Acro & Aerial
Exchange 2026
PALMERSTON NORTH: 16th - 18th July
AUCKLAND: 1st - 3rd October
We are excited to announce a brand new partnership between Dance Pointe and The Rose Academy of Dance, bringing you an inspiring Acro & Aerial Exchange Programme designed to connect, challenge, and elevate young dancers across New Zealand.
This unique opportunity allows students to travel between Palmerston North and Auckland, experiencing the best of both worlds. Train in aerial arts at our custom-rigged studio in Palmerston North, then head to Auckland for expert acro coaching, developing strength, technique, and confidence across both disciplines.
More than just training, this programme is about building connections—meet new dancers, form friendships within the acro and aerial community, and enjoy fun bonding activities along the way.
Palmerston North Intensive | 16–18 July
Students will take part in a dynamic schedule including aerial conditioning, aerial hoop technique & choreography, acro skills, and aerial silks, finishing with an in-studio showcase.
Auckland Intensive | 1 - 3 October
Classes will include a wide range of acro such as Bridges & Walkovers, Cartwheels & Aerials, Back Handsprings, Tumbling, Hand Balancing, Partnering, and Aerial Hoop & Silks.
Entry Requirements:
Minimum age 8 years
Some classes have prerequisites, please see below for details.
Novice classes are available for those with little or no experience.
Booking Details:
Priority registration is given to students currently enrolled at Dance Pointe and The Rose Academy of Dance.
However, we warmly welcome dancers from other studios to join this exciting experience.
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$25 per individual class
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Full Palmerston North package: $250
Includes 9 aerial classes, 2 acro classes, 2 lunches, and 1 group outing.
Save 20% and receive 3 complimentary conditioning classes -
Full Auckland package: TBC
Only 20 places available, book now to reserve your spot.
Travel & accommodation
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Flights are not included and must be arranged independently (guidance will be provided to help coordinate group travel)
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We aim to organise billet hosting with local families to help keep accommodation costs affordable
This is more than a workshop—it’s an experience to grow, connect, and be inspired. We can’t wait to see dancers take flight and build lasting memories through this exciting collaboration.
Class Details
Aerial Conditioning & Flexibility
Prerequisites:
None
Work on core and compression strength, upper body conditioning, active flexibility, and mobility, with targeted exercises to improve lines, extensions, and overall body control. Expect a combination of floor-based conditioning, resistance work, and flexibility training that directly translates to cleaner technique and safer aerial practice.
Perfect as a standalone class or alongside skills training, this session will help dancers feel stronger, more confident, and performance-ready in the air.
Aerial Hoop Postures & Transitions
Prerequisites:
None, but more experienced aerialists will be given more challenging progressions.
Refine your technique and build confidence in the air with our Aerial Hoop Postures & Transitions class. This session focuses on developing clean, strong shapes on the hoop while learning how to move seamlessly between them.
Students will explore a range of foundational and intermediate postures, with an emphasis on correct alignment, engagement, and presentation. You’ll also learn how to connect skills fluidly, creating smooth, controlled transitions that elevate both technique and performance quality.
Aerial Hoop Balancing & Spinning
Prerequisites:
None, but more experienced aerialists will be given more challenging progressions.
Take your aerial skills to the next level in our Aerial Hoop Balancing & Spinning class. This session focuses on developing control, stability, and confidence while working with balance-based shapes and dynamic movement on a spinning hoop.
Students will learn how to find and hold secure balances, understand weight placement, and safely enter and exit positions. You’ll also explore the fundamentals of spinning, including how to initiate, control, and maintain spin, while keeping technique clean and composed.
Aerial Hoop Technique
Prerequisites:
At least 6 months'
aerial hoop experience
Elevate your skills in our Aerial Hoop Technique class, designed for experienced aerialists. This well-rounded session brings together key elements of aerial hoop, offering a balanced and challenging training experience.
Students will work across technique, postures, and hanging balances, refining existing skills while being guided through new and more complex skills.
Aerial Hoop Dynamics
Prerequisites:
At least 6 months'
aerial hoop experience
Designed for experienced aerialists, this session focuses on the exciting, dynamic side of hoop, exploring powerful movement that slides, rolls, and drops with control.
Students will develop the strength and technique needed for dynamic transitions, beats, momentum-based skills, and controlled spinning elements. Emphasis is placed on timing, coordination, and safe execution, ensuring dancers can generate and manage movement with confidence.
Aerial Hoop Choreography
Prerequisites:
At least 6 months'
aerial hoop experience
Students will learn how to link postures, transitions, balances, and dynamic elements into cohesive choreography, with an emphasis on musicality, timing, and performance quality. Attention will be given to flow, artistry, and the seamless use of the hoop, helping dancers move with intention and confidence.
Perfect for those looking to go beyond individual skills, this session focuses on connecting skills into fluid, expressive sequences, while refining technique, allowing aerialists to develop a more polished and engaging performance style.
Students taking these classes will learn a short combination to perform at the end of the course.
Novice Aerial Hoop
Prerequisites:
None
Start your aerial journey in our Novice Aerial Hoop class, designed for those with little to no experience. This supportive and beginner-friendly session introduces the fundamentals of aerial hoop in a safe and encouraging environment.
Students will learn basic mounts, simple poses, and foundational transitions, while building strength, coordination, and body awareness. With a focus on correct technique and confidence-building, dancers will develop the skills needed to progress to higher levels.
Perfect for beginners or those wanting to revisit the basics, this class is a fun and accessible introduction to the world of aerial arts.
Novice Aerial Silks
Prerequisites:
None, though some having aerial hoop experience is an advantage.
Designed for dancers with little to no prior silks experience, these supportive and structured sessions introduce the foundations of aerial silks in a safe and encouraging environment.
Students will learn essential skills such as basic climbs, holds, wraps, and simple poses, while developing strength, coordination, and confidence. Emphasis is placed on correct technique, safe practice, and building a strong aerial foundation step by step.
Dancers are welcome to take one or both novice silks classes. The second session is designed to consolidate skills learned in the first class, while also offering the opportunity to progress into new movements, skills, and challenges as confidence grows.
Bridges & Walkovers
Prerequisites:
Students must have a solid bridge.
Students who do not yet have their kickover will work on these as the progression to walkovers.
Develop strength, control, and confidence in our Bridges & Walkovers class. This acro-focused session is designed to improve flexibility, spinal mobility, and core and upper body strength, while working towards clean and safe execution of bridge and walkover skills.
Students will progress through a structured approach to bridges, kickovers, and walkovers, with emphasis on technique, alignment, and safe progressions. Drills and conditioning exercises are used to support correct movement patterns and build the strength required for more advanced acro skills.
Perfect for dancers looking to improve their acro foundations or advance their existing walkover technique, this class builds both confidence and capability in a supportive training environment.
Cartwheels & Aerials
Prerequisites:
Students should be able to perform a solid 2 handed-cartwheel.
Students will work at their current progression level towards an aerial cartwheel.
Develop strength, control, and confidence in our Cartwheels & Aerials class. This session focuses on refining acro fundamentals while building towards the aerial cartwheel in a safe and structured environment.
Students will work through targeted drills, shaping exercises, and technique progressions designed to improve alignment, momentum, and take-off mechanics. A strong emphasis is placed on correct cartwheel technique as the foundation for successful aerial development.
For students who are close to achieving their aerial cartwheel, there may be opportunities to attempt the skill with coach spotting, ensuring safety and correct execution.
Timetables
PALMERSTON NORTH
Thursday 16th July
1:30 pm - 1:50 pm: Meet & Greet
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Aerial Conditioning & Flexibility
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Aerial Hoop Postures & Transitions
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Aerial Hoop Balancing & Spinning
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Bridges & Walkovers
Guests go with host families
Friday 17th July
10:00 am - 10:30 am: Aerial Conditioning & Flexibility
10:30 am - 11:30 am: Aerial Hoop Technique
11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Aerial Hoop Dynamics
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Aerial Hoop Choreography
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Novice Aerial Hoop
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm: Afternoon Break
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm: Novice Aerial Silks
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Cartwheels & Aerials
Group activity evening
Saturday 18th July
10:00 am - 10:30 am: Aerial Conditioning & Flexibility
10:30 am - 11:30 am: Novice Aerial Silks
11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Aerial Hoop Choreography
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm: In studio Performance
Farewells