Olga Mostepanova does her daily work at the 'stanok' or barre. Novosti Elena Kapitanova, a choreographer who worked at the Moscow Dynamo gymnastics club for over thirty years with such stars as Olga Mostepanova and Maria Filatova, recently passed away. She was, of course, greatly loved by her family - husband Viktor (RIP) and children Yulia and Vladimir - and leaves behind her a legacy of unforgettable gymnastics, much of which represents the best of a golden era of the sport. Great choreography was at the heart of the Soviet aesthetic of women's gymnastics. The daily attentions of a choreographer transformed gymnastics from the execution of skills to the performance of an aesthetic; a simple cartwheel could become an expression of delight, joy, a journey into the realms of expression. Many of us dream up floor routines, but the mystical powers of the choreographer go beyond the meshing of gymnastics and music into the realm of emotional evocation....
Reporting and analysing Russian gymnastics since 2010. Includes original and exclusive interviews with leading coaches and gymnasts, and historical issues dating back to the Soviet Union. The first blog to report extensively on the sport using Russian language sources. I read, I argue, and I have opinions. Be warned.