The city of Lakewood Gymnastics and Cheerleading program hosted
Lakewood Rhythmic Gymnastics and Friends on May 3. The event took place at Green Mountain Recreation center and began with an opening parade of all participants. Rhythmic gymnastics combines the grace of dance and the athleticism of gymnastics with the use of apparatus (ball, rope, hoop, clubs, and ribbon). Rhythmic gymnastics, as with any sport, takes dedication and commitment. Competitive students in the Lakewood program must practice a minimum of two days per week but most train at least three days per week.
The competition began with all Level 3 and 4 students competing with rope and ball, and a few more advanced students competing with clubs, hoop, and free form in addition. In the Level 3 division, first place went to
Nina Moreland, second place to
Beguidyl Rivera, and third place to
Marianna Castillo.
In the Level 4 division,
Raquel Rubio was awarded first place. In addition to training 3 times per week with coach
Marina Carlson, Raquel also studies ballet at a dance school in Denver and practices skills on her own.
The event continued with performances by Lakewood's recreational rhythmic gymnastics students, Lakewood cheerleaders, and guest performers. Guest performers included Rainbow Dance Group, directed by
Margarita Fomtshenko, and
Arina Rakityanska, a Level 6 rhythmic gymnast who trains in Denver.
Lakewood Rhythmic Gymnastics and Friends concluded with awards and a final parade. The participants enjoyed showing off the skills they have been practicing all season.
The City of Lakewood offers two rhythmic gymnastics programs, a competitive performance team, coached by Marina Carlson, which practices 2-3 times per week and a recreational program. Cheerleading is also a developing program in Lakewood. This summer there are cheerleading camps and classes offered at Carmody Recreation Center, and in the fall there will be a cheer team which will perform at Lakewood Pee Wee Sports games in addition to regular cheer and pre-school cheer classes. For more information about the Lakewood Gymnastics and Cheerleading program, please call 720-963-5384.