Hello, I'm sixteen and very flexible, i've been in ballet since i was seven. Is it too late for me to try out rhythmics? I have no problem with pain and working hard and long, im willing to do what it takes. Do you think that i could get classes at my age? Annelie

Hi! Sure, I think you can get a class for rhythmic gym. Ballet will help a lot, and that you're very flexible, so you probably will even start at a higher level class than beginner. Try looking at the Gym Chat gym directory section for a club that offers rhythmic gymnastics near you: http://www.gymchat.com/listings/index.php?cat=7 . Don't worry about your age, 16 is not a big deal at all. If you were 18 or over then you might have a problem with some gyms who don't offer classes for 18 and over because of insurance reasons. Let us know how it goes!

Hey, Thanks Alot. I called a few gyms today. I only got a hold of one though. The woman told me I could come in and test out the advanced class. There are two 12 yr. olds and a ten year old in it now. She said that I could just join in and let the coach see what i've got, and if this is the right place for me. I have NEVER done rhythmics before, i have watched videos but never been trained. What should I expect? ~Annelie

Cool! Don't wear hanging jewelry. Wear a leotard, tight shorts and shirt. In the advanced class they'll probably be working on learning more higher level tricks. Do you have your splits / over-splits from ballet? You'll get more flexible from working on it, so don't worry about it. I found this on youtube of a Level 4 girls class: Rhythmic Gymnastics Training [youtube]IHb08oNhgmc[/youtube] So are you going on Monday? Try the other gyms too, they probably will answer on Monday.

Thanks so much I have my splits yes. What are over splits? I put my front leg or back leg up on the cuch and do the splits, or both on 2 seperate chairs and hang in the splits is that it? I can do quite a few flexible things w/ my body tht ive seen on rhythmics videos but i dnt know wht they are called

is level 4 the advncd class?

Yup! Oversplits is when you do the splits over 180, so like your front leg or back leg or both legs are on something higher when you are in splits. Don't worry, you'll learn the names fast when you're in the gym. Usually gyms call the class right before the team level Advanced. There could also be some girls in the class who just don't want to compete and so do that. That video could be like what the pre-team/early team would look like - they are working on compulsory routines. In the lower levels floor exercise is also an event - in higher levels it is rope, hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon. Here's a level 5 routine: Rhythmic gymnastics competition training [youtube]fbG28KOI7l8[/youtube] more level 4 routines: Rtythmic Gymnastics Competition Practice [youtube]das5KFXytBk[/youtube] Here's a couple level 7 routines: Elliana's rhythmic gymnastics Level 7 floor, CO 2008 [youtube]DSKeDf-vNMU[/youtube] Elliana's rhythmic gymnastics L7 ribbon, CA, 2008 [youtube]93NcQDI12GQ[/youtube] Some clubs compete level 3 too, but level 4 is the first competitive level that has State and Regional Championships. The levels go 1-10 and elite is the highest; 4/5/6 are called compulsory 7/8/9/10 are called optionals.

You could be an excellent rhythmic gymnast with your background. You sound very flexible and a background in ballet is probably the single biggest advantage. Don't worry about your age, you will progress quickly because of your background and because you learn things more easily at 16 than you do at 6. You do need to expect that you will have to train with younger girls as there are not many adults and older teens involved in the sport. It is not a very well known and well publisiced sport so clubs are small and have to combine different ages. You dont say what country you are from and it does vary from country to country how the competitons work. In my country you begin competing at level 1 but it is a very basic level. Level 1,2 and 3 are the more basic developmental levels and you would be able to skip them propbably at your age and compact most of what you would learn in all those levels in a month or two at your age. Level 4, 5 and 6 are intermediate type levels and would be more what you are looking for. Level 7-10 are the more advanced levels and can lead to national level competiton. Then there are separate competitions and levels for those who have the potential to compete internationally. So what it will be,like for you will vary depending on what country you are from. Don't worry if you are the oldest in your competitions either. Try not to think of it as competing against those of a different age, think of it as competing against those of a similar ability level and they just may happen to be younger, but that is just because they started the sport younger.

She's right I have a girl in my group who's 16 she's really nice too.So don't worry about your age and just have fun doing the sport you love.