Hooping in the Olympics!

What is Rhythmic Gymnastics?

 

Rhythmic Gymnast with Hoop

Did you know the (hula) hoop is an apparatus in the world Olympic championship games? There’s also ribbons, clubs and balls (and sometimes ropes). These gymnasts may have a different shape and look when you see them perform (tall, long and lean). Their elements are dance, while incorporating various props. Tosses, turns, flexibility and gymnastics are visually transitioned and intertwined with dance. They are judge with a 30 point system, 10 points available  in each of three categories:  artistry, difficulty and execution. 30 points is a perfect score. Penalty points can be deducted for mistakes, including dropping the prop.

Why is it that you may have never heard of rhythmic gymnastics, or have a hard time finding these performances? The coverage is pretty sparse. The mainstream “artistic” genre of gymnasts get the majority of promotion in the media and commercial play. But the beauty of both divisions cannot be denied.

Rhythmic gymnastics is judged more on their dance skills and choreography merits. And they also have group performances-some with multiple props, representing their country as a team, in addition to individual single prop performances. In Rhythmic gymnastics, the only competition division is for women.

Artistic Gymnastics (what most people see)

For what most people see, there are men’s and women’s categories for different apparatus. Their apparatus’ are not prop-based, though.  Women get to compete in the divisions of floor exercise, uneven bars, balance beam and vault. The men get to demonstrate their skills on vault, rings, parallel bars, pommel horse, horizontal bar, and floor exercise. There’s also a third category/division of gymnastics in 2012’s Olympics: Trampoline, with both men and women competing.

Coverage of Rhythmic Gymnastics in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England

2012-Olympic Hoop Logo-Rhythmic Gymnastics

Here’s the schedule and results link for Olympic rhythmic gymnastics in the UK…and their logo is with a HOOP!

http://www.nbcolympics.com/rhythmic-gymnastics/results-schedules/index.html Also check out the BBC London coverage.
The competitions for qualifying/elimination rounds into final competitions is August 9, 10, 11, and 12 2012.

OLYMPIC RESULTS (Spoiler alert):

Known for their exquisite ballet training, the Russian Federation took the gold (Evgeniya Kanaeva) & silver (Daria Dmitrieva)  in individual rhythmic gymnastics, and a very happy Liubou Charkashyna of Belarus finally got to move from her many fourth place standings to earn the bronze and step onto her first podium. In the group finals, Russia, Belarus, and Italy placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd medal rankings.

More videos of rhythmic gymnastics

If you are interested in seeing more rhythmic gymnastics, there are a LOT of videos to enjoy from worldwide performances and competitions on YouTube. One of the iconic figures is Anna Bessonova. You can see the extreme flexibility needed for this kind of hoop dance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6wY_rZ54_o

Here’s another one of the many videos out there of rhythmic hoop gymnast Irina Tchachina http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV5y5_FFEJA

And a video of several examples of rhythmic gymnasts (with different props) in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym6hGDgXeOY&feature=related

Where Can YOU learn to Hoop Dance?

If you want your OWN great flexibility, grace, coordination &  dance style with hooping…try Hip The Hoopla class Tues. 7/31 at 6:30pm. http://www.facebook.com/events/277660339008552/

Classes are offered in Denver, Colorado, USA on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm and Saturday mornings at 10am, plus private lessons. Coming soon:  online lessons available worldwide! Please contact Che@HipTheHoopla.com for more info.

Lots of links and info also available at www.facebook.com/HipTheHoopla
You can also find, like and follow Hip The Hoopla on Yelp, Twitter (@hipthehoopla), LinkedIn, YouTube, Google, YourHub and www.HipTheHoopla.com.