NEWS - Performance Printing

SPORTSConnected to your communityHaving fun performing in gymnaestradaJohn Curryjohn.curry@metroland.comEMC news - Five year old AshleyKeefer liked swinging the hoop inher routine. Six year old MayanneChiponski liked the music accompanyingher routine.They were but two of the youngrhythmic gymnasts who took part inthe Kanata Rhythmic GymnasticsClub’s spring gymnaestrada 2013.But whether it was Ashley or Mayanneor any one of the rhythmicgymnasts who participated in one ofmore than 30 routines presented atthe event last Friday evening at theEarl of March High School theatre inKanata, you knew one thing – theywere having fun – their smiles andtheir infectious energy told you that.$6/PersonKids under 1 FREEBus Routes to the Event85 & 95That’s because a gymnaestrada isjust a big word for what really is arecital – an opportunity for familyand friends to see these young rhythmicgymnasts representing all ofthe classes and levels in the KanataRhythmic Gymnastics Club performon stage.Rhythmic gymnastics combinesthe grace of ballet and dance withgymnastic movements that requireflexibility. So you know that it is eyecatchingto watch.But rhythmic gymnastics also seesthe participants perform with associatedapparatus like hoops, ropes, ribbonsor balls, all of which are used incompetitive settings as well as theseless formal gymnaestradas. But agymnaestrada like last Friday’s is notrestricted to these items that can befound in competitive surroundings.That’s why you saw flowers like thegiant ones used by the five-membergroup coached by Kaitllyn Farrell-Rose that meets every Wednesdayevening at St. Stephen School inStittsville. Or there were teddy bearsor umbrellas or fans used in otherroutines – you just never knew whatyou would see from routine to routine– there’s nothing “routine” aboutthese routines.And, of course, all of the routinesare performed to music. And everyoneenjoys hearing that!This spring’s gymnaestradamarked the first time that those fromthe recreational classes which theKanata Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubholds at St. Stephen School in Stittsvilleparticipated in the event. That’sbecause these classes just began inthe past year and this was the firstreal opportunity for these youngstersto display their developing rhythmicgymnastic skills.There were three groups from theSt. Stephen location who performedin the gymnaestrada – The Wednesday7 p.m.-8 p.m. class coached byKaitllyn Farrell-Rose who performedthe flower routine, the only one inthe event; the Monday 6 p.m.-7 p.m.class coached by Breanna Rich whoperformed a hoop routine, using thewhite hoops in sharp contrast to theirred recreational class outfits; and theMonday 7 p.m.-8 p.m. class coachedby Lauren Tierney who performed arope routine. Yes, the St. Stephen locationwas well represented in this,its inaugural appearance in a springgymnaestrada.The Kanata Rhythmic GymnasticsClub holds classes at various locationsthroughout the Kanata/Stittsvillearea. While St. Stephen Schoolis the only location in Stittsville,other locations in Kanata include theOld Town Hall, St. Gabriel School,Glen Cairn and Bridlewood.The gymnaestrada not only includedroutines from all of the recreationalclasses but also saw performancesfrom some of the Kanata RhythmicGymnastics Club’s advanced traininggymnasts including some whocompete at the provincial level. Indeed,Lucinda Nowell, whose ribbonroutine wound up the gymnaestrada’sprogram, recently placed fourth in aprovincial competition, so she is oneof the most outstanding in the province.A special treat at the gymnaestradawas a ball routine performed bysome of the Club’s coaches.The Kanata Rhythmic GymnasticsClub was founded in 1975 by DasaLelli who still directs the Club. TheClub offers a recreational programfor girls age four and older in whichthe girls are introduced to the techniqueand movements of rhythmicgymnastics and its apparatus whichincludes hoops, ropes, ribbons, ballsand clubs.26 Stittsville News EMC - Thursday, May 30, 2013R0022076472-0509R0012050262-0425JOHN CURRY/METROLANDMembers of a rhythmic gymnastics class held by the Kanata RhythmicGymnastics Club at St. Stephen School in Stittsville who performed aflower routine under the direction of coach Kaitllyn Farrell-Rose at theClub’s spring gymnaestrada in Kanata last Friday evening are, frontrow, from left, Natalia Gallinger, Brooke Bowditch and Ashley Tang;and, back row, from left, Sophia Nan and Isabelle Gregory.