Kailena Van de Nes

Headstands are so much more than just a fun trick ✨
They help build foundational strength, balance, body awareness, control, and confidence — all essential for progressing safely in acro. From beginner skills to advanced balancing work, strong headstand foundations carry over into so many areas of training.
And of course… they also make for some pretty fun choreography moments too 🤸‍♀️💫

Thank you and ’s back walkover variation inspiration from AcroDance Resource Center for this weeks class challenge 🫶🏼 we even added to the end 🩷 Who’s adding more to this one? 👀

A standing side aerial is about so much more than “just cartwheels.” 🤸

Yes, you’re seeing the progressions here — from cartwheels on both sides all the way to the aerial — but what you don’t see is all the work happening behind the scenes. Strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, confidence on both sides, body awareness, technique, and consistent training across all areas of acro.

This dancer didn’t just practice aerials. She built the foundation necessary to support them safely and correctly through progressive training in flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering, and tumbling.

That’s why I love using the Acrobatic Arts methodology as my guide for teaching acro skills. Every progression has a purpose, and strong foundations create strong, confident athletes 💫

A full scorpion/needle takes more than just flexibility ✨

Control, alignment, strength, active mobility, and proper warm up all play a huge role in training this skill safely and correctly.

Hyper-mobile dancers especially need stability and strength to support the range of motion they naturally have.

So proud of these dancers at Milani Dance for the work they continue to put into building strong, healthy technique — not just pretty shapes 🩷

What if summer didn’t pause progress—but actually built it?

In just a few focused months, your child can gain strength, confidence, and skills that truly stand out when they return to the studio.

My private sessions are designed to meet each dancer exactly where they are—so they don’t just stay busy over summer… they move forward with purpose.

From foundational technique to advanced acro skills, every session is intentional, safe, and tailored to real growth.

Summer spots are filling fast!

DM to book or learn more.

1 year. 1 location change. Nearly 200 students. 🤍
Behind every skill is a child gaining strength, confidence, and belief in themselves.

In our one-on-one sessions, it’s not just about learning tricks—it’s about teaching kids how to move safely, build real technique, and feel proud of what their bodies can do.

Every student you see here started somewhere different. Different strengths, different challenges, different goals—and that’s exactly why personalized training matters.

If you’ve been looking for something that will truly support your child’s growth (not just keep them busy), I’d love to work with you.

DM me to learn more or book a session!

Where technique meets creativity 🩷�Brandy → back roll to handstand → side aerial—all self-choreographed during our variations portion of the Acro 4 class at Ballet Elite. Finding what flows, what feels good, and what makes them feel powerful. This is what happens when strong foundations turn into confident, connected movement.

Working a variation from a floor valdez into a back tuck ✨
Variations like this are one of my favorite ways to get dancers moving and traveling in different ways across the mat. It’s not just about the skills—it’s about how we connect them. Incorporating limbering, balances, and tumbling into one continuous flow challenges control, creativity, and spatial awareness.
Recently in our Ballet Elite Acro 4 classes, we spend time exploring different traveling variations and thinking outside the box with how we start and finish our movements. The goal is to build athletes who can move seamlessly and with intention—not just execute tricks.