Gymnastics Support Group Singapore

WHEN you think of dance what do you see? Surely, images of Dutty Wine and the Chaka dance, and wicked gyrations to tunes from Tony Matteeron and Elephant Man come to mind. But flip that script and picture a dance performed with various apparatuses such as balls, hoops, ropes and ribbons.

There is a new Rhythmic dance in town, a dance that has the potential to get you physically fit and well toned without the frenzied break-neck gyrations of the Dutty Wine.

Rhythmic gymnastics is a unique combination of modern dance, ballet and gymnastics, performed with a variety of apparatuses.

Ruth Jodhan is the choreographer of the first Rythmic gymnastics School in

Trinidad and Tobago

called Rythmika. Jodhan found a love for dance when she was a two-year-old tiny tot learning ballet with Bentley Potter, as well as gymnastics with Joan Knowles gymnastics Club.

Twenty years later, Jodhan has fused the best of both worlds — gymnastics and ballet — to create intricate dance moves with balls, hoops, ropes and ribbons.

“I moved to Canada as a child and picked up Rhythmic Dancing and performed for seven years there before coming back home. Eventually I started dance classes in my grandparents’ garage, with a couple of girls,” she said.

Experts in Rhythmic gymnastics perform dance-like movements featuring acrobat skills such as somersaults, backflips, cartwheels and many other creative body movements. Jodhan said the benefits are endless.

“With continuous practice, you will develop strength and agility,” she said. “The girls I work with have all benefitted with life long skills; they are all well toned. It really compliments them well because they also learn elegance, grace, confidence, physical fitness and team skills,” she said.

The dance school, which is now operated at the Chinese Association in St Ann’s, has grown from a few girls to more than 50 students, with special assistance from Ernest Jackson, artistic gymnastics coach. There are three stages in the routines, pre-rhythmic for ages four to five, beginner rhythmic for ages six and up, intermediate and advanced routines.

The essence of Rhythmic gymnastics is its ability to allow you to express yourself through elegant and graceful movements. This elegance and grace shine from the Rhythmic gymnast in many ways. Although Rhythmic gymnastics has elements of dance moves, Jodhan noted that it is more of a sport than a dance.

“It’s really an Olympic sport exclusive to girls,” she said.

“My aim is to train the girls to perform competitively, and I hope to participate in competitions throughout the world, she said.

Since the school’s conception, the club has performed at many functions locally and aims to eventually perform overseas.

There is no age limit to dance. Once you can shake your groove thing, you are disciplined and willing to learn, you can join the team at Rythmika School of Dance where you are sure to be transformed into a master of rhythmic moves.



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