Feedback on Dynamite, Emilia's, Xtreme Acro & Cheer?

[Anonymous]

Anyone have experience with/feedback on Xtreme Acro & Cheer, Dynamite (in Bethesda), or Emilia's?

Looking for first-time gymnastics or tumbling classes for an 8 year old girl who's mostly interested in learning floor skills and is unlikely to want to compete, so hoping for classes that are fun and low-pressure but teach solid skills (and a gym that's good safety-wise.) Also open to other suggestions within 20 minutes or so from Silver Spring...

[Anonymous]

If you know for sure she won’t want to compete, do tumbling-only class at a gymnastics gym with a sprung floor. Depending on the cheer gym, they may not have sprung floors and there’s no reason to risk injury on cheer floors.

[Anonymous]

Xtreme has a spring floor. Acrobatic gymnastics is done on the same 40x40 floor as artistic gymnastics. Same for Emilia's. Both are elite-level acro gyms.

OP, I don't know their current offerings at those gyms, but I do agree with suggestion of looking into tumbling-only classes. Or possibly trampoline and tumbling.

Silver Stars is another option, if you haven't ruled them out already. Fairland might work as well, but since they're PG park and rec it may be harder or even almost impossible for non county residents to get a spot. Otherwise, I'd go with the gym closest to you that have a class time that works for you.

[Anonymous]

My kids went to all three of these. My answer is this. If there is no chance they will want to compete, pick the most convenient in terms of class times and locations.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't say there's no chance she'll want to compete, I just think it's pretty unlikely (and if she did, it would likely be only if it was a more casual team rather than a really intense one requiring tons of practicing.) Does that change anything?

Also it looks like most of the tumbling classes also involve trampoline, is that typical?

[Anonymous]

Don’t know about other two but Xtreme was great for my kid. NEVER do Silver Stars. Safety issues galore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say there's no chance she'll want to compete, I just think it's pretty unlikely (and if she did, it would likely be only if it was a more casual team rather than a really intense one requiring tons of practicing.) Does that change anything?

Also it looks like most of the tumbling classes also involve trampoline, is that typical?

Emilia's and Xtreme are both primarily acro gyms. Neither of them offer competitive artistic (Olympic) gymnastics.

Acro is less intense than artistic, imo, until you reach the top levels.

Many gyms that offer artistic teams have added Xcel programs. The Development Program (DP) is the long-standing USA Gymnastics competition levels. It can get very intense very quick. Xcel is also USAG, but it is meant to be more low-key, with a lower level of skill required to compete, more flexibility in skill choice, and less hours. If you think your daughter might want to consider competing, look for a gym that offers Xcel so that path is open in the future.

Trampoline & Tumbling is another competition route, and like acro, much more low key until you reach the top levels. That's why you often see trampoline paired with tumbling when it comes to recreation classes. Plus, trampoline helps build air awareness and is a very useful tool for learning more advanced skills before taking them to the floor.

I highly recommend going with the gym that best fits your schedule and doesn't require more driving than necessary. It's beginner gymnastics. Your daughter might take 5 classes and decides she hates it. Don't make decisions based on some hypothetical future. Do what's easiest. You can always move gyms later.