acro Dance Committee meeting is expected to be held in person during one of the 2025 Acro Dance events.

#IDOWorldDance #AcroDance