Calisthenics Australia
The word calisthenics comes from the Greek words ‘kallos’ for beauty and ‘thenos’ for strength. Indeed, the components of the sport aim at achieving those physical attributes, but the sport also influences the emotional and social development of girls and boys through friendship and teamwork.
Calisthenics Australia is a unique artistic sport. It combines dance, gymnastics, singing, apparatus manipulation and ballet. It involves a team of pupils learning routines choreographed to music – each of about three to four minutes duration – and presenting those routines at competitions. Pupils learn approximately six routines concurrently throughout a year and this is where the diversity of the sport is seen.
In addition to team work, participants can compete in solo and duo items.
Calisthenics Australia can be categorised as both sport and art. As a sport it encourages physical development, coordination, self-discipline and team spirit. As an Art it develops an appreciation of music and rhythm, the beauty of line and the excitement of presenting on stage.
Calisthenics is the perfect sport for those who want to do everything! The variety of genres performed in Calisthenics gives students the opportunity to develop both strength and flexibility whilst performing a variety of routines reflecting classical ballet, gymnastics, modern dance, singing and acting. Some genres are performed annually and the remaining on a rotational basis between age groups.
