| What else is there but amateur competition and | | | | they did not have the proper coaching. |
| games likethe Olympics? | | | | Performances |
| Believe it or not, there are many other uses of | | | | This is perhaps the most diverse category yet of |
| gymnasticsfor your child besides amateur | | | | 'other'gymnastics. While many types of |
| competition and the Olympicgames. Unlike some | | | | performing art may seemunrelated to |
| other sports, such as football orhockey, which | | | | gymnastics, keep in mind that gymnastics canbe |
| may only get him or her into a college on | | | | modified creatively. |
| ascholarship on an off chance, gymnastics has | | | | The most obvious addition to this category would |
| much more of afuture to offer those who are | | | | be dance. |
| capable. Professionalgymnastics, gymnastics | | | | Dance performances, no matter what type they |
| coaching, performances, and theaterare only a | | | | may be |
| few of the options beyond the aforementioned | | | | (ballet, ballroom, what have you), are inherently |
| --quite literally, the sky is the limit. | | | | gymnasticin their motion. This is why gymnastics |
| Professional gymnastics | | | | students alwayshave a leg up (no pun intended) |
| In terms of professional gymnastics there are | | | | on some of the moreoutrageous maneuvers like |
| quiteliterally dozens of substyles to choose from, | | | | splits or high kicks or leapsthan those who have |
| all of whichstem either from rhythmic gymnastics | | | | never had any experience with gymnasticart. |
| or artisticgymnastics. Dancing, juggling, tumbling, | | | | Before you laugh at the idea...Circuses are a |
| rolling,vaulting, horse and beams can be involved in | | | | relativelyrespectable use of gymnastics as |
| a professionalcompetition. Even the rings, which | | | | well--and we don't justmean Barnum and Bailey's, |
| are limited only tomen, are offered. Lucrative and | | | | either. Artistic circuses suchas the Cirque du Soleil |
| fun for your gymnast, theprofessional sport is | | | | are famous for their contortionistsand for their |
| typically reserved for those who areextremely | | | | high-flying acrobatic and gymnastic shows ofskill; in |
| well-qualified. Lots of gymnasts who | | | | fact, the Cirque itself has international renown. |
| participate,though, are fresh out of school. No rule | | | | It is indeed a thought! |
| states that onemust be an Olympic champion in | | | | Theatrical performances routinely involve |
| order to enter a contest formoney. Obviously, | | | | gymnastics,sometimes in the form of displays of |
| the gymnast must be prepared bothphysically and | | | | flexibility, othertimes in the form of creative |
| mentally. Of course, if your gymnast is thebest in | | | | dance. Performances of thissort are not only |
| his or her local or state division, then he or | | | | limited to the Broadway, off-Broadway, |
| shemay want to go for a prize purse. Typically, | | | | oroff-off-Broadway shows you might be thinking |
| those who dohave already won a few amateur | | | | of. In fact,if your gymnast also has an inclination |
| titles. If you want to seeyour son or daughter | | | | toward ice skating,there is an entirely new world |
| have the option of professionalgymnastics, keep | | | | of opportunity right attheir fingertips, so to speak. |
| this in mind... Every country thatparticipates in the | | | | Shows that are on ice -musicals, dramas, or what |
| Olympics, practically, has its ownprofessional | | | | have you - are always filled withoutrageous and |
| tournaments and divisions. The possibilitiesare wide. | | | | wonderful moves that your skilled gymnastcan |
| Gymnastics coaching | | | | surely identify with. |
| Coaching for gymnastics may also be a viable | | | | And finally, there is the idea of gymnastics on the |
| suggestion foryour gymnast. After they have | | | | bigscreen--or the small screen. Hollywood is |
| tired of competing withother gymnasts, they can | | | | always lookingfor people with gymnastic skill to |
| put their skills and their mettleto the test by | | | | perform as stunt doublesor stars. In fact, so too |
| coaching young, up-and-coming gymnasts intheir | | | | are some television shows,believe it or not. |
| quests for gold. This, usually, is a step left forthe | | | | Indeed, with your young gymnast's abilities, they |
| far future, but it is always an option for | | | | can goanywhere their minds take them -- and |
| theaccomplished gymnastics student, with some | | | | indeed, the way youencourage them will play a |
| common sense andsome intuition, to teach the | | | | large part in their continuinggymnastic career. |
| next generation. Olympic andprofessional athletes | | | | There is always something out there. |
| could not get to where they aretoday, after all, if | | | | One needs only look! |