In each partnership, the gymnasts' different sizes and abilities will be balanced to complement each other in order to carry out the complex moves.

The gymnasts carry out their acrobatic moves and combine them with dance, all in time to and in keeping with the style of the music.

These rules are subject to change every four years in line with the Olympic cycle, as in other disciplines of gymnastics.

Acrobatics have a long history dating back thousands of years across the world and appeared in festivals, early circuses, and later vaudeville acts as a form of entertainment.

The first use of acrobatics as a specific sport was in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, though its development was interrupted by the World War II.

[5] In 1957, the first international competition was held between the Soviet Union, Poland, Bulgaria, and East Germany.

[4] The International Federation of Sports Acrobatics was established in 1973, and the first world championships were held in 1974.

For example, the 28th Acrobatic Gymnastics European Championships were held in Rzeszow, Poland in October 2017.

Local and regional competitions often form the qualification stages required to compete at national championships.

Acrobatic gymnastics events often attract sizable audiences, because they are entertaining, exhilarating, and suspenseful due to perceived risky or daring moves.

The FIG defines four age groups for competitions, with gymnasts in the younger age categories performing more limited routines than those in older ones:[9] Gymnasts may only participate in one level and unit (pair or group) at a competition.

Gymnasts submit a 'tariff sheet' listing their planned elements ahead of the competition.

Execution penalties are subtracted from the starting score of 10 and concern aspects such as the amplitude of flight elements, correctness of body shapes, and controlled landings.