Circus acrobats. Types of acrobatics

Like many other types of circus genre, acrobatics came to us from antiquity. IN great attention paid attention to the harmonious and equilateral physical development of man. This led to the creation a separate type art - acrobatics.

Her admirers constantly improved their bodies, strengthened their muscles, and did stretching. Thanks to this, the muscles of the arms, neck, and back became as strong as the legs. That is why they easily do somersaults and land smoothly, and walk freely on their hands. The word “acrobat” itself is translated from Greek as “one who walks on his toes.”

In Crete, games with bulls were held during the harvest. “Playing” with the bulls, the acrobat turned somersaults around him, jumped, that is, gracefully dodged his horns. This can be judged by studying the frescoes of Knossos (Knossos Palace) and Agia Triada.

On the golden cups found in Sparta, acrobats deftly perform coups, and then grab the bull by the horns and “saddle” it. Homer's poems The Iliad and The Odyssey also contain references to acrobatics. IN Ancient Rome all traveling artists - acrobats - were called circulators. By the way, very often they combined all the skills.

"Dark" Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, the church, as usual, considered most forms of art to be machinations evil spirits. Therefore, acrobatics was more nomadic. However, already in the Renaissance, a competition was organized specifically for acrobats in Italy. In front of the crowd, each team builds a tall, living pyramid. The winner was the one that consisted of 30 people and had a height of more than 9 meters.

In the 16th century, the first manual on Tuccaro acrobatics was written. It was expanded and republished by Streli. In his book “Acrobatics and Acrobats” he described many exercises, mistakes and how to avoid them. paid separate chapter partner support and insurance.

Buffoons are jacks of all trades

Acrobatics, as a genre of circus art, appeared in the 18th century. In Rus' - even later. At the same time, they were acrobats, gymnasts, clowns, and satirists. Their performances and travels from city to city became the prototype of nomadic circuses.

Acrobatics in the modern circus

On the stage you can see power (sports) acrobatics, shoulder (vaulting), equestrian, and jumping. Nowadays, artists are not limited in equipment. They use a trampoline, an upside-down board, and springboards. But the main exercises they perform remain backflips and hand walks.

And, if an artist has mastered acrobatics well, he can easily master other circus genres that require flexibility and muscle strength: gymnastics and balancing act.

§ Circus acrobatics

Circus acrobatics is a set of circus acts characterized by certain means and only their inherent effective features. In the circus, acrobatics occupy a dominant position. Gymnasts, jugglers, and even clowns can perform acrobatic techniques. Types of circus acrobatics can be divided into two groups:

• 1. Dynamic (body turns: somersaults, pirouettes, rolls).
• 2. Static (maintaining balance in various positions).

Types of circus acrobatics are constantly changing and developing: jumping, power, equestrian, voltage, aerial, plastic, comic, Rhine wheel - spirals or straight rolls are performed on this apparatus, and while the wheel is moving, acrobatic and gymnastic elements are performed. The Rhine wheel consists of 2 rims made of steel tubes, connected by brackets, with grips for hands and feet. Depending on the weight of the athlete, the wheel dimensions can be from 1.5 to 2.2 m in diameter and from 0.4 to 0.6 m in width. The technique of straight rolls on the Rhine wheel is that the wheel must move at a uniform speed, and in certain place must stop. When performing spirals, the wheel touches the floor with only one rim and moves in an almost circular orbit. The preparation and training of acrobats is carried out according to the usual division of the year into 3 stages. During preparatory stage new elements and exercises are learned. The competitive period begins with competitions at lowest level and ends with national and world championships. Among circus acrobats, Chinese acrobats stand out separately.

§ Sports acrobatics

Decisive steps towards the final separation of sports acrobatics from exhibition performances were taken in 1960 Special groups competitions on the mat and in the air were cancelled. The rules clearly define only a few implements that can be used in competition. In subsequent years, sports acrobatics became one of the most spectacular sports.

Sports acrobatics- a sport, competition in performing sets of special physical exercises (jumping, strength, etc.) related to maintaining balance (balancing) and rotating the body with and without support.

Sports acrobatics- a sport, competition in performing acrobatic exercises, includes three groups of exercises: acrobatic jumping, trampoline and pair or group exercises (see appendix).

In sports acrobatics, the following disciplines are distinguished:

b soloists perform acrobatic jumps, for example, bending forward somersault, rondat, flip-flop, bending back somersault, etc.;

b pairs (women's, men's and mixed) performing static or dynamic exercises and throws, combining them with gymnastic and acrobatic jumps;

ь groups ( women's groups 3 people each and men 4 people each) - performance of static pyramids or throws, gymnastic elements are used as transitions for the aesthetic combination of exercises;

b jumping on a trampoline.

Thus, competitions in sports acrobatics consist of performing a set of exercises while maintaining balance and body rotation. Points for performance are awarded according to the same system as in artistic gymnastics. The technique for performing acrobatic jumps (jumping acrobatics) is similar to the technique for performing floor exercises in artistic gymnastics. The work of pairs is a coordinated alternation of static and dynamic elements. To do this, it is necessary that the upper, lighter partner takes into account the laws of physics, and the lower partner applies them wisely. To perform voltages you need special technique. Voltage is a throw by the top partner (by the bottom partner) from hands to feet or vice versa. Voltages can be combined with somersaults and turns around the longitudinal axis.

IN group work the difference between static and dynamic exercises is even clearer than in pair work. Extraordinary developed sense balance in athletes is a prerequisite for the static pyramid. The pyramid must be built and fixed in such a way that the main load falls at all times on the center of gravity of the entire pyramid. Having assumed a handstand, the top partner should take a strictly vertical position so that the imaginary vertical axis runs from the tip of the toes to the hands. Performance technique dynamic exercises similar to pairs exercises with throws. During the throw, the partner rotates around the vertical, horizontal and longitudinal axes.

Both sports and circus acrobatics require appropriate material support for training and competitions. This applies to basic and additional equipment and clothing.

Mats for acrobatics are made of 15 mm felt, measuring 12x12 m. The track for jumping is on a rubber base with a felt coating, size is 1.5x25 m, the run-up length is 10-15 m. The width of the track is indicated by white stripes. In the USSR, a special jumping track was developed, which along its entire length has the same characteristics as the bridge. Training equipment includes hand and ceiling longs. Ceiling longnes are used primarily for training particularly difficult elements in the work of pairs and groups, as well as in springboard jumping, while hand longongs are used when performing acrobatic jumps.

Bagels, hats and pads are used as additional equipment, which can also be used during competitions.

Women wear gymnastic leotards, men wear long gymnastic trousers and T-shirts; Gymnastic slippers are required.

Sports acrobatics is included in International Federation gymnastics (FIG) along with sports, rhythmic and general gymnastics, as well as sports aerobics.

As a type of sports acrobatics, which later emerged as independent species sports, we can highlight skiing and parachute acrobatics.

§ Ski acrobatics

This is one of the elements of freestyle skiing. Athletes perform jumps and somersaults from springboards. Points are awarded for take-off technique, height and length of flight, shape of elements and landing. In ski acrobatics, athletes perform a series of two jumps of varying difficulty from a specially profiled springboard. There are 3 types of springboards: large (triple) (height 4.05 m, slope 70°); medium (double) (3.5 m, 65°); small (salt) (2.1 m, 55°). The landing mountain must be covered loose snow. Points are awarded for take-off technique, flight path, figure and landing. 5 judges evaluate the figure (out of 7 points), 2 judges evaluate the landing (out of 3 points). The highest and lowest scores for the flight are discarded, the remaining 3 scores are summed up. The average score is derived from the landing scores and multiplied by 3. Amounts received for the flight (maximum - 21 points) and landing (maximum - 9 points), added and multiplied by the element’s difficulty coefficient. By the largest number points determines the winner. On this moment, unofficial record is the sum of points - 268.7.

§ Parachute acrobatics

When executing elements Parachute, or canopy, acrobatics, parachutists form figures, coming into direct contact with other athletes. In the arsenal of any type of acrobatics a large number of stunts varying in complexity and entertainment. All of them are based on basic types of movements: somersaults forward and backward, handstands, coups. Like any sport, aerobics requires compliance with safety rules. This mainly concerns clothes for classes and the arrangement of the room. During training, it is prohibited to wear non-sports clothing and shoes; you must remove watches, chains, and bracelets.

One of the favorite and most spectacular circus genres is acrobatics, known since the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Rome, Byzantium and Greece. Information about acrobatic competitions is also found in Homer's Odyssey. Moscow circuses offer you a variety of acrobatic attractions, many of which are unique and noted highest awards international circus festivals:

• Acrobat on a motorcycle, in addition to the impressive elements of balance, which he performs flawlessly, in his act the artist uses a hat, which not only becomes his partner, but also beautiful instrument in the hands of an extreme acrobat.
• Roller acrobats- this group of young artists already has more than one award for their skills, they are laureates International competition in Korea and have a Gold Medal at the International Competition for Young Performers in Moscow. Roller circus performers can easily do what others cannot do without rollers. They jump over each other, perform complex pirouettes, somersaults, handstands, and all this in fast pace, with enthusiasm and courage..
• Acrobats with flip boards- a unique number in complexity, in which acrobats not only perform record-breaking tricks, including double and triple somersaults, but do it on giant stilts; this is extremely rare in the arena. The unique circus acrobatic act was enthusiastically received in many countries, including Norway, Sweden, Mongolia, France, Austria, and Japan.
• Eccentric acrobats on an original bicycle- an incredible giant bicycle becomes a platform for inventive and funny acrobats who perform the most incredible tricks on it; they use the bicycle wheel as a trampoline.
• Vaulting acrobats- This unique group of acrobats has many different prizes including Grand Prize International Festival circus art in Monte Carlo - "Golden Clown" - in the circus world this award is like the Oscar in the film industry. The work of these twelve acrobats is so unique that a film was made about them documentary, telling about what was found original solutions and innovation of athletes.
• Aerial vaulting acrobats on a swinging platform- this is a unique circus genre and in the whole world there are only two aerial acrobatic acts on a swinging platform; in the circus on Vernadsky you can see one of them. At a huge height under the circus dome on a swinging platform, acrobats perform record-breaking tricks: triple backflips, blanges, and graceful long jumps from a height of 14 meters.
• Russian stick acrobats- these circus performers came to the arena from professional sports, they are Masters of Sports, champions of Russia among juniors, this training helps them perform record-breaking tricks - triple somersault, double somersault with pirouette, double somersault bending over. And although the show is only two years old, the artists have already managed to captivate audiences in New Zealand, Europe, Latin America and Japan.
• Acrobats on poles- the artists don’t just demonstrate a number, they perform a whole performance, and you can’t deny them the acting skills. With enviable ease and without insurance, they perform somersaults, somersaults with pirouettes, somersaults blanche, three somersaults with precise landing on a narrow crossbar; the artists perform all these tricks of record complexity with humor, amusing the audience and delighting them with their acting inventions. Behind highest level complexity and acting Pole acrobats received awards: bronze at the 6th International Festival in China, bronze All-Russian festival circus art in Yaroslavl, a silver medal at the International Festival in Budapest.

You can get to know the circus art better in the following sections of the site.

The term "acrobatics" was born in Ancient Greece. "Akrobates" translated from Greek means "one who walks on toes" ("akros" - one who is on the end, "bitis" - to walk). The ancient Hellenes gave great importance harmonious human development; Special attention they devoted it to physical perfection. Acrobatics is based on mastery of the body and high muscle development.

Many years before our era, acrobatics were known in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Byzantium. Moreover, acrobats were then called not only acrobats themselves, but also traveling artists, tightrope walkers, and dancers.

In one of the songs of Homer’s “Odyssey,” the author told how the feasters were entertained by two “jumpers” who “coordinated their jumps with the ringing lyre... galloped nimbly.” On about. Crete in 1500 BC acrobatic games with bulls were widespread (represented on the frescoes and reliefs of the Knossos Palace); stone carvings from Egypt (1150 BC) indicate that Egyptian acrobats knew how to stand on their heads, on their hands, jump from feet to hands and with hands to feet through sharp swords, roll over the two of you back over your back, perform a bridge. Grech, the historian Xenophon (430-354 BC) spoke about a Syracusan dancer who showed “twisting her body and imitating a wheel.” She jumped through a hoop studded with sharp swords.

Interest in acrobatics did not die out in the Middle Ages. The images that have come down to us (the Church of Saint-Denis in Amboise, the Church of La Chaise le Vicomte, marginal drawings from the book The Romance of Alexander") show acrobats of the 14th century performing handstands and headstands, somersaults, and pole vaults." .

There are known books on acrobatics written back in the 16th century. These are the “Textbook of somersaults” (essentially the first manual on acrobatics) and “Three dialogues on exercises in jumping and vaulting in the air” (1599), written by the prominent French acrobat Tucarro, who systematized the acrobatic elements known at that time.

On an engraving from the 16th century. Unknown artist depicted acrobats jumping from a springboard with a front somersault through 10 hoops. In the Russian diploma Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1648), who condemned the “ungodly” buffoon games, also mentioned the custom of “jumping on boards.”

During the Renaissance, “living architecture” competitions were held in Venice. Acrobats competed in their ability to build pyramids, the height of which reached 9 m, and the number of acrobats in one pyramid was up to 30. Art cf. centuries-old acrobats did not yet know the division into different Roles.

In the circus, professional acrobatics appeared in late XVIII V. and began to develop successfully as independent genre. Thanks to the extreme variety of types, the great variety of exercises and various forms of performance, acrobatics occupies a dominant position in the circus compared to other genres. Mastery of acrobatics is necessary for every circus performer - a clown, a gymnast, a jockey, and a juggler. Acrobatics provides excellent development of all muscles.

It is known that approximately 45 percent of an adult's weight is muscle. If we consider that a person has up to six hundred muscles, then it is not difficult to imagine what a powerful motor apparatus an acrobat has, since all muscle groups are involved in the exercises he performs. Comprehensive physical development acrobatics allows the performer to successfully master other genres, such as gymnastics and balancing act.

Some types of acrobatics - power, jumping - have become widespread in sports. This, to a certain extent, was once facilitated by circus performers who, for various reasons, left work in the arena and settled in gyms as trainers. Many circus performers took part in acrobatics competitions. Demonstrating high class, they occupied top places, which, of course, served to popularize and develop acrobatics in Soviet sports.

Despite some commonality in many exercises, performance techniques and muscle efforts, circus and sports acrobatics are different in many ways. Sports acrobatics is a means of physical development and education of a person. results sporting achievements are revealed during competitions. And circus acrobatics, in addition, serves to create a work of art (act), in which each acrobatic element is not an end in itself, but a means of expressing an artistic concept.

There are many execution techniques acrobatic elements. They can be demonstrated in the arena and above the arena, using props or equipment, or without using them. Acrobatic exercises are performed by a group and solo, dynamically and statically - depending on the nature of the Pomor and the creative task. However, despite the enormous variety of tricks in acrobatics, its basis is made up of two elements - a somersault into a handstand. They support almost all trick combinations of all types of acrobatics. Without somersaults, trick combinations are very limited; you can’t do without it when working with a springboard, trampoline, throw boards, in Icarian games, and in shoulder acrobatics. Moreover, the back somersault is much more often used than the front somersault (with the exception of springboard jumping and trampolining). Some technical features of performing a front somersault limit its use - it is more difficult for the acrobat to navigate, who sees the landing point somewhat later than when performing a back somersault, and most importantly, it is difficult for the lower acrobat to catch it on the shoulders when performing a front somersault.

And power and vaulting acrobatics cannot exist without a handstand. It is widely used not only in acrobatics, but also in balancing act; Ring gymnasts and even clowns use it.

In terms of their significance and scale of application, somersaults and handstands are dominant expressive means circus art.

Literature:
Z.B. Gurevich "On the genres of the Soviet circus."
Encyclopedia " Circus art Russia"

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There are different types of acrobatics. And one of them is circus acrobatics. In this type of acrobatics, all tricks are performed without any additional sports devices or equipment.

In order to practice circus acrobatics you need to be well physically developed, as well as have excellent stretching and good endurance. Of course, as in other types of acrobatics. In order to perform all the elements perfectly, you need to constantly train, which is why acrobats constantly train gruelingly all day long.

Circus acrobatics, video you can easily look on the Internet, this will only give additional motivation, and you will see all the beauty of circus acrobatics.

HISTORY OF CIRCUS ACROBATICS

Circus professional acrobatics appeared only at the end of the 18th century, and after that moment it began to develop impressively throughout the world. Since circus acrobatics has a large number of tricks, and different exercises for an athlete, it occupies a leading place among other genres in the circus. Each of the circus workers must have acrobatics techniques, and therefore all artists practice acrobatics.

Circus acrobatics have become popular since ancient times. The Romans and Greeks were the first to conquer circus acrobatics. By this they showed their physical strength, as well as the athletic level of their skills. Christian views were completely different, and therefore it became not so popular.

In the Middle Ages, acrobats performed alone, but other acrobats performed together with court artists, as well as jesters. There was also a time that they became favorites in the courtyard, and dressed expensive things, and wore expensive jewelry. It also became very popular and was included in the Olympic Games.

Let's imagine if 45% are human muscles, of his weight, and about 600 muscles. When an athlete performs tricks, all the muscles are used, and just imagine the physical strength and endurance of the athlete.

CIRCUS ACROBATICS IN SPORTS

There are also varieties of acrobatics that are also included in sports types. Many circus acrobats who ended their careers in the circus became good coaches in different gyms. Also, a large number of artists participated in different types competitions, as well as Olympic Games, and became champions, taking first places. Thus, this developed acrobatics, both in sports and in circus acrobatics.

On the one hand, circus and sports acrobatics are not at all different, but this is not at all true. In sports acrobatics, the emphasis is on the physical development and education of the athlete. In the circus they also pay a lot of attention to this, but still here they place more emphasis on creating works of art, or simply saying numbers. In this work they want to convey the whole idea, the athlete conveys this with his movements.

There are many different exercises and routines in circus acrobatics. Athletes perform these routines both individually and in groups, using different equipment for the routine. Also, athletes can perform a number both in the arena and above it. The athlete’s main ones are a handstand or a somersault; they are used in every routine. Performing a somersault complements almost every athlete's trick, and the back somersault is more often performed than the front somersault.

CIRCUS ACROBATICS FOR CHILDREN

Circus acrobatics for children, became very popular. Parents can send their children as early as three years old. During the first year of training, children will be trained physical exercise, as well as teach the basics of different tricks.

At first these tricks will be simple, but over time, if the child masters them with ease, he will move on to more complex tricks. Also, if you give your child small, then over time he can become a champion.

CIRCUS ACROBATICS FOR WOMEN

Women's circus acrobatics, is also very popular at the moment. When practicing acrobatics, women keep their bodies in excellent shape. They have good stretching as well as endurance. Women's circus acrobatics, video you can look it up on the Internet.

During their performances, acrobats show incredible physical strength and various incredible tricks. And together with the musical accompaniment it becomes simply incredible and beautiful.

• To become a professional acrobat you need to practice from childhood, although mature age It's also possible. But you will be inferior to an athlete who has been training since an early age. Because physical prowess laid down from an early age.

Acrobats are often invited to participate in various events. Many love spectacular shows, and circus acrobats are pros at this.

MOSCOW CIRCUS SCHOOL

Well trained acrobatics, in the Moscow circus school, which is one of the best of its kind. They also teach circus power acrobatics, video which you can easily watch on the Internet, there is also a video from Moscow circus school.

These videos will motivate you and you will... great desire do circus acrobatics. You can also do acrobatics circus sports. This will certainly be a difficult path, but if you are motivated and are not going to give up, then you will succeed.