In acrobatic gymnastics, the routine type that emphasizes static holds and pyramids is the balance routine.
Balance routines were formerly called static routines. Partners build supported shapes, towers, and pyramids, then hold required positions with control, strength, poise, and flexibility. The aim is not simply to create a difficult shape, but to maintain it steadily and present it with precision and artistry.
Acrobatic gymnastics has three principal senior routine types: balance, dynamic, and combined. Dynamic routines center on flight, throws, rotations, and catches, while combined routines include both balance and dynamic elements. All routines also incorporate dance and acrobatic movement, so balance does not mean the routine is motionless from beginning to end.
A common mix-up is confusing balance with tumbling. Tumbling may appear in acrobatic routines, but it is not the defining feature of this category. In competition, partnerships perform to music and are evaluated for difficulty, execution, and artistry.