Calisthenics
We had never heard of Calisthenics before moving to Australia - I don't imagine most Americans have. But we have a friend here who is part of a competitive team here and we were curious to see what it involved so we finally went and saw her club concert. I grew up doing tap, clog, and jazz, so I am no stranger to dance recitals. It wasn't just dance though, it also had a bit of marching band - or maybe colorguard as there were no instruments - baton twirling, rhythmic gymnastics, and lyrical ballet.
There were six different groups, the tinies (under 7), sub-juniors (aka subs, 8-10), juniors (11-13, intermediates (aka inters, 14-16), seniors (16+), and masters (26+). The tinies were adorable - the 3 little girls who stood around picking up sequins off the stage while the rest of their group danced stole the show. There were also a couple girls who did solo routines, but probably 38 of the 42 performances were the groups. Each group did several different items - a march, clubs, free arm, rods, aesthetics, rhythm, and song and dance.
I really enjoyed the marches - there was a mix of high marching, pointed toes, pinwheels, and various other formations - all to upbeat marching tempos. The clubs reminded me of rhythmic gymnastics - each person carried two club things and twirled them around. My dance group once did a routine with poi balls and the movements reminded me of that.
Free arm was basically a gymnastic routine with splits, headstands, cartwheels, and a few flips. I thought it was interesting how people would join the group in the middle of a routine or leave the stage at some point. I was the girl who couldn't do splits or a head stand to save my life - so if I had done calisthenics I'd definitely be in the group that left stage when that part of the routine happened. Rods were long skinny sticks, kind of like a baton but skinnier and the movements were slower. I think American baton twirlers could show the calisthenics girls a thing or two with flaming batons!
Aesthetics involves wearing long flowy skirts and twirling them around. This one appealed most to most inner 5 year old - I would have loved twirling around in those long pretty dresses. Rhythm was similar to aesthetics but a bit more complicated.
It was fun to see this uniquely Australian sport. The girls must spent hours and hours practicing and I don't imagine all of those costumes were cheap. It sure took me back to those years spent in makeup, curlers, and sequins!
There were six different groups, the tinies (under 7), sub-juniors (aka subs, 8-10), juniors (11-13, intermediates (aka inters, 14-16), seniors (16+), and masters (26+). The tinies were adorable - the 3 little girls who stood around picking up sequins off the stage while the rest of their group danced stole the show. There were also a couple girls who did solo routines, but probably 38 of the 42 performances were the groups. Each group did several different items - a march, clubs, free arm, rods, aesthetics, rhythm, and song and dance.
I really enjoyed the marches - there was a mix of high marching, pointed toes, pinwheels, and various other formations - all to upbeat marching tempos. The clubs reminded me of rhythmic gymnastics - each person carried two club things and twirled them around. My dance group once did a routine with poi balls and the movements reminded me of that.
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| The March Costumes |
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| Free Arm |
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| Baton |
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| State Championship |
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| My clogging group from back in the day :) |
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