Otway Calisthenics Academy
School in Colac-Otway

CAI) was formed in 1986 and is the zenith body servicing Calisthenics in Victoria. It brings together all the affiliated groups, with the aim of generating growth for the sport and fostering over 100 clubs across the State and its 7,600 participants. In 1975, another group of interested teachers, and others, created the Calisthenic Association of Victoria (AV) as Victoria's peak body. They were formed to apply for government funding and assistance, which was being made available to sporting groups for the first time. It was from these efforts that, in 1986, CAI was formed and the AV was dissolved. Calisthenics has it's hasty roots in England and Europe, however the sport as we know it today came to prominence in the Victorian gold rush era. Called Physical Culture at the time, its aim was the promotion and enjoyment of physical fitness. Calisthenics was developed to bear exercises to help city dwellers retain fit. These exercises were often combined with apparatus to retain their wrists, elbows and shoulders supple. The dumbbells and hoops of those times are currently replaced by the clubs and rods we use today. Musical accompaniment was introduced and enhanced performances and it slowly became an integral part of the sport.

In addition to team items, participants can compete in solo and duo items. Other clubs compete at a number of competitions throughout the year, performing on stage in costumes. Clubs throughout Australia offer classes for pupils aged three years and over. This item has become more hard over time with team members often being required to move through formations and execute dance steps while performing complicated swings. Calisthenics is predominantly a team sport and the focus is eternal on the team performance, however team members can also compete individually as soloists or in a Calisthenic Duo. Team members can compete in Calisthenic solos from 8 years of age. She now enjoys writing for her Mum from time to continue this involvement. Julie is a life member of the Royal Academy of Dance and a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science with a passionate belief in the importance of physical fitness at all ages which can be obtained as both a participant and a coach in our incredible sport of calisthenics. Some regional competitions also donate solo competitions on the identical weekend as their team competitions. The list includes resources for coaches, club administrators, team members, and the general Calisthenic community. We supply a large range of sports uniforms and merchandise to many sports clubs, teams and associations. This program offered the best Victorian Calisthenics participants the opportunity to train and perform on the international and domestic stage. (CAI) Star Club Program is a quality assurance program endorsed by Sport and Pastime Victoria and Vic sport, designed to help Clubs to identify, priorities and implement effective management strategies to face the changing demands on calisthenic clubs. All Star Club levels have now been updated to ensure there is a rational progression throughout the levels and that each smooth builds on its predecessor.Through the Star Club Program CAI will provide: Tools and resources to educate, promote and recognize club volunteers, coaches, parents and pupils Policy, procedure and planning templates in order to decrease complaints or general issues. There will be an importance placed on planning for the future, supporting your volunteers and providing professional development opportunities for committee members and coaches. This is particularly urgent at community level. The cadet adjudicates the competition without discussion with the appointed adjudicator. Cadets always comment on how thorough the training program is and the confidence they have gained to perform as a suited adjudicator at the final of their training. VicHealth and CAI continue to labor together to produce a number of incentives and programs to welcome people from all backgrounds into the sport of Calisthenics and to urge CAI as the SSA to precede the sport of calisthenics into the future. These funding projects assist urge involvement in Calisthenics as both an active participant and also to encourage our volunteer and Club network. They are an independent member based organization who have partnered with Calisthenics Victoria and aid and encourage CAI in areas such as coach education and club capacity building. Coaching positions available are in teams, solos, recreational classes, and pupil skills. As a mighty and highly thriving regional club that is always growing our demand is outreaching our coaching capacity and so we are in need of an extra coach to assist in providing quality coaching to our girls. We look forward to developing a potent partnership with calisthenics in the future. MM Dance Supplies are also offering all calisthenics clubs and participants 10 off, excluding Swarovski Crystals.