The simplest way to describe Aesthetic Group Gymnastics (AGG) is to state that it is like the original form of rhythmic gymnastics. The exercises are done in a group, there are no apparatus (in the international competitive form of AGG), and the emphasis is on natural, harmonic, flowing movements. The body waves are typical for the sport.

This form of gymnastics has flourished for more than 100 years in countries such as Finland and Estonia, but was only recognized as a new international sport, "Aesthetic Group Gymnastics", in 1996. The first AGG World Championships were held in Finland 2000.

For details and international rules, see the AGG Manual. For Ontario rules, new rules were created in February 2006 and are available here. Information for other provinces will be added when available.

Many people contributed to the development of the sport, the origins of which stretch back to ancient Greece with the concepts of natural flowing movement, harmonious mind/body development and total physical exercise, through the natural gymnastics of Jean Jacques Rosseau and Johann Guts Muths (the grandfather of gymnastics) in the eighteenth century and on. Jean George Noverre (1722-1810) also advocated the expression of art through movement.

Much of it grew out of the Swedish system of free exercise developed in 1814 by Per Henrik Ling, who promoted "aesthetic gymnastics", in which students expressed their feelings and emotions through bodily movement. Emile Jacques Dalcroze (1865 - 1950), teacher of music at the Geneva Conservatory, followed with his "eurhythmics", which in his opinion, was absolutely necessary for the preparation of musicians as well as for dancers and other artists.

The Finnish movement of gymnastics for women was influenced by these new trends and Hilma Jalkanen (1889 - 1964), building on the work of Elli Björksten, incorporated dance elements and expressive movements into a new Finnish school of gymnastics. In Germany, Rudolf Bode (b. 1881 - 1970) produced some valuable additions to the women's gymnastics in the form of body waves and expressive body movements.

Rudolf von Laban (1879) and Marie Wigmann (1888), are other important names to mention, but above all is the famous dancer Isadora Duncan, whose rebellion against the dogmas of the classical ballet changed the direction of development of both the art and the sport.

... AND WHO IS DOING IT?

The very first RG clubs established in Canada continued the tradition of group gymnastics from Estonia, Finland and other European countries and only in the 1970's began introducing and promoting rhythmic gymnastics as a competitive sport, alongside the non-competitive rhythmics.

Four Canadian RG clubs, representing the oldest ones in Canada, were among those who signed an agreement in Graz 2003 to establish an International Federation of AGG (IFAGG). These four later created the Canadian AGG federation (CAGG): Maija Ceming of "Sampo", Evelyn Koop of "Kalev", Annely Riga of "Ritmika" and Marta Selmeczi of "Rhythmic Waves". Several Ontario AGG teams have participated in the AGG World Championships and efforts are being made to encourage more Canadian RG clubs to also offer AGG.

To find information about clubs that offer training in AGG, see the Links page.