Beautiful ARTISTIC SPORTS you will love

Her Releve is a rhythmic gymnastics website and our content is rhythmic gymnastics orientated. In this post, we will be talking about other sports you will love if you like RG. Some of these are well known, and some others are not as popular in some places. From aerobic gymnastics to figure skating, these sports are a mix between sport and art with a high emphasis on expression and rhythm. Just like RG, they are judged on artistry.

Which one is your favourite? Have you heard about all of these sports? We always like to hear your opinion, so let us know in the comments what you think.

AESTHETIC GROUP GYMNASTICS

Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (AGG) could be considered Rhythmic Gymnastics younger sister, as they have the same roots and they require a very similar composition that includes body waves and swings, balances and pivots, jumps and leaps, dance steps, and lifts. Physical qualities such as flexibility, speed, strength, coordination, and ability to move effortlessly are required. They use the same mat as RG with no padding or springs.

AGG is a discipline of gymnastics heavily based on stylized, natural total body movement. Routines are only performed in groups of 6 to 10 gymnasts (much bigger than RG groups), and the demand for expression is even higher than in RG. Storytelling is a big part of the composition of a routine, and they will be judged on it. Lifts and collaborations are a big element of the routine.

Aesthetic Gymnastics is particularly popular in Finland, where it originated, but there are groups all over the world. It isn't a well known sport because it's a brand new discipline. The International Federation of Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (IFAGG), was only established in 2003. It has developed greatly after it's beginning and we hope it becomes more popular so we can hear more about it.

AEROBIC GYMNASTICS

Aerobic Gymnastics is perhaps the most dynamic and energetic of all the gymnastic disciplines. Finding its roots in the group fitness and aerobic classes of the late ’80s, Aerobic Gymnastics is a recent addition to the stable of gymnastic disciplines.

Immediately recognisable for its high energy and heart-pounding routines set to lively ‘up-tempo’ music, Aerobic Gymnastics is popular with both males and females and offers opportunities for participation as individuals, mixed pairs, trios and groups. Routines are done on a 7x7m sprung wooden floor without a mat, so aerobic gymnasts wear aerobic shoes to perform them.

The gymnasts have to perform dynamic strength skills as well as static ones, classic aerobic steps like jogs, lunges or skips, balances and jumps. For people accustomed to rhythmic gymnastics leaps, where we land every leap on our toes, it may be impressive to see an AG gymnast doing a split jump (for instance) and landing it on a push up on the floor.

Aerobic Gymnastics is definitely an underrated discipline, and it's really entertaining to watch. Here is a video created by FIG that sums up all you need to know about Aerobic Gymnastics. For more information make sure to check their website.

FIGURE SKATING

Figure Skating is very popular internationally, but for obvious reasons, it tends to be more popular in colder countries, and it may not have a great following in some others without a skating tradition, such as Ireland. Those who are into it know that figure skating is graceful and delicate, yet fast and powerful. This is thanks to Jackson Haines, a ballet master living in Vienna in the 1860s who added elements of ballet and dance to give the sport its grace.

Figure skating is the oldest sport on the Olympic Winter Games programme. It was contested at the 1908 London Games and again in 1920 in Antwerp.

Men’s, women’s, pairs and ice dancing are the main programmes we find in this sport. From intermediate through senior-level competition, skaters compete for two programmes; the short programme and free skating. Depending on the category skaters generally perform difficulties such as spins, jumps, moves in the field, lifts, throw jumps and death spirals.

SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING

This sport, previously known as "Water Ballet" is incredibly graceful and demanding.

Competitors need strength and flexibility to perform twists and lifts as well as rhythm and flair to synchronise and interpret the music, which they listen to through underwater speakers. Swimmers commonly hold their breath underwater for around a minute, but oftentimes they will hold it for even two or three minutes. Presentation is important in synchro, it's easy to tell by the looks of the elegant swimmers. To look impeccable, swimmers put gelatin in their hair so the sleek bun they have stays in place throughout routines. Waterproof makeup and light and high quality, yet elegant and colourful costumes are a great part of the performance.

Twirls, spins, positions and lifts are important elements on the sport. There are four categories;

• Solos – where an individual swimmer will synchronise with the music.

• Duets – where a swimmer co-ordinates with their partner and in time to the music.

• Teams – where the swimmer co-ordinates with up to seven other athletes and in time to the music.

• Combination – a team routine where up to ten swimmers perform in one continuous routine but during the routine, there will be segments where different numbers of swimmers will perform.

Only duets and Teams are Olympic sports. The competition requirements for two routines, technical and free, are very similar to the figure skating short and free programme system.