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Artistry and Music in Gymnastics: what do you think?

A press release from the FIG. 
FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE GYMNASTIQUE

PRESS RELEASE

(for immediate distribution)




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Artistry and Music in Gymnastics
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF EUTERPE!

Lausanne (SUI) / FIG Office, March 05, 2013: At its recent meeting in February 2013, the Executive Committee decided to organise two workshops on artistic and musical content, which are part of the judging criteria in Artistic and Rhythmic Gymnastics exercises. The workshops will be held this year at the World Championships in Antwerp (BEL) for Artistic and in Kiev (UKR) for Rhythmic. They will be led by the 1st Vice-President of the FIG, Ms Slava Corn, and target choreographers and coaches primarily, with access for judges.

A panel of internationally recognized experts will be appointed under the technical leaders of both disciplines, particularly Ms Lyn Heward (CAN), Creative Director with Cirque du Soleil, Montreal, Mr Lasse Nettum (NOR), expert and specialist in music and Rhythmic Gymnastics, and Mr Hardy Fink (CAN), FIG Education and Gymnastic Academies Director.

Music and artistry are two major elements in exercise composition and judging. For this reason, FIG President, Prof. Bruno Grandi (ITA) was clear when addressing his authorities: "Artistic content and a gymnast's immersion in the music are crucial; when translated through body expression, these are the heart of an exercise. Not only do athletes need to grasp this concept, but so do choreographers and coaches. When music is properly integrated into an exercise, a sense of artistry can truly evolve," emphasized the President.

The workshops will spur the creation of an educational programme targeting coaches, a concept to be developed in cooperation with the Cirque du Soleil.
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About the FIG: The International Gymnastics Federation is the governing body for gymnastics worldwide. It is the oldest established international sports federation and has participated in the Olympic Games since their revival in 1896. The FIG governs seven disciplines: Gymnastics for All, Men's Artistic, Women's Artistic, Rhythmic, Trampoline, Aerobic and Acrobatic. It counts 133 national member federations and boasts a 27-person staff at its international seat in Lausanne (SUI), host city of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
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What do you think?  Comments please!

Comments

  1. music and artisty haven't been major (or even significant) elements in exercise composition or judging for the last several Codes.....expect the usual FIG blather resulting from these workshops but do NOT expect any perceptible change....

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am all for it, but to me tha FIG is playing with a double edge sword. for example the women are unfairly being push to try 4 hard difficult passes, insert all the requirements in the COP, come up with a good choreagraphy, and they have to stick their landing like the men and now with no pauses in the corners, that is a recipe to bring more injuries. but the men floor exercise is nothing but tumbling passes from one corner to the next. the men no longer have to do scales, or 2 different kinds of planches and handstand, and absolutely no flairs or show flexibility. something is got to give.
    to me they should allow the women to return to lunges, only penalize them if they stand more than 3 seconds in the corners, and increase the time to a minute and forty five or fifty seconds per exercise in order to have them to work on choreagrophy while incorporating all the requirements in the COP and the 4 tumbling passes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gymnasts are not initially selected for their artistic abilities, but rather their athletic , and they might or might not have an artistic bone in their body. The code is not conducive to artistic endeavour and has not been for quite awhile. You cannot quantify artistry.
    Possibly the choreographers have adapted to the scoring reality and have a few dynamic poses on the way to a multitude of counting skills.
    I still think the Russians are the best in the world artistically

    ReplyDelete

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