Gold Medal Achievement
Our long-time student, Kaitlyn Brown, was recently awarded a gold medal for achieving the highest level in her chosen sport. She has spent the last 17 years competing in local, state and national competitions, performing in annual concerts, and participating in the national skills examination program offered by the Australian Calisthenics Federation.
Kaitlyn has progressed steadily through the skills program since her first exam as a 7 year old, advancing from test levels, to grade levels and the final stage of medal levels. Each examination requires mastery of advanced techniques across the disciplines of March, Free Exercise, Aesthetics, Rods and Clubs, along with the creation and performance of self-choreographed routines.
Kaitlyn began her calisthenics experience at Studio Arc as a 6 year old student, competing in team events, solos and duos. She has participated in the Victorian Juniors team in the National Championships, holds a Certificate II in Dance, and earnt coaching qualifications that allow her to teach solos, teams and pupil skills. Kaitlyn recently completed the requirements for the gold medal and was presented with the award at the prestigious Palais Theatre in St Kilda during the State Championships.
The Skills Program, initially developed in Victoria in 1979, plays an important role in the development of participants and their coaches. Julie Fox, who has been instrumental in implementing and managing the program, was present to award the medals in front of a theatre audience.
Congratulations to Kaitlyn on obtaining such a high level of expertise in her chosen sport.
An article was included in the sports section of the Ballarat Times newspaper on Thursday October 25th, including quotes by Kaitlyn regarding her award.
Full article by Tim Bottams – https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/ballarat/print-editions/full-digital-edition-october-25/
Photo by Ben, Capture My Event.
BALLARAT-based dancer was awarded the highest honours in her chosen field of calisthenics earlier this week. After two years of exams, Kaitlyn Brown received a gold medal from Calisthenics Victoria during the organisation’s CaliChamp Senior State Championships event at St Kilda’s Palais Theatre on Sunday. She said it was an incredible honour to achieve the accolade.
“It’s a huge achievement and not one many people get because it’s very challenging,” she said.
“I think it’s something a lot of people in calisthenics strive for. It was an amazing feeling to be able to achieve that, knowing the hard work I’ve put in has paid off.
“To achieve the gold, I had to perform different dance steps at a higher level than what’s usually taught in class.”
Undertaking the exam for the gold medal in July at Ashwood’s Ceres Calisthenics Club, Brown was assessed on five dance routines, three of which were self-choreographed. She was awarded credit plus with a completion score of 89 per cent.
Performing calisthenics since she was six years old, she’s been involved with Studio Arc Dance School throughout her near-two decade journey, and began her exams a year into her practice. Learning under the institution’s principal coach and owner Jane Lovison, Brown said earning the top gong in Calisthenics Victoria’s medal program has been a longtime goal of hers.
“I’d heard it was an amazing achievement so I always just worked through my exams up until I was about 17,” she said.
“Once I got to working on my bronze medal, I knew I really wanted to progress through them.”
Over the years, Brown has also represented Victoria as part of the state’s juniors team in the National Championships, earned a Certificate II in Dance, and has numerous coaching qualifications. She previously received the bronze and silver medals in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
