Welcome To

Where We Teach Through Movement & Passion

Our Objective

Our objective is to give our families and students an open, caring and empowering environment to learn and grow through movement. We hope to be a part of helping your child gain confidence within themselves, while working through challenges inside and outside of the studio. We strongly encourage our students to be themselves in a safe and uplifting space.

WHAT IS ACROBATICS?

The art of performing gymnastic feats. Acrobatics is a spectacular display of agility, flexibility, strength and balance. Acrobatic movements are meant to blend seamlessly with dance routines.

WHAT IS TECHNIQUE

The most critical element in acro dance is TECHNIQUE! Technique is the basis of all fundamentals of acro dance, from holding your body correctly while performing, to executing skills properly in a routine. Strong technique extends across all areas of dance, regardless of the style of your routine.

WHAT IS HIP HOP?

Hip Hop Dance is a style of movement characterized by bounces and rocks, executed to Hip Hop music. It has deep historical and social roots in African American culture, having emerged in Black communities living in 1970s New York.

What is the difference between acrobatics and gymnastics?

At a basic level, acrobatics is the sport of performing feats of balance, agility, and coordination. It requires a high degree of strength, flexibility, control, timing, and precision. Acrobatics can be performed on the ground or in the air using a variety of objects such as trampolines, balance beams, ropes, and hoops. Acrobatics is often used in other sports, such as diving, ice skating, and skiing. On the other hand, gymnastics is an individual or team sport involving performing gymnastic movements on apparatus such as uneven bars, balance beams, vaulting horse, and floor exercises. Gymnastics requires a great deal of strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Gymnastics also involves much mental discipline, as each move must be performed with precision and control.

The main difference between acrobatics and gymnastics is the type of equipment and skills used. Acrobats use trampolines and balance beams, while gymnasts use apparatus such as the vaulting horse, uneven bars, and balance beams. Acrobatics also tends to be more daring and fast-paced, while gymnastics tends to be slower and more technical. The other key difference between acrobatics and gymnastics is the level of difficulty. Anyone with some basic skills and coordination can perform acrobatics. On the other hand, gymnastics requires a higher level of skill and strength. Gymnasts must be highly trained and have a great deal of practice before competing at a higher level.

Despite the differences between acrobatics and gymnastics, both sports have one thing in common: they demand hard work and dedication. Whether you pursue acrobatics or gymnastics, you will likely need to commit to the sport and put in the hard work necessary to reach your goals.

About

The Spot, Guilford Acrobatics & Co. is an acrobatics and hip hop studio. We are both a supplemental training facility for dancers, cheerleaders, and gymnasts who want to improve their acrobatic and tumbling skills and a recreational studio for those who simply want to learn and train.

The Spot also provides a competitive arena for those who want more than weekly classes. We offer competitive acrobatic and hip hop teams for male and female students ages 4-18.

Instructors at

Danielle Scarpellino

Previous training & experience includes: 7 years of jazz & competitive acrobatics under the direction of Mark Simpson/ DAC, four years with & two-time captain for the UConn Huskies co-ed cheerleading squad, chosen as staff member for the prestigious Universal Cheerleaders Association, Eastern Connecticut State University head cheerleading coach, professional NBA dancer & professional actress represented by CESD Talent Agency. Some acting roles include, “One Life to Live” & “Law and Order: SVU” as well as national tv ads for products such as Toyota, Tide, Olive Garden, Glad, and Foxwoods Casino. After 11 years in NYC, she moved to CT. She now lives in Guilford with her husband Joseph and daughters Mea, 18 and Julia, 16 and son Luca, 14. She also has a 28 year old stepson, Joey, who is a very successful actor in Canada.

GRACE

Grace has over 10 years of dance experience, and has trained in many styles including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip-hop, pom, and acrobatics. Grace is a former member of the esteemed Hamden High Dance Team, where she continued the legacy of 13+ years as state champions. She was one of the first members of Neighborhood Music School’s Premier Dance Company in 2016. She then went on to join Studio Be’s competitive dance company, studying under the direction of Michelle Bonavena, where she received many special awards, titles, and scholarships throughout the years. Grace has competed on both a regional and national level.

She attended the Joffrey Spectrum summer intensive in 2021, studying under professionals in the industry such as Angelica Stiskin. She appeared in the North Haven Nutcracker in 2021 as the lead Angel. Grace has been assisting classes for 8 years, including classes at The Spot. She successfully completed the Acrobatic Arts Assistant Teacher Certification Course under the direction of Danielle Scarpellino.

She currently attends Fordham University with a major in journalism. Grace continues to train at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, taking classes from teachers like Chio and Slam.

SAMANTHA

Samantha has been dancing competitively for 12 years. She has won many overalls and titles since she was 5 years old. She has also won tour scholarships to worldwide dance conventions like Radix and 24 Seven. She has trained under teachers like Brian Friedman, Mike Keefe, Jason Janas, Mike Minery, Tessandra Chavez, Stacy Eastman, Rob Merante, Tisha and Maryann Vendetto. Samantha continues to travel the country attending conventions where she places in the top 3 consistently. Samantha has been teaching Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap and Jazz since she was 13.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What To Wear To Class

There are no specific

dress code requirements at The Spot.

The one REQUIREMENT is that students must have their hair tied tight back before every class.

ACRO DANCE

Our students choose to wear leotards in order to avoid having to adjust their shirt multiple times a class.

Spandex shorts, leggings,

Sweatpants, joggers, athletic shorts are all great options as well.

Some children choose to wear sports bras under their shirt should they opt out of leotards.

Footwear

Cheer shoes, grip socks or bare feet.

HIP HOP CLASS

SNEAKERS WITH AN ARCH-NO FLAT SOLED SHOES SUCH AS CONVERSE OR VANS

We recommend students wear gym shoes/ sneakers with

comfortable clothes so that you your movement is not restricted.

Students should bring water to every class.

Students are expected to leave cell phones in their cubicles. Videos and photographs are allowed on an individual basis with permission from teachers and parents.

At a basic level, acrobatics is the sport of performing feats of balance, agility, and coordination. It requires a high degree of strength, flexibility, control, timing, and precision. Acrobatics can be performed on the ground or in the air using a variety of objects such as trampolines, balance beams, ropes, and hoops. Acrobatics is often used in other sports, such as diving, ice skating, and skiing. On the other hand, gymnastics is an individual or team sport involving performing gymnastic movements on apparatus such as uneven bars, balance beams, vaulting horse, and floor exercises. Gymnastics requires a great deal of strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. Gymnastics also involves much mental discipline, as each move must be performed with precision and control.

The main difference between acrobatics and gymnastics is the type of equipment and skills used. Acrobats use trampolines and balance beams, while gymnasts use apparatus such as the vaulting horse, uneven bars, and balance beams. Acrobatics also tends to be more daring and fast-paced, while gymnastics tends to be slower and more technical.

The other key difference between acrobatics and gymnastics is the level of difficulty. Anyone with some basic skills and coordination can perform acrobatics. On the other hand, gymnastics requires a higher level of skill and strength. Gymnasts must be highly trained and have a great deal of practice before competing at a higher level.

Despite the differences between acrobatics and gymnastics, both sports have one thing in common: they demand hard work and dedication. Whether you pursue acrobatics or gymnastics, you will likely n

eed to commit to the sport and put in the hard work necessary to reach your goals.