As the world tenuously creeps toward post-pandemic normalcy, Beamtango International Challenge, an online project created in the throes of lockdown, is welcoming gymnasts of all levels to get back into competitive mode by performing a uniquely choreographed balance beam routine for recognition and awards.
Samantha Peszek and Betty Okino of the U.S., Hana Ricna and Kristyna Palesova of the Czech Republic, and Vasiliki Millousi of Greece are among the champion gymnasts and coaches who will judge the performances that will culminate with a live online final on October 30, 2021.
Serena Cecconello, an Italian choreographer based at TURNZ Amsterdam Gymnastics in the Netherlands, shares the objectives, guidelines and benefits of the Beamtango International Challenge with International Gymnast Online.
IGO: What motivated you to create Beamtango, as a performance and a competition?
SC: This project was born slowly, step by step, in the summer of 2020 when COVID was holding us all still. We had more time to devote ourselves to studying and taking care of small details, rather than focusing on preparations for important competitions. I am mostly a beam coach and a choreographer at TURNZ and I was used to giving the gymnasts I train the right tempo by clapping my hands. I have realized over the years that the rhythm I gave was always following a specific cadence. There was a background beat that was connecting several movements – gymnastics and acrobatics. That constant rhythm allowed the gymnast to get more in tune with the execution of the movement.
TURNZ Amsterdam Gymnastics head coach Claudia Werkhoven asked me to study choreography for the beam in which I would try to integrate my style with the music. I couldn’t be more thrilled about that. So, collaborating with a musician, we turned those beats into musical notes, and Beamtango music came out of it.
Even the length of this piece is not accidental. The three minutes of the choreography represent double the time compared to a competition routine. This is because I wanted this choreography to be training to keep the concentration and the focus always high.
Among all the gymnasts I was training at TURNZ Amsterdam Gymnastics there was one in particular, unfortunately with an injured arm for a long time. She had much more time to devote herself to the beam, and characterized herself by an innate grace and elegance and a particular attention to details. Also very inspired by the good execution of Chiara (Pinna, the demonstrator in the video), we decided to create this innovative way of moving on the beam, which turned out to be a big project along the way.
Beamtango has been a very long project created to study how to move on the balance beam: an innovative research of precise lines, dynamism, fluid and harmonic movements, elegant gestures, high concentration and controlled power.
Everything is combined together in a choreography of 3:10 to tango music composed for this project, in which the gymnast has to try to maintain concentration without getting unbalanced, falling and maintaining a constant and fluent movement without pauses or interruptions. With a combination of different disciplines, inspirations from classic ballet, tango movements and artistic gymnastics, we have created something new and until now unique.
This choreography was born from my hand claps to give the girls the right time and teach them to move smoothly on the beam, and then after eight months it turned into an international competition. We started spreading the word and many people showed interest. In this particular historical period where many competitions have been canceled and where many gymnasts are at home, we thought of transforming our choreography into a real challenge based on the balance beam. The good thing is that this challenge can also be initially learned at home. We started to receive videos and notifications from many many gymnasts from all over the world in their living rooms trying this choreography. It was lovely to see how they kept their spirits up.
IGO: What should coaches do to have their gymnasts prepare for the challenge?
SC: The Beamtango demonstration video can be viewed on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDzJQJRxWqA&ab_channel=TurnzAmsterdamGymnastics), as well as on the TURNZ Amsterdam Gymnastics Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/tv/CJn6SmjD1_Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link ) and Facebook (https://fb.watch/3LeqFGLfVs/). Our music, Beam Tango – Martini Bartol, can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube and TikTok.
Once the gymnast feels ready to perform this Beamtango, the coach will film the gymnast for the three minutes of the choreography without ever interrupting the video. Edited or cut videos are not allowed. Obviously we must be sure of the actual execution of this choreography.
The deadline to upload videos via beamtango.com is October 1, 2021. A selection of the best 50 videos from gymnasts age 13 and older will be made. Their contributions will be judged by an international jury who will announce the 10 finalists on October 15. The 10 finalists will do their Beamtango during a live online competition on October 30, 2021. All awards, including recognition awards, will be announced that day.
IGO: What are some of the specifications for entering?
SC: A single gymnast or more gymnasts per club can participate. The more we are, the better it is. The participant must be visible on the beam throughout the whole choreography. The video may not be edited and must be original. If the acrobatics and gymnastics elements are too difficult, they can be simplified, provided the rhythm and choreography are the same. The minimum height of the beam is 80 centimeters for gymnasts under age 11, and normal height for gymnasts age 11 and older.
IGO: Besides being longer than a regular beam routine, what makes Beamtango uniquely exacting?
SC: First of all, beam is an event on which we are not used to performing with music. The beam is a rather “silent” event. It may even seem boring at first sight, but on it, in reality, a world can be opened. I like to define beam as an introspective event. When you are on it, everything around you must disappear. It is a moment that you spend with yourself. You learn to know yourself, stay in balance and not only with the body, and control your movements, breathing and emotions. It is an extreme high-concentration workout. Trying is believing.
Technically there are many interesting aspects. Those who know the FIG (International Gymnastics Federation) scoring code know that section 12 – Beam is about artistic execution, composition and choreography, and rhythm and tempo. As a judge I wanted to create an exercise that would respond exactly to this fundamental but sometimes neglected technical specification.
Beamtango is a three-minute consecutive choreography on the beam, characterized by numerous turns and pirouettes, steps forward, backward and sideways, high and low level changes, moments of contact with the beam, and fast and slow rhythm. But everything is performed without the slightest interruption, in a single and fluid movement. Pauses in preparation for gymnastics and acrobatic elements have also been eliminated. The gymnast must learn to focus in advance on the execution of a complex movement, but without ever stopping. Impossible? No, but it’s a big challenge that requires a lot of practice.
Chiara initially thought she couldn’t do it. It was too difficult. She got unbalanced and fell almost continuously, and obviously this frustrated her a lot. But we started analyzing her movements down to the smallest detail, from the tips of her fingers to the tips of her toes. She was never tired of receiving my corrections – or maybe she was, but she didn’t show it. She was committed, she was constant in practice and training, and she listened to music even going to and from training to get in tune with it. One pirouette after another and one swing after another, I began to see not only more fluidity in her movements, but more confidence in herself. This is something beautiful. One of the first times that she reached the end of the three minutes without falling and almost never making an imbalance, I saw such joy and satisfaction in her eyes that paid off the six months of study we dedicated to this choreography.
IGO: Who can participate?
CS: Gymnasts older than age 13 can participate in the official competition. Gymnasts under 13 can participate and send their videos, but they will not be part of the final competition. However, they will receive a recognition award. We decided this way due to volume and fair competition in connection with skills and age.
IGO: Who will judge the entries?
CS: We have former champions such as Samantha Peszek and Betty Okino of the U.S., Hana Ricna and Kristyna Palesova of the Czech Republic, and Vasiliki Millousi of Greece. We also have great coaches and beam specialists such as Valorie Kondos Field and LaPrise Williams of the U.S., and Claudia Ferrè of Italy, plus international judges such as Marleen Van Dooren of Belgium, Sabrina Klaesberg of Germany and others.
IGO: What are the judging criteria?
CS: The four criteria are:
Is this initiative mainly about a technical aspect on the right posture to balance on the beam? No. This is a project of “SWING, towards sustainable gymnastics”, a great initiative born at TURNZ Amsterdam Gymnastics which aims to create upward energy in the sports world. Beamtango is not only an innovative way of moving on the beam. It also brings a lot of international people together who have a special love for gymnastics and all that springs from it. Since there is so much going on in the gymnastics world, we would also like to use the Beamtango Challenge to speak out for sustainable culture change for all the young and beautiful athletes out there who are going to bloom and shine by mastering this beautiful dance on the beam. We are driven by positive vibes, and we try to be inspired by positive coaching. It will certainly be difficult to keep your concentration high for three minutes without committing even an imbalance, but it’s not impossible. With Chiara we have had an example.
IGO: What are the benefits to the gymnasts who are up for the challenge?
CS: To be confident and elegant gymnasts on the beam? Yes, sure. To learn how to stay focused and control your body? Yes, sure. But above all it teaches you to persevere, get up after a fall, try and try again, and believe in yourself. And that’s the thing about Beamtango of which I’m most proud.
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