For Acro Dance teachers who want to teach and spot with confidence
The Trick Family Method
Three days in person
Beginner to advanced teachers
Hands-on spotting practice
2,000+ teachers trained
Tricks for every level
Set technique warm-ups
Partnering and choreography
Safety first, always
Safe. Technical. Beautiful.
The Trick Family Method
Three days in person
Beginner to advanced teachers
Hands-on spotting practice
2,000+ teachers trained
Tricks for every level
Set technique warm-ups
Partnering and choreography
Safety first, always
Safe. Technical. Beautiful.
Teachers Conference 2027 · with Melissa Klassen
Three days in Calgary · July 20 to 22, 2027 · $497 CAD

For acro teachers who want to spot with confidence and know exactly what to teach next

Three days of hands-on acro training in Calgary. You'll learn the tricks, learn how to break them down, and practice spotting them with experienced faculty right beside you. You'll go home with tricks for every level, set technique warm-ups that build strong and flexible students, and a simple way to run your mixed-level acro classes.

Save My Seat for $497 CAD

July 20, 21 and 22, 2027 · Calgary, Alberta · Our fifth year

Teaching acro on your own
vs. after Acro Live

On Your Own
Guessing what to teach next
Scared to spot big tricks
Worried a student gets hurt
Mixed levels feel like chaos
Students stuck for months
Nobody to ask for help
Unsure, alone, and winging it.
vs
After Acro Live
Confident spotting
Keeping students safe
Knowing what comes next
Classes that run smoothly
Students making progress
New ideas to try
Ready, confident, and excited to teach.

If this sounds like your acro class...

01Your students have been working on their aerials for months. Some are close. Some are nowhere near. You keep giving the same drills and hoping something finally clicks.
02You're not sure how to break down a back handspring, or where your hands should go to spot it. So you hold back. Or you spot it and hope it goes well.
03Your students want the big tricks right now. You can see they don't have the strength or the basics yet. But you're not sure what to give them instead that still feels exciting.
04Your classes are all over the place. Some students can't even get into a bridge yet because their shoulders aren't flexible enough. Others have solid back walkovers and need new variations to stay challenged. You try to help everyone, and it feels like nobody gets anywhere.
05You never took acro as a kid. Or you worry you're not strong enough to spot a student who is bigger than you. What if someone falls and you don't know what to do?
06You're the only acro teacher at your studio, so there's nobody to ask. Acro seems to come easy to everyone else, and you're left wondering what you're missing.

...then this is for you.

A look at three days of Acro Live

A faculty member spotting a teacher in a handstand at AcroLIVE
Hands-on spotting, with faculty right there
An ADTA faculty member teaching a room of acro teachers
Learn from experienced ADTA faculty
A full studio of teachers doing warm-ups together
Set technique warm-ups
Student demonstrators stretching in splits
Prepared student demonstrators
Two smiling teachers in front of the ADTA backdrop
Teachers who get it

Here's what changes after
three days at Acro Live

✕ Students stuck on aerials for months
You'll know the steps that come before an aerial. So you can see exactly where a student is stuck, and you'll know what to give them next.
✕ Not sure how to spot a back handspring
You'll practice spotting it, hands on, with a faculty member right beside you. You'll know where your hands go, and when.
✕ Students begging for big tricks too soon
You'll have set technique warm-ups to run every class. Your students get ready for big tricks, and you'll know when they really are ready.
✕ Mixed-level classes that feel like chaos
With the Trick Family Method, everyone works on the same trick family at their own step. One class, and everyone moves forward.
✕ Worried you're not strong enough to spot
You'll learn how where you stand and when you move make a spot safe. Strength helps. Good technique matters more.
✕ Running out of fresh ideas
You'll go home with new trick variations, partnering ideas, and choreography tips you can't wait to try when your season starts.
The Solution
Introducing

The Acro Live Teachers
Conference 2027

Three days, in person, in Calgary. You learn the tricks. You learn how to break them down. Then you practice spotting them, with ADTA faculty right beside you. Everything is built on the Trick Family Method, so you'll know how to reach every student in the room, at every level, in the same class.

Only$497CAD
Strength + Flexibility
Every-Class Set
Run it every class. Build students ready for tricks.
Hollow body holds
Bridge and back prep
Handstand line drills
Splits and straddle
Shoulder flexibility
Core and leg strength
Mixed-Level Class Plan
One family.
Three groups.
Everyone works on the side aerial family. Nobody is bored. Nobody is in over their head.
GROUP 1 · BUILDING
Cartwheel with a strong lunge. One-hand cartwheel.
GROUP 2 · WORKING
Aerial drills from a step. Spotted aerials.
GROUP 3 · CHALLENGE
Aerial from a walk. Aerials in a series.
Everyone moves forward.
Melissa's signature method
The Trick FamilyMethod
One busy room. Every level.
Everyone moving forward.
Spotting Lab
Hands-on
spotting
HANDS-ON TRAINING
Workshop
Partnering Ideas
PAIRS
Balances for two
TRIOS
Simple lifts and shapes
GROUPS
Formations and pyramids
CHOREO
Tricks that flow with the music
New ideas for September
Save My Seat for $497 CAD

Three days in person · July 20 to 22, 2027 · Calgary, Alberta

Three simple steps

1
🎟️
Save Your Seat
Register for July 20 to 22, 2027
2
🤸
Come to Calgary
Three days of hands-on training
3
✨
Teach in September
Walk in ready for your new season
UnsureConfident
Melissa Klassen spotting a student in a back bend

Why I built Acro Live

Hi, I'm Melissa Klassen, founder of the Acro Dance Teachers Association. I've been teaching for 30 years and have trained over 2,000 acro teachers around the world. AcroLIVE is the event I wish I'd had when I started.

30
Years teaching
2,000+
Acro teachers trained
1,000+
Teachers certified
5th
Year of Acro Live

Here's what you'll learn
at Acro Live

One

Tricks for Every Level You Teach

You'll get an inventory of tricks you can teach in class, sorted by the level your students are at. No more wondering what acro tricks are out there, or which ones fit your class. You'll know what to teach your beginners and what to give your strongest students.

Beginner to advanced
Two

How to Teach and Spot Each Trick

You'll learn how to break each trick into small steps, then practice spotting it on real people with faculty right beside you. Aerials, front aerials, back handsprings and more. You'll know where your hands go, where you stand, and when to step in.

Hands-on practice
Three

The Trick Family Method

This is how you run a mixed-level class without losing your mind. You'll learn what comes before and after each trick, so everyone works in the same trick family at their own step. Not too easy. Not too hard. Everyone moving forward in the same class.

Melissa's signature method
Four

Set Technique Warm-Ups

You'll get set technique warm-ups for strength and flexibility that you can run every class. Your students get stronger and more flexible week by week, so their bodies are ready when it's time for the bigger tricks.

Run it every class
Five

Workshops, Partnering and Choreography

You'll try trending trick variations and new partnering ideas. You'll also get help with acro choreography, so your tricks look beautiful on stage and don't feel like a list of skills strung together.

Fresh ideas for September
Six

Safe Practice With Real Quality Control

Safety comes first at every station. There are lots of faculty in the room to help you. Our student demonstrators have been preparing for months for this event. And you only practice spotting on students who can already do the trick and catch themselves. So you can learn without worrying about anyone getting hurt.

Lots of faculty in the room
A smiling teacher at AcroLIVE
Teachers leaving with real confidence
A teacher writing notes at AcroLIVE
Notes you can use in September
A teacher reviewing her workbook on the studio floor
Learn it, then try it
Only$497CAD
Acro Live 2027
Conference Program
Three days. Hands-on. In Calgary.
The Trick Family Method
Trick inventory by level
Hands-on spotting practice
Strength + flexibility sets
Variations + partnering
Acro choreography
AcroLIVE
Teachers Conference 2027
Spot with confidence. Know what to teach next.
Three days of hands-on acro training for teachers at every level.
Save My Seat · $497
Sound Familiar?
If this sounds like your acro class...
01Students stuck on their aerials for months.
02Not sure where your hands go on a back handspring.
03Mixed-level classes that feel like chaos.
Introducing
The Trick Family Method
Every student, at their level, in one class.
Walk into September
knowing what to teach.
Save My Seat · $497 CAD
Acro Dance Teachers Association presents
AcroLIVE
Teachers Conference 2027
July 20 · 21 · 22  |  Calgary, Alberta
Save My Seat · $497 CAD
Inside Acro Live
Three days of
hands-on acro
WATCH THE RECAP
Trick Family
The Side Aerial
One family. Every student works at their own step.
BEFORE
Cartwheel with a strong lunge
One-hand cartwheel
Aerial drills from a step
THE TRICK
Side Aerial
AFTER
Aerial from a walk
Aerial in a series
Aerial variations
Not too easy. Not too hard.
Everything You Get
Acro Live Teachers Conference 2027

Three days in person in Calgary. One price. Everything you need to walk into your new season ready.

Three full days of in-person acro training3 days
A trick inventory for every level you teachAll levels
How to break down and spot each trickHands-on
Spotting practice with experienced faculty beside youPractice
Safe practice on prepared student demonstratorsSafety first
The Trick Family Method for mixed-level classesSignature
Set technique warm-ups to run every classEvery class
Workshops on trick variations and partneringNew ideas
Choreography help for acroChoreo
$497
CAD · July 20 to 22, 2027 · Calgary, Alberta
Save My Seat for $497 CAD

Come with your questions. Leave with a plan for September.

Frequently Asked Questions

I never took acro as a student. Can I still come?
+
Yes. Lots of acro teachers never did acro themselves, and that's okay. You don't need to be able to do the tricks to teach them well. You need to know how they're built and how to spot them. That's exactly what we work on, step by step, with lots of time to practice.
Do I need to be certified to come?
+
No. You don't need to be acro certified, and it doesn't matter which syllabus you teach. AcroLIVE is a hands-on training conference, not a certification course. Every acro teacher is welcome.
I'm not very strong. What if my student is bigger than me?
+
This is one of the most common worries we hear. A safe spot is mostly about where you stand, where your hands go, and when you move. Strength helps, but good technique matters more. You'll practice with faculty beside you until it feels natural.
What if a student falls while I'm spotting?
+
Safety is our top priority. You only practice spotting on student demonstrators who have prepared for months and can already do the trick and catch themselves. There are lots of faculty in the room to help you. You'll also learn how to set up every spot to minimize risk, and exactly what to do if a trick goes wrong.
Is this for new teachers or experienced teachers?
+
Both. Some teachers come in their first year of teaching acro. Others have taught for years and want new ideas or better spotting. The Trick Family Method works at every level, so you'll leave with things you can use right away, wherever you're starting from.
What is the Trick Family Method?
+
It's my way of teaching acro. Every trick has steps that come before it and steps that come after it. When you know the whole family, you can give every student the right next step. Beginners and advanced students can work in the same class, and nobody is bored or in over their head.
Will I be practicing, or just watching?
+
Practicing. AcroLIVE is hands-on. You'll be up on your feet learning tricks, breaking them down, and spotting them. Faculty are right there to help and answer your questions.
When and where is it?
+
AcroLIVE 2027 runs July 20, 21 and 22, 2027, in person at the TransAlta Performing Arts Studios in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This is our fifth year. Your $497 CAD covers your seat for all three days.
Where do I fly into, and where do I stay?
+
Fly into Calgary International Airport (YYC). We have a host hotel where you can book a room, close to the TransAlta Performing Arts Studios in downtown Calgary.
What happens after I sign up?
+
You'll get a welcome package with everything you need to know for the event and your travel.
Why come in person?
+
Nothing beats practising in person with trained professionals who are right there to help and guide you. Spotting is something you need to feel for yourself, with faculty watching and helping you adjust, especially the first time you spot a trick you've been unsure about. Being in the room also means meeting other acro teachers who understand exactly what you're dealing with.
Save Your Seat

Walk into September
knowing what to teach.

Three days of hands-on training. Spotting practice with experienced faculty. Tricks for every level, warm-ups for every class, and a way to teach a mixed-level room. All for $497 CAD, July 20 to 22, 2027, in Calgary.

Save My Seat for $497 CAD

Our fifth year. We'd love to have you in the room.