Since 1980, we have been running as a successful family-friendly club.
About Ashgrove
Club History
We opened up our doors in 1962 as ‘St. Matthews Calisthenics Club’ having previously been run by the church, we became an independent club in 1979 where we moved to Ashburton Uniting Church which is still our current home. In 1980 we changed our name to ‘Ashgrove Calisthenics Club’ . The club has been running for over 60 years, most of those years the club was run by club founder and previous Principal Coach Mrs Bev Gaudion, she has also run the annual state championships for Calisthenics Victoria for more than 15 years.
Ashgrove has a competition team in each of the sections, with each section competing in various Divisions. Our Sections are represented at most of the local Melbourne calisthenics competitions, plus our Inters up to Masters compete in the prestigious Royal South Street Society Eisteddfod held in Ballarat each year in October/November.
Mrs Gaudion was a well known and respected woman in the Calisthenics community, she will forever be celebrated in Victoria’s sporting history for her lifelong devotion to calisthenics.
Mrs Gaudion passed away on the 21st of September in 2021. She brought unreserved joy to the many in the sport with her dedication, commitment, and lifelong involvement, especially to “her girls”. Bev made Ashgrove a family club of sporting excellence and community spirit, many of her former pupils returning to the club with their own daughters to be taught by her.
Bev’s involvement in the sport was not limited to just coaching but also to mentoring young cadets to become coaches. Outside of Ashgrove she was a part of the Calisthenics Victoria Committee of Management, Manager of the State Championship Committee, Mountain District Competition Committee Convener and involved with RSSS Competitions. Her commitment to the sport was recognised in 2000 when she received the Australian Sports Medal of Sporting Achievement awarded by His Excellency’s Command, John Howard, Prime Minister, and then in 2014 winning the prestigious Service to Sport and Active Recreation Award at the Victorian State Governments Community Sport and Recreation Awards.
We extend our condolences to her children Ross and Susan, the wider family and friends. She will always be greatly treasured and will be sorely missed by the Calisthenics community.
Farewell and Thank you Bev.
Life Members
We would like to congratulate the following people on being presented with ‘Life Membership‘ at Ashgrove Calisthenics Club:
Bev G Robyn Mc Cherrie W
Sue C Maree R Jan C
Greta O Mora L Yvonne M
Wally C Pat P Janette C
Michelle B Jo C Ali S
Sharon W Sheryn R Bec D-D
Narelle G Julie M Phil H
What we’re about…
Our Vision Statement
Friendship. Fun. Inclusive.
Developing friendships and confidence through performing together.
Our Mission
A creative team sport that builds confidence, fosters friendships and celebrates achievement.
Our Brand
The affordable club for all ages and abilities; from basics to brilliance.
Our Vision for the future
Building on a firm foundation, growing into the future.
About Calisthenics
Calisthenics is a uniquely Australian artistic sport. Calisthenics involves a team of participants learning routines choreographed to music, incorporating elements of dance, gymnastics, singing, acting, marching, ballet, apparatus technique and performance skills.
As a sport, Calisthenics improves co-ordination, mobility, balance, strength, flexibility and posture as well as fostering self-esteem and team spirit. As an art, it encourages an appreciation of music rhythm, the celebration of movement and the excitement of performing on stage.
The word Calisthenics comes from the Greek words kallos’ for beauty and thenos’ for strength. There are different levels within Calisthenics: some clubs are recreational and choose to perform only at their end of year concert; other clubs perform during the year at a number of competitions, on stage in costumes.
Calisthenics promotes a healthy body and mind. Being part of a team develops self-discipline, teamwork, commitment, responsibility, self-esteem and lasting friendships. The combination of movement and performance skills provides fitness, co-ordination rhythm, grace, deportment and confidence.
Figure March
Figure March or March is very much about timing and precision. Teams move through various complex formations during the routine, and the emphasis is on team cohesion, precision of movement and timing, it develops spatial awareness, core strength, rhythm and deportment. Only teams from Sub-Juniors upwards to Master’s perform Figure March. Younger teams are taught basic march but do not perform a March routine.
Free Exercises
Free Exercises or Free-Arm is a creative routine that incorporates gymnastics-type moves demonstrating strength, flexibility and rhythm, develops core strength, flexibility and deportment. Moves that may be included in this type of routine include bend-backs, walk-overs, splits, cartwheels and leg mounts. These moves are taught at a simplified level in the Tinies and Sub-Junior teams, with the techniques being added to as participants move through the sections.
Club Swinging
Club Swinging or Clubs provide participants to perfect rhythmic movements which include swinging wooden clubs around and across the body, legs and head. Circular swings with the clubs develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, multi-tasking and rhythm. The aim is to have the team perform in unison, and this style encourages timing and builds body coordination.
Rod Swinging
Rod Swinging or Rods is manipulation of a light metal rod that is used to perform a dance routine, it incorporates swinging, spinning and twisting of rods in time with team members and music. Rods routines also include flexibility, strength and develops technical skills, hand-eye coordination and multi-tasking.
Aesthetics/Rhythmical Aesthetics
The Aesthetic routine is most similar to ballet or lyrical jazz routines, with flowing skirts, Graceful movements technically placed and interpreted developing musical appreciation, grace and poise. Facial expression is also promoted and encouraged to better tell the story through the dance. Aesthetics is performed by Sub-Juniors upwards to Inters & Masters. Younger teams are taught basic ballet positions but do not perform an Aesthetic routine.
Rhythmical Aesthetics is similar to the aesthetic routine. It includes graceful and elevated movements technically placed and interpreted, develops rhythm, dance, expressive storytelling, leaps and leg extension for running and other sports. Rhythmical Aesthetics is performed by our Seniors only.
Action Song/Song & Dance
Action Song or Song with Action is a routine of Singing with movement and expression developing confidence, vocals, listening, communication and performance skills. This is performed by Tinies only.
Song & Dance is slightly different to Action Song as it is Singing with dancing rather than movements, the routine is sung with expression developing dance, vocals, stamina and breathing. Song & Dance is performed by Sub-Juniors only every second year.
Character Dance/Dance Arrangement
Character Dance is a series of dance steps that tell a story, it develops rhythm, dance, storytelling and acting. It usually has a theme and all team members take part in portraying the theme to the audience. Performed by Tinies only.
Dance Arrangement is Dance and interpretation developing spatial awareness, dance, elevation, expression and performance skills. It is similar to Character Dance with the dance and theme elements but it is a more advanced skill item performed by Inters and Seniors every second year.
Calisthenics Revue
Calisthenics Revue is a creative performance to tell a story it includes dance, storytelling and acting, it develops performance skills, acting, creative expression and confidence. The Item has a theme and all team members take part in portraying the theme to the audience. Calisthenics Revue is performed from Sub Juniors upwards to Masters. Sub-Juniors, Inters & Seniors perform Calisthenics Revue every second year.
The Items
Calisthenics is made up of a range of dance styles, and each team learns and performs an item in each style. Each unique team based item improves the overall health, fitness, strength and flexibility of performers, as well as offering skills and benefits to take into everyday life. Overall the items teach you skills like Teamwork, coordination, self-confidence, concentration, listening, following instructions, communication and presentation.