THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411030187
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
They've done local shows and area demonstrations. Now a team of teenage gymnasts is ready to hit the road.
Danceworks! Gymnastics & Fitness Center has created Elizabeth City's first competitive gymnastics team and plans to face teams in Hampton Roads and eastern North Carolina beginning next March.
Robin Ayres, director of the for-profit gymnastics and dance center, said the team was a natural progression for the girls, most of whom have been with the center since it opened two years ago.
``They have developed through all the beginning and developmental lessons, and we don't want to hold back any of the students when they are ready to compete,'' Ayres said.
The first test of their thrice-weekly training will come in March when the Danceworks team takes on the Ocean Tumblers of Chesapeake, Va. Another planned competition will be held with Rose's Gymnastics Training Center in Greenville.
At each meet, individuals will perform compulsory routines on the balance beam, uneven parallel bars, vault and floor. Judging is based on strength, skill, form and flexibility, Ayres said.
To add poise and grace to rigorous routines, all Danceworks teammates also must take at least one weekly ballet class.
``It's sort of a big commitment,'' Ayres said. ``It's usually their No. 1 activity.''
Some moves that must be mastered to be a designated competitor include cartwheels and split-leap jumps on the balance beam, roundoffs and back handsprings on the floor and front and back hip circles on the uneven bars.
Level 4 competitors are Michelle Rogers, 9, of Hertford; Samantha Zinsmeister, 9, of Camden; Amanda Madeira, 11, of Elizabeth City; Talia DeRosa, 12, of Elizabeth City; Dianne Rodriguez, 11, of Elizabeth City; Melissa Alderman, 12, of Elizabeth City; Kandis Riddick, 13, of Elizabeth City; Lisa Meads, 15, of Elizabeth City, and Kara Wilt and Nicole Hoffler, both 17 and from Elizabeth City.
Selected to compete at Level 5 are Katelin Keim, 11, of Elizabeth City, and Jill Taylor, 15, of Currituck. by CNB