About EKA.
East Kent Acro is more than just a gymnastics club; it’s a family-oriented space that promotes Acrobatic Gymnastics while building essential teamwork skills and ultimately, lifelong friendships. Founded in the 1980s as 'Deal Swifts,' we have a proud history of success, with several gymnasts reaching national finals over the years, not to mention being the current South East Challenge Cup Champions! We put this down to our amazing team of coaches and our family-focused environment.
What Is Acro?
Acrobatic gymnastics is a team-based discipline in which gymnasts perform routines choreographed to music, featuring synchronized acrobatic movements, dance, and tumbling. Unlike artistic gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics is performed in pairs or groups and does not use any apparatus. Here is a video showing the elite side of the sport!
What Do We Offer?
Recreational Sessions
Monday: 5:00 - 6:00
Friday: 5:15 - 6:15
Saturday: 1:15 - 2:15
Our recreational sessions are the perfect place for any child to start their gymnastics journey no matter their age or experience. In these hour-long sessions, each gymnast will start to build their set of basic gymnastic skills which are crucial for further development within the sport. They will also get the opportunity to work on apparatus such as vault, beam and air-track, which keep the sessions fun-focused!
Development Squad
Subject to invitation
Once your child has shown promising progression within their recreational sessions, they will then be given the opportunity to join our development squad (subject to space and requirements at the time). At this point they start to focus more on the acrobatic side of the sport, forming partnerships each season and competing at several competitions throughout the year. They will also still be working on improving their gymnastic ability to the level required to join squad.
Squad
Subject to invitation
After proving themselves in our development squad, your child could then be offered a place in our squad. This is not solely based on their gymnastic ability, but also on the height and age of gymnasts we require at the time, as well as their commitment shown to competing at every competition within the prior season. Once in squad, they will start to improve upon their ability to perform, working on hearing the beats behind the music, dancing to different genres and improving their ability to portray certain emotions through their facial expressions. Their sessions will also be split into dedicated tumbling, agilities and acrobatic sessions (these changing dependent on the requirements at that point in the season).
Amiya, Gymnast
“I absolutely love being a gymnast at East Kent Acro, the coaches are all so lovely and the whole community is like our own little family."
Lynne, Parent
"Kelly and her team of coaches have set a fabulous culture. It's a real privilege to be a part of the club. Some schools could learn a lot from what they do."
Kian, Coach
“Having grown up within this club from a very young age, I can tell you now that there is no club quite like East Kent Acro.”
Our Coaching Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Here at EKA our coaching team are all volunteers who continue to pass on their passion for the sport because it's what they love. Led by Kelly (who has been part of the club since 1984!), our tight knit team is fused together by the enjoyment we have for helping the younger generation pursue their love for GYMNASTICS!
Upcoming Competitions
South East Regional Championships 2025
29th - 30th November
Hollington Invitational 2026
24th - 25th January
National Qualifiers & Challenge Cup 2026
21st - 22nd March
Interested?
Start your child's gymnastics journey by signing them up to our waiting list here!
Tides Leisure Centre
Park Avenue
Deal
CT14 9UU