The word calisthenics comes from the Greek words kalli ‘beautiful’ (from kallos – beauty) and sthenos ‘strength’. Classes incorporate a variety of items including physical movement, rod and club apparatus, aesthetic awareness, dance, figure marching and singing. Pupils learn approximately six routines concurrently throughout a year and this is where the diversity of the sport is seen.
Calisthenics is a team sport activity and it should be realised that for the group to succeed every member must contribute. This does require a commitment to regular attendance, mastering new skills and learning sets of work. Home practice is encouraged and online links to music, videos and written work are available. CDs of music and DVDs of routines can be made available upon request. The written work sheets can also be made available on request.
Competitions are one aspect of the year. All groups take part in local competitions to a varying degree. We limit entries to those competitions held on weekends and within a reasonable distance. We are not a highly competitive club and our main aim is for each member to compete in a sporting manner to the best of their ability. To this end, all members will be included in as many items as possible.
The annual display is the highlight of the year. All members take part presenting their items to an audience of family and friends. This is a great opportunity to celebrate our calisthenics achievements for the year and to congratulate our teams and individual members of the club for the hard work they have put into their routines and to the club as a whole.
We are proud of our club’s history and connection with the Rosanna Uniting Church. The clubs original club colours (Navy and aqua) are still used today in our logo, club attire, club banner and general advertising material and we proudly promote our club to both the local and greater community to help increase membership for our club and to encourage a greater awareness of the uniquely Australian sport that is Calisthenics.
More information is available from Calisthenics Victoria Inc. and the Australian Calisthenics Federation.
Arden Crescent Calisthenics Club Inc 