Photographer: Amanda Naylor
What is
'So You Think You Can Aerial'
SYTYCA (So You Think You Can Aerial) is a dancer-centered acrobatics program focused on growth, confidence, and safe progression. Built from gymnastics, dance, and circus training, SYTYCA celebrates effort over perfection - reminding every dancer that they are capable, enough, and worthy.
What Is SYTYCA?
So You Think You Can Aerial was created in 2015 in response to something I kept hearing from dancers: “I’m never good enough.”
Despite working hard, many students felt defined by perfection rather than progress - in dance, school, and life. Even the TV show that inspired the name, while full of incredible performances, often reflects dancers constantly trying to prove their worth. Talent, dedication, and growth can feel meaningless unless perfection is reached. SYTYCA was created to shift that mindset and offer a healthier, more supportive way to train.
SYTYCA represents a move:
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Away from perfection and comparison
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Toward growth, effort, and self-belief
SYTYCA is not a competition. It is not about rushing tricks.
SYTYCA is about:
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Celebrating progress
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Supporting challenges
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Building confidence through safe, thoughtful training
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Understanding that growth is not linear - and that’s okay
The Answer Behind the Name When the question is asked:
So… you think you can aerial?
The answer is always:
YES YOU CAN.
YES YOU ARE ENOUGH.
YES YOU ARE AMAZING.
Program Philosophy
The SYTYCA Acro program is centered around the dancer. I prioritize readiness-based progression and student well-being. Levels are designed to have some overlap, allowing for individual growth and customized learning paths. I am committed to creating a supportive and challenging environment where every dancer can thrive.
As an ex-competitive gymnast turned dancer and circus artist - with years of experience teaching and spotting students of all ages - I combine gymnastics, dance, and body-awareness training to ensure skills are learned safely, intentionally, and with confidence.
Every dancer learns differently. That’s why SYTYCA uses overlapping levels, individualized progressions, and evaluations that focus on how a skill is performed - not just whether it can be done.
How Levels Work
This Acro program is structured into four levels, each building upon the previous one to progressively enhance skills and technique.
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Acro 1 - Foundations: Introduces fundamental acro skills, focusing on strength, flexibility, and basic balances.
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Acro 2 - Developing: Builds upon foundational skills, introducing more complex balances, inversions, and dynamic movements.
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Preteen Acro - Progressing: Further develops strength, flexibility, and control, focusing on walkovers, dance integration, and more advanced balance work; geared toward preteen and early teen students.
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Contemporary Teen Acro - Advanced: Focuses on advanced acrobatic skills, including handstand variations, aerial work, and performance integration; geared toward older teen and adult students.