From a Tumbling Teacher (whos taught a lot of aerials)
Side aerials have become the craze for competition dancers. Just having your aerial isn’t enough, it must also be technically correct! Below are some tips and tricks to get your side aerial and make it competition-ready!
- Square Cartwheel
To get a clean aerial you must do a cartwheel with your hips facing the way you’re going at the beginning and your hips facing the way you came at the end!
- High and Pop Cartwheels
A high cartwheel is waiting to put your hands down and a pop is pulling your hands up at the end. Try both separately and then put them together. Shrinking the time between the two until you only tap the floor.
- The Hurdle
The hurdle’s main purpose is to provide you with energy. You must let your hurdle drive you up and over. Careful to not throw yourself onto the floor but throw yourself up!
- Your Focus (where is your head)
Never hold your focus on the floor. Your eyes should be going where you want to go, and if you lock them on the ground then you won’t be able to push up into your aerial. Look at the other side of the room as you prep instead of down!
- Try high Cartwheels from your knees
High cartwheels from your knee are a hard task but they help you build up the strength to hit a strong aerial. While going from your knee think of driving power from your back leg kicking as hard as possible!
- Visualize
You have to visualize yourself completing the skill to have the confidence to complete it! Believe you can!
Leave any other tips you’ve learned below!