By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
SIX Geelong aerodance athletes leave on Saturday for an International Aerobic Championships in Las Vegas.
The group won through a strict Gymnastics Australia selection process to join teams from 35 other countries at the world’s longest-running aerobics competition.
The group’s coach, Justine Bratanavicius, will also co-coach the Australian team.
“A lot of teams around Australia tried for the aerodance selection but our local girls won through,” a proud Ms Bratanavicius said.
The team’s two-minute routine combines hip-hop dance with gymnastics moves choreographed to music. Routines are judged on flexibility, strength, coordination, agility and presentation.
“You’ve got to smile through the whole thing,” Ms Bratanavicius said.
“It’s unique because not many can combine dance and gymnastics in this way. It’s a credit to the girls who decided to take on the challenge.”
The team of 15 and 16-year-olds has been training at Grovedale’s Aerosports Allstars since September for the week-long competition.
Gymnastics Australia has touted Rikki Bell-Warren, Tahnee Bratanavicius, Bridget McNamara, Paige Sutterby, Jessica Ormeno and Roisin Selvarajoo as medal chances at the event.
