March:
This routine opens all competitions. The whole team marches together creating intricate patterns. The aim of this routine is to perform with excellent uniformity and deportment. March showcases discipline and confidence.
Free exercises:
As the name suggests this discipline is performed without apparatus. A team will perform a routine based around strength and flexibility. Stamina, timing and fitness are tested in this routine and the complexity of movements increases over time.
Rods:
Rods is one of two apparatus routines in Calisthenics. An aluminium rod is used throughout the routine and constantly manipulated. This routine has proven to be spectacularly entertaining and fast paced. The difficulty of this routine is increased
Clubs:
This routine is probably the hardest to perform correctly. Clubs are used to swing in a variety of different directions maintaining planing. The complexity of swings increases as girls move through the age groups. Often times more movement around the stage is incorporated in the older age groups and proves to be a stunning performance.
Aesthetics:
Aesthetics has relevance to ballet. Girls interpret the music with expression and body movement. An ankle length skirt is used and incorporated through the routine to emphasise grace and poise. The aim of this routine is to draw the audience into the performance and evidently create emotions. |
Rhythmic:
This routine is in some ways similar to Aesthetics. A team performs elevated and dance steps whilst telling a story. Rhythmic is only performed by older age groups due to the difficult nature of the steps that can be included. Like Aesthetics, a successful Rhythmic routine will create emotion in the audience and showcase the grace and poise of the girls.
Song and dance:
The whole team performs a routine that incrporates singing and various styles of dances. Coaches can be creative and choose themes for their team to portray. Adjudicators look for expression and the clarity and skill of the singing. Dance steps are also critiqued.
Folk and character dance:
This dance is about learning the traditional steps of another culture. Girls dance the steps of the chosen country and peform a routine that is entertaining and acurate to that country. Character Dance is a slightly different version that is more aimed at presenting the story of a character. Young girls especially enjoy performing this routine.
Cal revue & stage presentation:
Coaches can be extremely creative when choreographing these routines. They can choose a theme or story and include almost anything in the dance. Props and stage dressing are common in these routines. Cal Revue and Stage Presentation can also include singing. Lighting and curtains can be used to enhance the performance.
Song with action/movement:
Like Song and Dance this routine incorporates singing. This routine is for the younger age groups as the movements are sung with the movements. Girls sing and perform actions to the words and tell a story with their expression. |
Calisthenics pupil skills:
Pupil Skills is a great way for girls to imrpove their skills in all areas of Calisthenics. Classes are run each year. The girls attend a number of classes and learn a syllabus of moves with the aim to perorm all movements with correct technique. An exam is held with an Adjudicator present to achieve the skill level. There are vertain skill levels that need to be achieved to compete at a National Level.
Solos and duos
There are two solos that can be perfromed by girls who choose to do so. There is a Calisthenics solo which is strength and flexibility based and a graceful which is ballet and dance based. There are three ACT competitions in the first half of the year. Girls can then be eligible to compete at Nationals if placed high. Duos can also be performed and run at the same time as the solos. These can also go to Nationals.
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