If you would like more information about our pro-
grams, or the Pirouette club in general, feel free to visit
our website at http://www.ottawapirouetterg.org, or e-mail
Pirouette Rhythmic Gymnastics Club at pirou-
[email protected].
Early Membe
The first officers
P*iroueffe Rhythmic Gymnastics Club
Written by Regina Taptich, Coach
The Pirouette Rhythmic Gymnastics Club was estab-
lished in 1996 as a non-profit organization that provides
a warm, friendly environment for teaching rhythmic gym-
nastics in the Barrhaven area of Ottawa.
Our goal is to help gymnasts develop skills such as
flexibility, balance, endurance, power, grace and appa-
ratus technique while all the while having fun! All of our
classes are designed to meet each participant's individu-
al needs and level of performance, while maintaining
program standards and learning objectives. We have
recreational, pre-competitive, and competitive levels, with
gymnasts starting at the age of four.
At the recreational level, groups train once a week to
learn good stretches, basic body technique, and get to
play with various apparatus, such as ribbons, balls,
hoops, ropes, and scarves. The gymnasts work on cho-
reographed routines to music, and celebrate their accom-
plishments throughout the year at our very own Pirouette
Gymnaestradas, shows to which parents and friends can
come to see the fun routines they created. Recreational
gymnasts also participate in Prism testing, a program in
which they collect pins according to the new skills they
develop in our classes.
The pre-competitive program is designed to prepare
gymnasts for demonstrations, shows, and potentially for
competitive performance. The gymnasts follow an annual training
plan outlining body and apparatus technique
and ballet training, with focus on the development of
specific rhythmic gymnastics skills, flexibility, hand-eye
coordination, overall coordination, balance, endurance,
speed and strength.
At the competitive interclub level, Pirouette coaches
both RG (rhythmic gymnastics) and AGG (aesthetic
group gymnastics). The RG gymnasts work on individual,
duo, or trio routines with apparatus (ribbon, ball, hoop,
rope, or clubs) set to music. The AGG groups consist of
a free routine (without apparatus) and a fun creative
routine to which there is an assigned theme. The gym-
nasts also get ballet training during the year to help focus
on the skills that it provides. Competitive gymnasts attend
various invitational competitions throughout the year,
30th locally and in the greater Toronto area.
This year, Pirouette is proud to be hosting the Pirouette
Spring Invitational Competition, as well as AGG Red
Ribbon Competition in June, to which we are inviting
various clubs in Ontario.
Another piece of exciting news is Pirouette's aspiration
to participate in the 2014 Canadian Gymnaestrada, and
World Gymnaestrada in Helsinki, Finland July 12-18
2015.
Our gymnasts have previously performed at World
Gymnaestradas in Lisbon, Portugal 2003, Dornbirn,
Austria 2007, and most recently in the 2010 Canadian
Gymnaestrada in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Canadian and World Gymnaestradas are incred-ibly memorable
experiences in which our gymnasts get
to see different gymnastics disciplines and meet other
gymnasts from around Canada and from all around the
world. It's a great opportunity, and a fun way to cele-
brate the end of the gymnastics season.
The Club's Head Coach Eva Sokol has over 30 years
of coaching experience, from recreational to high perfor-
mance programs. She is a former rhythmic gymnast, and
has trained gymnasts on provincial and national teams,
the Canada Winter Games, the Western Canada
Summer Games, and the Canadian teams for the World
Gymnaestradas.
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