12 MOST COMMON SIDE AERIAL PROBLEMS IN ACRO (and how to fix them)

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The side aerial is an exciting AcroDance skill, but getting it consistent, powerful, and technically sound takes more than just throwing yourself sideways and hoping for the best!

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Whether you're a dancer working toward your first aerial or an instructor helping students refine their technique, understanding the most common side aerial mistakes can make a huge difference in your training.

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At All Things Acro, we believe that strong AcroDance skills are built on proper alignment, sound technique, and confident, fearless movement. Let's break down 12 common side aerial problems, why they happen, and the drills and corrections that can help you work toward a stronger aerial.

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1. Using Too Much of a Run

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The problem: Relying on a big run to generate momentum instead of developing proper aerial mechanics.

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A long, fast approach can make an aerial look low, long, and whippy. It can also encourage dancers to depend on lateral momentum rather than the lift, rotation, and body positions required to execute the skill efficiently.

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How to fix it:

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• Train from standing or with a small, controlled approach.

• Focus on generating power through proper technique rather than speed alone.

• Build consistency in your takeoff mechanics before adding more momentum.

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The goal is to create an aerial that is powerful and controlled, not simply fast.

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2. Incorrect Arm Swing

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The problem: The arm swing is mistimed, unintentional, or doesn't contribute effectively to vertical lift.

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Your arms play an important role in generating lift and coordinating the movement of your body. When the swing is poorly timed, you can lose valuable height and momentum.

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How to fix it:

• Return to basic arm-swing mechanics.

• Practise coordinating the arm swing with the takeoff.

• Use video feedback to identify timing issues and improve the flow of the skill.

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Sometimes, small adjustments to the timing of your arms can make a noticeable difference in the overall movement.

3. Not Bringing the Chest Toward the Knee

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The problem: The chest doesn't drop sufficiently toward the front working leg.

This position helps initiate the body's movement and supports efficient rotation. If the chest stays too upright, the dancer may struggle to generate the correct pathway into the aerial.

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How to fix it:

• Think "chest to knee" during the initiation of the skill.

• Practise fast cartwheels starting from one knee to reinforce the correct body position.

• Focus on coordinating the torso with the working leg rather than throwing the legs independently.

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Developing this body position in a simpler skill can help reinforce the mechanics needed for an aerial.

4. A Weak Back-Leg Kick

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The problem: The back-leg kick lacks power, speed, or controlled intensity.

The back leg contributes to the momentum and shape of the aerial. If the kick is too passive, the skill may lack the power needed to travel through the movement efficiently.

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How to fix it:

• Incorporate targeted back-leg kick drills.

• Develop single-leg strength and control.

• Practise generating a powerful, deliberate kick without sacrificing body alignment.

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The aim is not simply to kick harder. It's to develop a kick that is powerful, well-timed, and controlled.

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5. Dropping the Arm Across the Body

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The problem: The arm drops across the front of the body instead of pulling behind.

This can interfere with the intended movement pathway and make it harder to coordinate the torso and rotation.

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How to fix it:

Try the cue "Clap your hands behind your back!"

This imagery gives dancers a more tangible way to understand where the arm should travel. It can help establish the brain-body connection needed to translate a verbal correction into physical movement.

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Use the cue during appropriate preparatory drills before applying it to the full skill.

6. Not Rotating Fast Enough

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The problem: The body doesn't complete the rotation quickly enough to bring the legs through and prepare for landing.

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Aerials require coordinated rotation, not just sideways travel. If the rotation is too slow, a dancer may struggle to complete the skill without reaching for the floor.

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How to fix it:

• Use cartwheels down a cheese mat to develop awareness of faster rotation.

• If a cheese mat isn't available, a suitably designed and stable modified mat stack may be an alternative under qualified supervision.

• Focus on the quality and timing of the rotation rather than simply trying to move faster.

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Use progressions appropriate to the dancer's current skill level and avoid increasing speed before the basic mechanics are consistent.

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7. Not Getting Enough Height

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The problem: The aerial travels forward and sideways but doesn't achieve enough vertical lift.

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Insufficient height may be caused by a timing or technique issue, a strength limitation, or a combination of both.

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How to fix it:

• Incorporate single-leg strength exercises.

• Work on takeoff power and the timing of the arm swing and leg drive.

• Review video to determine whether the main limitation is technical, physical, or both.

Building strength is important, but strength alone won't correct poor timing. The goal is to combine power with efficient mechanics to create more lift.

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8. Not Achieving a Wide Enough Split

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The problem: The legs don't separate sufficiently during the aerial, limiting the efficiency and shape of the movement.

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Insufficient split position can make it harder to move smoothly through the aerial pathway, particularly when a dancer struggles to achieve the necessary flexibility from a modified needle position.

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How to fix it:

• Break down the needle position and work toward greater standing split flexibility.

• Incorporate dynamic split exercises once the foundational flexibility is established.

• Use visualization to reinforce the feeling of reaching a wide split in the air.

  
  

Remember that flexibility is only one part of the equation. Dancers also need the active strength and coordination to achieve and maintain the position dynamically.

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9. Piking the Hips

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The problem: The hips close or pike during the split instead of remaining open.

Even when a dancer has good split flexibility, the position can become compressed during the aerial. This can affect the overall shape and efficiency of the skill.

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How to fix it:

Try these preparatory exercises:

• Cartwheels against a wall.

• Cartwheels through a suitable tunnel or pathway.

• Straddle handstands.

• Straddle headstands, where appropriate and under qualified supervision.

• Visualization focused on maintaining an open hip position.

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These exercises can help dancers develop greater awareness of their hip position and learn to maintain an open shape while moving through inversion.

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Choose drills that match the dancer's current ability, with appropriate equipment and supervision.

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10. Landing Out of Square

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The problem: The dancer lands rotated toward the front instead of maintaining a controlled, appropriately aligned landing.

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Poor landing alignment can place unnecessary stress on the knees and hips. A successful aerial isn't just about getting through the air; it also requires control when the feet return to the floor.

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How to fix it:

• Think "knee over toe" while maintaining a square, controlled landing.

• Return to square cartwheels.

• Practise fully square flying cartwheels.

• Use a coach-approved cartwheel-off-a-stack progression to practise alignment and landing mechanics from an appropriate height.

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Prioritize controlled landings over height or distance. If a dancer consistently lands twisted or cannot control the finish, return to a simpler progression before increasing the difficulty.

11. Looking Toward the Wall Instead of the Landing

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The problem: The dancer loses control of their visual focus, often turning their eyes toward a wall rather than maintaining awareness of the landing pathway.

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Visual focus can influence how the body organizes itself during movement. Losing awareness of the landing may coincide with a disengaged core and reduced control of the torso.

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How to fix it:

• Practise cartwheels on an appropriate low beam or training surface.

• Focus on spotting the landing foot while maintaining a tight, engaged core.

• Develop consistent visual awareness through controlled progressions.

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The cue to remember is simple: where your eyes go, your body often follows.

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This drill should only be attempted on equipment appropriate to the dancer's ability, with qualified supervision and suitable safety measures.

12. Recovering Too Slowly

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The problem: The dancer focuses so much on getting over that they forget to finish the rotation and bring the torso back up quickly.

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An aerial doesn't end when the legs pass overhead. The torso needs to recover efficiently so the dancer can complete the rotation and prepare for a controlled landing.

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How to fix it:

• Practise cartwheels up a suitable mat stack to encourage a quicker torso recovery.

• Focus on bringing the chest up as the legs complete the movement.

• Work on finishing the skill with control rather than allowing the torso to remain low.

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A strong recovery helps the aerial feel more complete, connected, and controlled.

Bonus Tip: Don't Rush to Take Your Hands Away

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One of the most important parts of learning an aerial is knowing when to keep using your progressions.

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Just because you've learned the progressions doesn't mean you need to stop using them.

Sometimes, dancers become so focused on achieving the final skill that they rush past the foundational work that helped them develop it in the first place. Continue using appropriate progressions to reinforce technique, build consistency, and identify weaknesses before they become habits.

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Mental training can also play a valuable role. Visualization, positive performance cues, and a structured mental training plan can help dancers manage fear, challenge limiting beliefs, and approach the skill with greater confidence.

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Confidence matters, but it should be built alongside technical readiness rather than used as a substitute for it.

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Putting It All Together: Build a Better Side Aerial

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When a side aerial isn't working, the answer isn't always to throw it harder, run faster, or attempt it repeatedly. The key is identifying why the skill isn't working and choosing drills that address the underlying issue.

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Start by assessing the basics:

• Takeoff: Are you generating lift through effective timing and technique?

• Arm swing: Are your arms contributing to the movement at the right time?

• Body position: Are your chest, hips, and legs moving through the correct pathways?

• Rotation: Are you completing the rotation efficiently?

• Landing: Can you finish the skill with control and appropriate alignment?

• Mindset: Are you building confidence through consistent, well-chosen progressions?

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Side aerial development takes patience, repetition, and thoughtful coaching. Every dancer will have different strengths and challenges, so it's important to individualize drills rather than assume every technical issue has the same cause.

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Train with a qualified acro instructor, use appropriate mats and progressions, and avoid attempting new aerial variations or elevated drills without proper supervision.

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At All Things Acro, our mission is to serve the AcroDance community with high-quality mats and training gear that support proper alignment, enhance technique, and inspire confident, fearless movement.

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Keep refining the details, trust the process, and remember: strong skills are built one good progression at a time.

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