Acro Dance vs. Contortion — What’s the Difference, and Which is Right for You?

Are Acro Dance and Contortion the same? While they may look similar at first glance—both involving flexible, skillful movement—they serve different artistic and technical purposes.

Acro Dance combines acrobatics with dance choreography. It emphasizes flow, rhythm, and transitions through tricks like aerials, walkovers, and balances. It’s commonly seen in competitive dance and performance stages.

Contortion, on the other hand, is the art of extreme flexibility and precision control—think backbends, chest stands, and leg-overhead poses. Contortion involves holding deep positions and often requires more passive and active range than typical acrobatic movement.

At Formé by Terri, we teach with a level-based system that allows students to grow safely at their own pace. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced dancer looking to expand your movement vocabulary, you don’t have to be “born flexible”—you just need a coach who understands the process.

Common Myth: ‘‘You have to be born flexible!"
Not true! Most flexibility is trainable with the right method, time, and strength conditioning. Coach Terri is not born to be flexible. Check out coach Terri’s flexibility journey.