Rhythmic Gymnastics for All!
06/21/2012

2012 was a big year for the Festival Rhythmic Program. The rhythmic community was introduced to the program at the Rhythmic Challenge and Invitational in Colorado Springs in February and at the 2012 Junior Olympic and Open Championships in Orlando in June. Festival Rhythmic Competition was included at both events with pioneering athletes from Chattooga Gymnastics in Atlanta, Ga., DeVeau's Rhythmic in Fishers, Ind., and First Coast Rhythmics in Jacksonville, Fla.

Athletes competed in each of the individual levels A thru D, plus the Special Athletes levels for athletes with disabilities. Competitors also participated in group, duet and trio events. Festival Rhythmic awards the athletes achievement with ribbons for each routine competed. Highlights included several "GOLD" level awards for routines scoring above 90 points out of 100:

GOLD LEVEL ACHIEVEMENT – Colorado Springs

    Molly Moskovitz 91 HOOP Level A
    Ali Lambright 92 HOOP Level C
    Ali Lambright 90 BALL Level C
    Khalilah Greer 90 CLUBS Special Athlete
    Dana Misitano 93 RIBBON Special Athlete
GOLD LEVEL ACHIEVEMENT – Orlando
    Krista Donald 93 HOOP Level D
    Ali Lambright 90 BALL Level D
    Lani DeMello 90 CLUBS Level B
In addition to these two premier events, Festival Rhythmic competition was held at the Region 6 Championships where more than 75 athletes participated in the program. Several states also included Festival Rhythmic in its State Championship events, with more regions and states planning to integrate the program for 2013. Also in 2013 will be a Festival Rhythmic Nationals to be held June 26-30 in Milwaukee, Wis.

Festival Rhythmic is similar to the artistic Excel program, allowing athletes to participate with fewer training hours, lower cost and expanded creative options. The program is unique in that it utilizes a scoring system similar to those used for dance, show choir and music competitions. The Festival Rhythmic program rules are found at http://usagym.org/pages/group/pages/festival_rhythmic.html.

To request more information or to reserve your spot at the 2013 Festival Rhythmic Nationals, contact Paula Lord at jplord1@sbcglobal.net.

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