Sofia Smirnova learns new risk in the clubs exercise at the Christmas training camp

Every gymnast knows that special feeling from successfully executing a risk or element! During a training session in Novogorsk, the Olympic champion told Yana Zaikina from Volgograd how she took a risk on a clubs cascade at the AEON Cup tournament and advised the athlete not to be afraid of difficult elements.

During a training session in Novogorsk, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva showed Yana Zaikina from Volgograd the best way to transition into a turn.

During a training session in Novogorsk, the Olympic champion discussed the current rules of rhythmic gymnastics in detail with Academy coach Evgeniya Eliseeva and Zlata Tulubaeva, a member of the All-Russian Judges Panel.

The group team gymnasts from the Alina Kabaeva Sky Grace Rhythmic Gymnastics Academy regularly finetune their skills in choreography sessions with Veronika Shatkova. What changes have the gymnasts noticed after training with this Russia’s Honored Coach? Find out in our video!

During a practice run by Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, Academy coach Evgeniya Eliseeva helped adjust a sequence to eliminate the static pause before the pirouette en arrière. Meanwhile, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva reminded Yana of the importance of enjoying training, setting goals in advance, and working towards them.

While working with Sofia Dubrovina from the Yaroslavl Region, Alina Kabaeva analyzed the planche turn. The Olympic champion focused on leg stability, body alignment, and shoulder positioning.

In Novogorsk, Alina Kabaeva watched gymnast Sofia Dubrovina from the Yaroslavl Region. The Olympic champion assessed the athlete's physical attributes, asked her to demonstrate elements and risks, and gave some technique advice.

At a training session with Yana Zaikina from Volgograd, the Olympic champion, along with Academy coach Evgeniya Eliseeva and All-Russian Panel of Judges member Zlata Tulubaeva, discussed the apparatus catch after a risk.

While rehearsing a new ribbon routine, Alina Kabaeva asked the gymnasts to identify the flaw that had caught her eye by watching a replay on the screen.

Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva and Academy coach Evgeniya Eliseeva recalled how Yana arrived from Volgograd to try out.

And Yana managed to pull off a more challenging element!

During a training session in Novogorsk, Alina Kabaeva suggested that Yana Zaikina from Volgograd and her coach, Evgeniya Eliseeva, add an acrobatic element to their routine. The Olympic champion had previously taken part in this move during the Tango performance at the 2010 Alina festival, which was choreographed by Alla Dukhova, the founder and artistic director of the TODES international dance company.  

There was a time when Alina Kabaeva would actually approach Vera Shtelbaums to ask if she could finish up and leave practice. Who would have thought that, so many years later, they would meet again in the training hall!

In Novogorsk, Olympic champion Alina Kabaeva, coach Evgeniya Eliseeva, choreographer Ekaterina Belova, and Yana Zaikina from Volgograd discussed their recovery camp in Turkey and reminisced about the gymnast's victory at the European Championships.

Bolshoi Theatre Principal Dancer Anna Tikhomirova led a ballet master class for the Academy's gymnasts. They worked on plié, tendu, developpe, and attitude, positions, flexibility, backs, and every detail of the movement.