RITMIKA Coaches

Annely Riga (head coach and president)
Mimi Masleva (competitive coach)
Elvira Boudakova (ballet teacher)
Helle Varrik (recreational & elite groups & AGG)
Kairi Tirel (competitive & AGG coach)
Dagnia Vitmane (recreational coach)
Tara Joala (recreational coach)
Alessandra Galecka (recreational coach)
Alexandra Orlando (pre-competitors coach)


ANNELY RIGA
Co-founder & President of RITMIKA R.G. Club

Graduate of Tartu University in Estonia with a degree in Physical Education. From 1971-77 she was a staff member of the Physical Education faculty at Tartu University, where she taught Rhythmic Gymnastics. She also coached children's and adult's classes at all levels in various schools and clubs in Estonia.

For six years she was a member of the Estonian Women's Rhythmic Gymnastics Team (this group was composed from mostly former national level rhythmic gymnasts), winning six USSR Championships in Women's Group competition.

In 1977 she immigrated to Canada Since 1978 she has conducted numerous seminars, clinics and workshops throughout Canada. She has been working on the National Gymnastics Development Committee, National Coaching Committee, Ontario RSG Technical Committee, School Development Committee, Spectra & Star Programmes, NCCP Committee, and many others -- too many to list. She is a co-author of many Rhythmic Gymnastics publications in Canada. In 1988 and 1989 she also taught rhythmic gymnastics at University of Toronto.

Annely Riga's talent in the field of choreography has been recognized at the National and Provincial level, where several of her routines are taught. She has also been a choreographer and technical advisor for special events such as the International Gymnaestrada in Denmark 1987 & Germany 1995, Four Continents Championships in 1988, opening the SkyDome in 1989, and many others.

She received coach of the year awards from the Ontario Gymnastics Federation in 1985 and from the Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation in 1995. She is also a National level judge. Annely Riga is considered one of the leading forces in rhythmic gymnastics in Canada, having dedicated her life to this wonderful sport and her club.


Mimi Masleva

Mimi is an internationally renowned coach who has guided the development of world champions in many countries and who has been involved in the field of rhythmic gymnastics for over two decades.She has earned degree from the Higher Institute of Physical Culture in Sofia, Bulgariain 1979. She has been honoured as the Master of Sports and Distinguished Coach by the Bulgarian Government for her achievements. She was the national coach of the award-winning Bulgarian Group Team from 1985 to 1989. Under her direction the group won the World Cup and twice earned the World Champion and three times the European Champion titles. In 1989, Mimi was relocated to Japan and became the head coach of the Jusco RSG Club. For five consecutive years (1992-96) the Jusco team was the champion in the Japanese competitions. One of her gymnasts, Yamada Miho has also competed 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. During her stay in Japan, Mimi was invited to Beijing in 1994 to train the Chinese National Team, and in the following year, the Chinese gymnasts won seven gold medals in the Four Continents Competition in Egypt. The Chines Group Team also participated in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and placed fifth. Mimi is working with our National level gymnasts.


Elvira Boudakova

Since 1996, Elvira has been a ballet/dance teacher and a choreographer at RITMIKA, providing an important component to the training of competitive gymnasts. She herself has been a Rhythmic Gymnastics competitor. She graduated from the Bulgarian State School of Choreography - Classical Dance division, an 8 year educational programme. Later she graduated from the Bulgarian State Conservatory - Ballet degree, 4 year course. She was a choreographer and Ballet/Dance teacher at "Hr.Smirnenski" Youth Centre, having her own Dance Troop which won first prize at the District Festival of Performing Arts, second prize at City Festival, and second prize at the 7th Republican Festival in 1989. From 1986 to 1987 she was the Bulgarian Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team choreographer. This team won a Gold Medal at the World Championships in 1987. In 1989 she was the choreographer and ballet teacher in the Figure Skating Club "Academic". From 1989 to 1996 she was a choreographer and ballet/dance teacher at Jusco R.S.G. Club in Japan. She was a speaker at seminars for the Japanese National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team in Tokyo, and for the Chinese National Rhythmic Gymnastics Team in Beijing, China (1995). Her students have performed dances choreographed by her at the International Championships at Wacol Cup, Brother Cup, Epson Cup, and also at the 1996 World Championships - Gala - Vienna. Ritmika is extremely proud to have a ballet/dance teacher and choreographer who has such a long time experience working with rhythmic gymnasts and who can relate her ballet and dance knowledge to our gymnasts. Elvira is considered one of the very few ballet teachers in the world who has this kind of experience and connection with rhytmic gymnastics. She is also extremely creative and innovative with her own choreographies as an independent dance artist.


Helle Varrik

Helle Varrik has a university degree in Physical Education from the University of Tartu, Estonia, where she also taught rhythmic gymnastics to university students. She won many medals and awards as a member of the Estonian Womens' National Rhythmic Gymnastics team. The group for which she was performing and competing was considered one of the best in the former Soviet Union. She travelled extensively throughout the former Soviet Union, giving rhythmic gymnastics seminars.

Since 1994 Helle has been coaching Ritmika's recreational and elite performing groups. She is an experienced choreographer and coach and has been able to develop great looking teams for many performances and also RG recreational Groups competitions. Her Junior elite group won the 1998 year Teens category competition and her Novice elite team was 3rd in the overall competition in the pre-teens category. She is also a member of Ritmika's Ladies Elite team, who won the 1998 Women's Group competition overall throphy.


Kairi Tirel

Kairi Tirel is a graduate from Tartu University, Estonia specialising in Rhythmic Gymnastics & Movement therapy. For 7 years (1983-1989) Kairi was an Estonian National Team Member.

In 1986-89 she was all around Estonian champion in Rhythmic Gymnastics. She was also several times the City of Tallinn champion in individual apparatus competition.
1987 - International Championships "Miss Merepiiga" all around winner.
1988 International Championships "Kotkan ruusu" all around winner in Kotka, Finland.
1989 Former USSR Championships 4th place in Group competition.
1989-1997 - Elite Group gymnast at Rhythmic Gymnastics Club "Piruett". With that group she performed in Osaka, Japan, World Gymnaestrada in Berlin, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Porugal, Canada.
From 1990-97 Kairi worked as RG coach at Estonian Sports Federation & Sports School Kalev. She worked with children of all ages and levels, also preparing gymnasts for local, National & International competitions. She also worked as a choreographer & coach with Estonian National Team members.
From 1994-97 Estonian Sport Association "Kalev" Sports Programs -Director.
1995-1997 - International Sports Federation C.S.I.T. Technical Committee member.
She has also worked as a physiotherapist.

From January 1998 Kairi is working in Ritmika as a recreational, elite performing and pre-competitive programmes coach. Kairi has excellent communication, organization and coaching skills. She speaks fluently English, Estonian and Russian languages.

Kairi Tirel - performing with Senior Elite gymnasts at Seedriorg Summer Festival - June 1998