Some of you may not know this, but Bulgaria has a second senior group coached by the absolutely incredible Kamelia Dunavska, who is a world champion in the group exercise herself. They put together this routine, where nobody ever stops moving until the very end, where you can finally take a breath:
I am not sure that this team will have the opportunity to showcase this routine at a bigger international event, so I am sharing it here, despite the small errors that are still visible.
Enjoy!
Showing posts with label bulgarian gymnastics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bulgarian gymnastics. Show all posts
11/13/2014
Happy Birthday to My Greatest Gymnast Inspiration!
Today, on Maria Petrova's birthday, I remember with joy and nostalgia the days when I brought her flowers at competitions, took many pictures of her on my first camera, and lined up to receive her autograph. From the first moment I watched her, I knew she would achieve greatness in this sport.
On this magical day, I would like to remember one of her oldest routines.This routine is from 1991. Only two years before she presented her famous Carmina Burana hoop. The 1991 routine is not as dramatic and polished but it is full of potential. Also, this is one of VERY few times I have seen Maria with a pony tail. :-)
To all fans of Maria, I say: cheers! Believe in your inspiring stars.
On this magical day, I would like to remember one of her oldest routines.This routine is from 1991. Only two years before she presented her famous Carmina Burana hoop. The 1991 routine is not as dramatic and polished but it is full of potential. Also, this is one of VERY few times I have seen Maria with a pony tail. :-)
To all fans of Maria, I say: cheers! Believe in your inspiring stars.
11/22/2013
2014 Bulgarian National Team: No Simona Peycheva, Some New and Old Faces
The Bulgarian Federation has announced that Maria Mateva, Neviana Vladinova, Anastasia Kisse and Radina Filipova are the four gymnasts on the national team. Three more gymnasts are in the "expanded" group as alternates: Sara Staykova, Kristina Tasheva and Katrin Taseva.
Maria Mateva and Anastasia Kisse have already represented Bulgaria in many international competitions. Their spots on the team are no surprise to anyone. While both of these gymnasts have achieved a good level of performance, I am sad to say I have not seen great improvement from either of them in recent years. To me, Sara Staykova was the more promising athlete but, unfortunately, she was not stable and clean enough in 2013 to solidify her spot. Kristina Tasheva from "Akademik" had an injury but I I hope to see her recover.
Neviana Vladinova to me is the only gymnast who has consistently improved in difficulty, confidence, and expression. Here is one of her latest routines at the Italian Championships. Pretty good!
The new face is Radina Filipova, a very talented young girl with long legs and overall a great figure for gymnastics. I think she has a lot to learn but I am glad she has made the team. Here is the routine that I have so far liked best. A lot needs to improve, though, especially in terms of her knees,releves, jumps:
I wish the girls the best of luck and hope they show the world what true Bulgarian gymnastics style means!
As you may have heard, Simona Peycheva did not make the national team. As you watch Radina's routine above, ask yourself how many light years ahead of her Simona is. The answer is: too many. Simona should have been on the team. I really hope she keeps competing, whether for Bulgaria, or not.
Maria Mateva and Anastasia Kisse have already represented Bulgaria in many international competitions. Their spots on the team are no surprise to anyone. While both of these gymnasts have achieved a good level of performance, I am sad to say I have not seen great improvement from either of them in recent years. To me, Sara Staykova was the more promising athlete but, unfortunately, she was not stable and clean enough in 2013 to solidify her spot. Kristina Tasheva from "Akademik" had an injury but I I hope to see her recover.
Neviana Vladinova to me is the only gymnast who has consistently improved in difficulty, confidence, and expression. Here is one of her latest routines at the Italian Championships. Pretty good!
The new face is Radina Filipova, a very talented young girl with long legs and overall a great figure for gymnastics. I think she has a lot to learn but I am glad she has made the team. Here is the routine that I have so far liked best. A lot needs to improve, though, especially in terms of her knees,releves, jumps:
I wish the girls the best of luck and hope they show the world what true Bulgarian gymnastics style means!
As you may have heard, Simona Peycheva did not make the national team. As you watch Radina's routine above, ask yourself how many light years ahead of her Simona is. The answer is: too many. Simona should have been on the team. I really hope she keeps competing, whether for Bulgaria, or not.
10/04/2013
Neviana Vladinova Dreams of Rio
Neviana Vladinova has quickly become one of the most interesting and most promising gymnasts on the Bulgarian team. My impression of her is that she works very hard to improve and that she is able to show her strengths with very original routines. We have a lot of time until the Rio Olympics but I felt very happy to read in an recent intereview that Neviana's goal is to participate! I think acknowledging one's dreams and goals definitely means one has made the first step in the process of achieving them.I wish Neviana the best of health and can't wait to enjoy her gymnastics. The photos below, courtesy of Dimo Dimov, demonstrate her expressive and sophisticated style. I find them very inspiring because they look as though she is flying, while her feet remain on the ground, a harmony of emotion and confident control.
9/25/2013
Old Ball Routines, Forgotten or Unseen
Today I'd like to post 3 old, but good ball routines that may not have become popular in the 90s, but still held something very special in terms of creating a mood for the audience and telling a story through movement. The 1990s were a special time for gymnastics in terms of transitioning from a more artistic sport to a more athletic discipline with more body difficulties. These routines cannot really compare to the achievements of the gymnasts in the new century, but these routines demonstrate a body language full of musicality and expressions that many gymnasts with more challenging elements should aspire to show.
I hope you will take a moment to watch them and will see the beauty in them that I have seen many times.
It both encourages me and perplexes me that gymnastics, a sport, can be so intertwined with art, and mostly, with emotions. Emotions do not always act as a good guide to success and stability but relying on them and trying to understand them makes them turn into a constant learning experience, with endless room to grow and not necessarily measurable results.
I hope you will take a moment to watch them and will see the beauty in them that I have seen many times.
It both encourages me and perplexes me that gymnastics, a sport, can be so intertwined with art, and mostly, with emotions. Emotions do not always act as a good guide to success and stability but relying on them and trying to understand them makes them turn into a constant learning experience, with endless room to grow and not necessarily measurable results.
4/02/2013
Tango, the Bulgarian Way
Neviana Vladinova rarely goes to big international events because of the crazy politics of the Bulgarian Federation.
But there are other crazy things about Bulgarians, and some of these things are amazingly positive and powerful. Like this routine. Here is gymnast who steps on the carpet perfectly ready to perform under the new Code of Points. Watch the intricate rolls of the ball, the on-the-spot dance steps, the risks, and arm movements:
I wish all new routines combined dance and athletics in this seamless, sophisticated way.
But there are other crazy things about Bulgarians, and some of these things are amazingly positive and powerful. Like this routine. Here is gymnast who steps on the carpet perfectly ready to perform under the new Code of Points. Watch the intricate rolls of the ball, the on-the-spot dance steps, the risks, and arm movements:
I wish all new routines combined dance and athletics in this seamless, sophisticated way.
1/21/2013
Bulgaria's National Team in 2013
Hello RG fans! The Bulgarian national team now includes the following members:
- Katrin Taseva (Levski)
- Simona Ivanova (Gratsia)
- Anastasia Kisse (Levski Iliana)
- Biliana Prodanova (CSKA)
- Simona Nedialkova (Levski Iliana)
- Zhenina Trashlieva (Chernomoretz)
- Silvia Miteva (Levski Iliana)
- Simona Diankova (Char)
- Neviana Vladinova (Levski)
- Sara Staykova (Levski Triaditsa)
- Maria Mateva (Olimpia 74)
- Rumiana Georgieva (Slavia)
- Kristina Tasheva (Akademik)
- Radina Filipova (Char)
This is the order in which the gymnasts will appear in the first test competition this week.
For me, the gymnasts to watch closely are Staykova, Prodanova, Vladinova and the new addition that I just LOVE, Kristina Tasheva. Kisse and Trashlieva have a lot of potential though I felt disappointed by Kisse's performances last year. I like the two Simona's: Ivanova and Diankova, but I think they need to work a LOT to reach the level that Staykova or Kisse are demonstrating.
I like Radina Filpova, too, but I think she may thrive better as part of the group. Rumiana Georgieva, who already received multiple chances to compete internationally as an individual, should move into the group as well. I hear Rumiana has the option to the decide whether to join the group and I hope she thinks about it wisely.
Maria Mateva is currently the real candidate for number 2 on the team after Silvia, but I think other girls have more potential.
I have not watched a lot of routines from Simona Nedialkova and Katrin Taseva. I look forward to learning more about them.
For me, the gymnasts to watch closely are Staykova, Prodanova, Vladinova and the new addition that I just LOVE, Kristina Tasheva. Kisse and Trashlieva have a lot of potential though I felt disappointed by Kisse's performances last year. I like the two Simona's: Ivanova and Diankova, but I think they need to work a LOT to reach the level that Staykova or Kisse are demonstrating.
I like Radina Filpova, too, but I think she may thrive better as part of the group. Rumiana Georgieva, who already received multiple chances to compete internationally as an individual, should move into the group as well. I hear Rumiana has the option to the decide whether to join the group and I hope she thinks about it wisely.
Maria Mateva is currently the real candidate for number 2 on the team after Silvia, but I think other girls have more potential.
I have not watched a lot of routines from Simona Nedialkova and Katrin Taseva. I look forward to learning more about them.
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