History of Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is based on the floor routines from artistic gymnastics but combines some of the tumbling aspects with ballet. The most prominent feature of rhythm gymnastics is the implementation of ribbons, balls, hoops, clubs and ropes into the routine. Like the floor routines in artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastic routines are choreographed and performed to music.
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The Idea of Dance as Exercise
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The original seed of rhythmic gymnastics was planted in the ideas of movement expression in the 1800s, which incorporated dance as a form of self-expression and personal exercise. Peter Henry Ling took movement expression and developed "aesthetic gymnastics," where his students used body movement to express themselves.
Grace Without Dancing
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Catherine Beecher expanded upon Ling's gymnastics and founded a women's gymnastics program in 1837 called "Grace without Dancing." This program taught women how to exercise to music, from simple calisthenics to more complicated routines.
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Swedish School of Rhythmic Gymnastics
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In the late 1800s, many schools of dance and exercise adopted Beecher's and Ling's program ideas and developed a combination of dance and exercise to promote muscle tone and grace. All of these styles were eventually combined and promoted at the Swedish School of Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Competitve Rhythmic Gymnastics
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Rhythmic gymnastic competitions are fairly new, only existing since the 1940s with the first competitions in the Soviet Union. Soon after the Federation of International Gymnastics recognized it as a sport in 1961, Europe held the first rhythmic gymnastics world championships for individuals. Group competitions were added in 1967.
Road to the Olympics
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The Olympics did not recognize rhythmic gymnastics until 1984, nearly 20 years after the first world championship. In 1996, group competitions were added to the sporting event.
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Resources
- Photo Credit The Olympics Organization
