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The Touring Show

Each year the University of Maryland Gymkana Troupe tours Maryland and neighboring states, performing action-packed acrobatic circus performances and promoting an anti-drug message to students. Students influencing students to soar above the influence of drugs is the heart of Gymkana's program. The Troupe's performance showcases heart-pounding routines, including the famous vaulting act where gymnasts launch themselves off mini trampolines and perform crisscrossing handsprings, round-offs and flips over a vault box! Students cheer on the Troupe as they demonstrate how healthy living allows one to soar above the influence of drugs and alcohol. The performance itself is free of charge, and schools are only asked to cover the cost of the team's equipment rental and travel expenses. Some acts necessitate certain height requirements; however, the Troupe will customize their shows to meet different venue needs.

For more information or to have Gymkana perform at your school, contact:

Mr. Josh Montfort
Director & Head Coach
(301) 405-2566
montfort@umd.edu

The Annual Home Show

Each April, the Gymkana troupe performs at the Xfinity Center for two nights, showcasing our diverse acts performed by members of the entire Gymkana troupe. The event is open to the public and is an opportunity to enjoy a showcase of signature and new acts performed by student troupers. 

Home Show 2023 will take place on April 21 & 22 at 7:00PM. Ticket sales coming soon!

Maryland Day and Community Events

Most years, the Gymkana troupe performs outdoors on Maryland Day, which takes place on the last weekend of April. While this performance is shorter than our annual home show, it is a great opportunity to enjoy a variety of our popular acts. We also perform at other community events throughout the year, including at Terp basketball games and College Park day, among others. 

The Acts

The Gymkana Troupe performs both men's and women's gymnastics apparatus routines, as well as novelty circus acts that incorporate the use of chairs, ladders and trampolines. Their performances showcase high-flying acrobatics and promote a message of healthy, drug-free living.

Aerial Silks

Aerial Silks

Performers climb the suspended fabric without the use of safety lines and use the fabric to wrap, suspend, and drop their bodies. Routines demonstrate a great deal of grace, strength, and training.

Beam

Beam

This act showcases the balance beam apparatus. Whether incorporating individual sets, synchronized elements, comedy, or large choreographed routines, the beam act continues to offer audiences an entertaining and refreshing look at this difficult apparatus.

Chairs

Chairs

Troupers carefully construct their balancing act atop wooden chairs to create a unique and breathtaking routine. Relying solely on trust and the laws of physics, there is no trick to this amazing act.

Dance

Dance

Choreographed by our student-athletes, the Dance act is an act that continues to change and evolve from year to year. Dance has proved to be highly energetic and entertaining for both troupers and audiences of all ages.

DOUBLE MINI TRAMPOLINE

Double Mini Trampoline

The double mini trampoline, or DMT, combines the speed of a vaulting pass with the amplitude and energy of a trampoline sequence. DMT is an entertaining and exciting act that often proves to be a crowd favorite.

free movement

Free Movement

This new and exciting routine combines tricking, b-boying, and stunting.

high bar

High Bar

This act showcases the high bar apparatus. Fast-paced and thrilling, high bar routines combine traditional swinging elements with difficult transitions and releases.

Ladders

Ladders

For most people, climbing a ladder to change a light bulb or clean the gutters is enough of a thrill. For members of Gymkana’s ladders act, that’s child’s play. In this act, a pair of 18-foot ladders are balanced and held together by three male troupers as six female troupers gracefully perform a dance routine along the sides.

Parellel bars

Parallel Bars

Our troupers have taken this traditional gymnastic apparatus and created a unique group routine. Skills are performed on a pair of parallel rails including combinations of swinging elements, strength holds, release moves, flips, and twists.

partner balancing

Partner Balancing

Hand balancing represents one of the most consistently performed acts throughout Gymkana’s history. Troupers have experimented with composition, routine length, themes, poses and size. By adding novelty themes, dance, comedy, and individual costumes, troupers have made Gymkana partner balancing into something truly unique. Often performed multiple times in Gymkana shows, partner balancing requires each group to develop their own signature style.

Pommel

Pommel Horse

This act showcases the pommel horse, an extremely difficult apparatus to master. Gliding seamlessly from one skill to the next with a fast-paced rhythm, the men on the pommel horse rely solely on the upper body and torso strength for support as they make the complicated skills they do look easy.

Pyramids

Pyramids

One of the original acts performed during Gymkana’s first Home Show, the Pyramids act remains a traditional part of Gymkana’s performances today. By combining smaller balancing poses and a range of difficulty into Gymkana’s largest group routine, this act has always encouraged team unity and group strength. For this reason, Pyramids is often the first act for new troupers.

Rings

Rings

This act showcases the still rings apparatus. On still rings, strength skills are an essential part of any routine. The iron cross, widely regarded as the embodiment of strength, is eternally held by Gymkana’s beloved M-Man symbol and is traditionally performed by troupers every year.

Teeter board

Teeterboard

This act takes the playground see-saw to a whole new level. Using their body weight and perfectly timed jumps, troupers on the teeter-board combine flips and twists into difficult routines, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats.

Trampoline

Trampoline

The Trampoline act perhaps best demonstrates the range and diversity of Gymkana's troupers. Individual routines are performed by the troupers in this act to showcase a wide variety of acrobatic skills and styles.

Tumbling

Tumbling

Troupers in this act exhibit dynamic individual tumbling skills as well as synchronized group routines and passes.

Uneven bars

Uneven Bars

This act showcases the uneven parallel bars. Though considered a traditional women's gymnastic apparatus, troupers on the uneven bars have often incorporated novelty skills and group routines as part of the act.

Valuting

Vaulting

Using mini-trampolines, troupers vault over a vault box, a human stack-up, and over and through fire. Through the years, troupers have experimented with various criss-cross patterns and synchronized skills. Of all the acts Gymkana has to offer, Vaulting has grown to become the most widely recognized and anticipated. Showcasing at numerous high profile venues including professional and college basketball games and campus open houses, it is often referred to as Gymkana’s signature act.