Let's get ready to tumble!

In town next month, Denmark's Flying Superkids do gymnastics like you've never seen it before

Bangkok's 13th International Festival of Dance and Music next month gets a dose of light-hearted fun and family entertainment when the Flying Superkids perform some acrobatic magic at the Thailand Cultural Centre.

For more than four decades this Danish ensemble has traversed the globe, putting on shows for millions of spectators. That's quite a legacy for what began as a gymnastics club and non-profit organisation founded in 1967, whose original name "Gymnastikgๅrden" translates as "The Gymnastics Farm".

After having travelled the world as a member of the National Danish Gym Team, Uwe Godbersen founded Flying Superkids with 20 girls. Interest was so great that soon the club had 400 members.

Godbersen had his own way of teaching and choreographing gymnastics. He felt it shouldn't be too traditional or overly ceremonious, so he added comical ideas, costumes and untraditional music and lighting.

The concept outraged gymnastics purists, but the kids made their international breakthrough in 1975 when they performed live on national television in Germany. Invitations poured in from all over Europe, and in 1982 they had a coast-to-coast tour of the US.

After Uwe retired, his wife Lone and their sons Lars and Svend took over managing the Flying Superkids.

The cornerstones of the "Superkids concept", which has produced a bumper crop of young athletes and youthful role models, are "teamwork, fellowship and joy of life".

The coaches do their best to imbue these adolescents and teens with as many positive experiences as possible without the stress of competition.

That's why the Flying Superkids shun competitions and TV talent shows, although they're frequently invited.

The most important aspect of the Superkids' concept is enjoying life, and that's the staff's top priority as they plan shows, train and tour. To be a Superkid isn't just a hobby - it's a lifestyle with strict rules for the members, including living as healthfully as possible, and certainly no smoking or drinking.

The kids consider this one big family, which means that nobody gets any special treatment and no one's a star. The older team members take care of the younger ones, and the kids often use their membership as a springboard to forming life-long friendships.

At the Thailand Cultural Centre on September 30 and October 1, the Flying Superkids - with their high spirits and good humour - will leap, tumble, sing and dance their way into viewers' hearts.

Seats cost Bt700 to Bt2,200 at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3191.