Novelty Acts
One of Gymkana’s biggest strengths is its ability to change and adapt based on troupers’ unique skills and strengths. There are many acts that aren’t traditionally associated with the troupe, but that can still be performed from time to time. Some of these acts include jump rope, dance, rhythmic gymnastics, martial arts, and contortion.
Jump Rope
Jump rope was one of Gymkana’s first acts— since it only involves one small piece of equipment, it was easy to transport to and from shows in the early days. The act made a couple revivals in the 2000s, when students came into the troupe with prior jump rope experience and an interest in learning, performing, and teaching others. Gymkana’s first recorded group jump rope act was performed in the 2025-2026 season. Jump ropers also performed snippets of this unique skill in free movement or a solo routine.
Dance
Best act: 2004, 2020
First popularized within the troupe in the early 2000s, dance began as a large group act combining multiple types of dance, from hip-hop to contemporary. Although the act faded in popularity as members changed and new interests developed, doubles dance still makes a comeback every few years, even tying teeter for best act in 2020. Group dance also won best act in 2004, its first year in Gymkana’s act continuity. Troupers have experimented with comedy dance and incorporating elements of balancing to create unique, fresh routines.
rhythmic gymnastics
In Gymkana’s early years, the team relied on acts that required very little equipment, as they lacked the ability to transport large apparatus to show locations. Some of the earliest Gymkana acts included dance, tumbling, partner balancing, and baton twirling. In 1947, Gymkana’s very first performance season, Barbara Black performed “Flaming Baton Twirling” — the start of Gymkana’s rhythmic gymnastics history. Since then, rhythmic gymnastics has become a unique part of Gymkana as a novelty act that has been performed in group, solo, and comedy routines. Rhythmic gymnastics is known to re-emerge in Gymkana performances over the years.
Martial Arts
Martial arts first came to Gymkana in the 2003-2004 season. Only performed a few times in the early 2000s, the novelty act combined stage fighting and tricking to demonstrate athletic skills outside of gymnastics. This act was typically performed with a comedy element, such as fighting over the use of a telephone, or spreading Gymkana’s message of healthy living by having two teams brawl. Once free running (now known as "free movement”) was introduced to Gymkana in 2012, it became a catch-all act for tricking, martial arts, breakdancing, and other unique movements.
Contortion
Contortion was a short-lived act, performed from 2003-2005 by Judith Ottley and Jessica Mislevy. These troupers combined flexibility, gymnastics, balancing, and drama to create a contortion-based doubles performance that audiences had the pleasure of witnessing three years in a row. Although contortion was only ever performed by two Gymkana members, and many troupers with a natural knack for flexibility gravitate towards the aerial silks on today’s team, new troupers always bring in unique skillsets, inspirations, and creativity. Contortion remains a part of Gymkana’s history and could still be part of its future.
