RITMIKA - Aesthetic Group Gymnastics
Short description and history of AGG( Aesthetic Group Gymnastics)
Aesthetic group gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics based on
stylized, natural total body movement.
The sport involves harmonious, rhythmic,
and dynamic movements performed with economic and natural use of
strength. There is a harmonious natural flow from one movement
to the next, as if each new movement is created from the previous one.
All movements must be performed fluently, showing amplitude and
variety in the dynamics and speed. The composition must
contain versatile and varied body movements, such as body waves
and swings, balances and pivots, jumps and leaps.
This sport combines dance and gymnastics, grace and beauty. It is both
sport and entertainment, combined in a most feminine way.
A competitive group consists of 6 to 10 gymnasts aged 16 and older
(two members of the group may be one year younger than the
minimum age).
Before the founding of IFAGG in 2003, two official committees
were governing the sport:
a Technical Committee, and an Administrative Committee.
Johanna Jantunen from Finland was the chairperson for the
Technical Committee and Bodil Mickels from Finland was
the chairperson for the
Administrative Committee.
Two representatives from Canada, Maija Ceming from Sudbury
and Annely Riga from Toronto Ritmika, were members of the
Technical and Administrative committees respectively.
In Graz,Austria during the 4th World Championships,
Ritmika Club and four other clubs from Canada signed an
Agreement of Intention to join the New IFAGG.
A new International Federation of Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (IFAGG)
was founded in October 2003 in Helsinki, Finland.
A president and a 6 member council were elected:
Johanna Jantunen - President - Finland
Mall Kalve - Vice President - Estonia
Annely Riga - Canada
Maija Ceming - Canada
Jindra Kostalova - Czech Republic
Liliya Morozova - Russia
Paivi Ahlroos-Tantu - Finland
RITMIKA'S involvement in AGG:
Ritmika Club has been teaching and nurturing AGG gymnastics
since the founding of the club in 1980.
Annely Riga, the co-founder of the club, has been promoting
and teaching this type of gymnastics in Canada since 1977.
Her knowledge comes from her birth country Estonia were she
was a gymnast herself, and after graduating from Tartu University
with a degree in Physical Education, she worked in the
Tartu University Physical Education Department teaching an
AGG type of gymnastics. Her teachers were Linda Martis,
Ethel Kudu and Lidya Uustal, who are well known rhythmic gymnastics
pedagogues in Estonia. Annely was elected as a Member of Council
of IFAGG at its inaugural meeting. She was also elected President of
the newly formed Canadian Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (CAGG),
the association coordinating AGG activities in Canada.
Internationally Ritmika has been involved in AGG since 1996.
The First International Group Competition was held in Helsinki,
Finland in 1996, where the Ritmika Team took part with 6 gymnasts
(Tara Joala, Skai Raamat, Stephanie Hedley, Sonia K.Tan,
Janna Patric and Aili McConnon) and coach Annely Riga.
In year 2000 the first World Championships were held
in Helsinki, Finland.
In 2001 the 2nd World Championships were held in Tallinn,
Estonia and Ritmika was competing again (the gymnasts were:
Andrea Fink, Caitlin Hopkins, Heli Telmet, Alison Davidson-Arnott
and Velina Tzankova), the coach was Helle Varrik and the judge
- Annely Riga.
In 2002 the 3rd World Championships were held in Prague,
Czech Republic - Annely Riga was judging again and
Helle Varrik and Kairi Tirel were attending as observers.
In 2003 the 4th World Championships were held in Graz, Austria
- Annely Riga as a judge from Canada.
Annely Riga has taken four International AGG Judges courses
and is an International Level Judge and has been judging
in three World Championships.
Ritmika's coaches: Helle Varrik has also taken an
International Level Judging course in Kisakallio, Finland
and has been coaching our elite groups at AGG.
Kairi Tirel is a former member of the Estonian 1996 winning
Team in AGG and her coach was Mall Kalve from Estonia,
who's team won the 2nd World Championships in
Tallinn, Estonia in 2001.
Kairi is preparing the Ritmika club next generation gymnasts
to attend the Junior Championships in 2004 in Estonia.
Ritmika has also been a leading force in Canada in promoting
and educating Canadian gymnasts and coaches in AGG.
The first and second "Red Ribbon" (Canadian version of AGG)
competitions in 1997 and 1998 were hosted and organized
by club Ritmika and we hosted it again in 2003.
Ritmika has also hosted coaches' seminars with international
coaches Anu Mattila from Finland and Mall Kalve from Estonia.
The first official judges' seminar for Ontario judges was held
at Ritmika Centre in 2003 instructed by Annely Riga.
13 judges took part in the course.
