PERFORMERS with Acrobay Gymnastics Club displayed plenty of pride when they took to the stage for their annual Gymtasia show recently.

More than 170 gymnasts from throughout the club, ranging from those in recreational classes to the international competition team, wowed a packed audience at the Alhambra Theatre with their Gymtasia: Spirit of Africa performance.

This year's event, the ninth time in which Rosyth-based Acrobay have stepped out at the Canmore Street venue, took its inspiration from both the Disney film, and Broadway stage, versions of the Lion King.

Using music from the original score, interspersed with other popular pieces to complement the soundtrack that included Shakira's Waka Waka, and Africa, by Toto, those in attendance were treated to a jaw-dropping dance and acrobatic spectacle in Acrobay's own inimitable style.

Work on routines for the show, whose youngest participant was aged just five, began in the summer but ideas and concepts were already being thought of after last year's Gymtasia finished.

Acrobay's head coach Suzanne Fraser, and coach Neil Roberts, choreographed the performance, and said: "Once again we're proud to have been able to present Gymtasia at the Alhambra.

"It's a chance for us to showcase the very best of our talents at the club to reach a wider audience and, more importantly, it's an opportunity for the whole club to work together and have fun. Gymtasia for us always marks the beginning of Christmas!

"It's been a massively successful year for the club in both competition and display arenas so of course this means it's also been incredibly busy, and our gymnasts have had to work very hard to include the show preparation in with their normal training.

"It's never easy creating a full show without allowing the standard of training to slip but, thankfully, this is something we haven't experienced due to the hard work of our coaching team and gymnasts."

Neil added: "This year, the choreography has been a big challenge.

"The Lion King is a long-standing favourite in the club so we had very large paws to fill! We hope our Spirit of Africa did justice to both the film and the stage show."