The Kalev Estienne Rhythmic Gymnastics club is hosting the 2011 Koop Cup International Rhythmic Gymnastics & Aesthetic Group Gymnastics Competition on January 21-22, 2011 at the John Bassett Theatre in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, to celebrate 60 years of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Canada.
Top gymnasts from 15 countries, including Estonia, Finland, and Bulgaria are coming to the competition. The Estonian delegation includes both Senior and Junior Rhythmic Gymnasts and AGG (Aesthetic Group Gymnastics) teams. Gymnastic stars such as World Champion Anna Bessonova from Ukraine will be performing at the Gala and Olympic Gold Medalist Evgenia Kanaeva from Russia will be competing and performing. Our own Pan-American Games Champions, the Canadian National Team, will also be competing and performing.
The Canadian RG Team with Kalev gymnasts have had a successful 2010 season, winning the Gold Medal at the Pan-American Games in Mexico and the Silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in India. The Canadian Junior Group with Kalev gymnasts won the Bronze medal at the Youth Olympics in Singapore.
The choreography for the Canadian AGG teams and the overall Gala performance has been done by the world famous Finnish Choreographer, Anton Laine, who also does the choreography for the top-ranked Finnish OVO AGG Team. Rhythmic Gymnastics has developed a lot over the past 60 years with an increased focus on artistry of expression in movement to music. Routines are choreographed to tell a story and top gymnasts and choreographers working together allow the audience to not just see but also feel the story.
Rhythmic Gymnastics was first brought to Canada 60 years ago by a small group of Estonian “modern” gymnasts. The Kalev Sports Club was founded in Canada in 1951 and out of this club grew Kalev Estienne. Due to the efforts of the club and its founder, Evelyn Koop, the Ontario Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation was formed in 1968 and Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation in 1971. Evelyn Koop was also the choreographer for the opening ceremonies of the 1976 Olympics and, by demonstrating rhythmic gymnastics, opened the door for it becoming an Olympic sport. The first Olympic competition, in 1984, was won by a former Kalev athlete, Lori Fung.
The Koop Cup Competition is named in honour of Evelyn Koop, and the 2011 Koop Cup Competition celebrates both the 20’th anniversary of the Koop Cup and the 60’th anniversary of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Canada.
The 2011 Koop Cup Competition takes place on Friday morning, January 21’st from 9am-12 noon, and all day Saturday, January 22’nd, from 9am to 6pm. The opening ceremonies are scheduled to start at noon on Saturday and the Competition Finals start with the Juniors at 1:30 pm on Saturday.
The Gala performance “Harmony in Motion” takes place on Friday January 21’st at 7:30 pm. The Gala is a theatre-style show celebrating the beauty of movement to music. It is an event that you won’t want to miss and your chance to see live the world’s best gymnasts come together in a storyline series of choreographed routines set to music in a sound, motion and light extravaganza to celebrate 60 years of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Canada.
Tickets can be purchased through Ticket Window by calling 1-877-700-3130 or visiting TicketWindow.ca.
For additional information about the competition please visit http://koopcup.blogspot.com/ and the Kalev club website at www.kalev.net
