Your Coaching Team

 

Camille Martens

For Camille's personal webpage please go to:
http://camille.rgstars.net

 

Camille founded the Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastics Club in the fall of 1997. 

 

As an athlete she was Provincial and National Champion for many years (as both a junior and senior).   She was Canada’s most medaled athlete at the 1994 Commonwealth Games winning 5 medals.  A shining star on the grand prix circuit , Camille was Canada’s only rhythmic representative at the 1996 Olympic Games.  During this time she had exposure to the world’s best rhythmic gymnastics training centres and worked with world renowned coaches, choreographers, ballet masters and club administrators. 

 

During her 15 years of coaching experience, Camille’s work has touched children and adults, of recreational to international caliber.  She is a course facilitator for Gymnastics Canada, an NCCP level 3 certified coach and a National level judge.  She has created and developed course curriculums, consistently coaching Provincial and National Champions and Finalists and international competitors.  She has written/choreographed, directed and produced many profound and spectacular show pieces and productions.         

 

Camille’s passion for movement, music, rhythm, expression and excellence has enabled her to light a similar fire in the hearts of those she works with.  Her authentic approach to coaching, original choreography style and intrinsic vision for the future of each person who crosses her path, have been the keys to making Okanagan Rhythmics what it is today. 

 

Camille's workshops and camps for athletes, artists and parents are informative, profound and inspiring.  Her choreography for artistic gymnastics, dance groups, rhythmic gymnastics and figure skating have unique flare and shine with her captivating creative spark. 

 

To hire Camille for choreography, to speak at your event or for private workshops please view her personal website:

http://camille.rgstars.net

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brie-Anne MacPherson
NCCP Level 2 Coach
(Currently almost done Level 3)

Brie is our Assistant Coach (2010)

Brie-Anne is a Level 1 certified coach and has been coaching for Okanagan Rhythmics for 2 years.  She coaches all level of gymnasts from beginners to our elite national stream athletes.

Brie was a strong member of our competitive team for many years.  She trained at an elite level (as much as 35hrs/week), was a provincial champion and she represented our club at many events including: Provincials, Westerns, Nationals, and Internationals.  Brie was even invited to the most prestigious event in the country – Elite Canada!  After high school, Brie attended university at the International Study Center in East Sussex, England.  She has also studied at the University of British Columbia and plans on continuing her studies at the University of Victoria in the near future. On returning to Canada, she had a strong urge to reconnect with the gym. Her passion for the sport and our club and the joy and purpose she feels when involved inspired her to stay to join our coaching team.  She also decided to return to the sport competitively for the 2006-2007 season, becoming the Level 6C Western Canadian Champion. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Dr. Calista Ward
Ballet Master and Assistant Coach
Training:
M.D. (U of Calgary)
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
Registered Clinical Counselor
Completed RAD ballet training

Applicable qualifications:
Medical: Understanding of anatomy, physiology, nutrition, health, wellness, preventative medicine.
Psychological: Understanding of athletic peak performance criteria, managing anxiety, motivation, overcoming fear.
Ballet: ability to teach some of RG’s most coveted skills and techniques

More about Calista’s heart – in her words:

  • I have a passion for girls and for artistic sports.
  • Have been involved in high-performance athletics for 5 years.
  • I love teaching, but not solely at a recreational level as seeing excellence inspires me.
  • I love working with girls who are serious about what they are doing, and partnering with them to help them be all that they can be.
  • I have had experience with the negative 'darker' side of gymnastics - and witnessed abuse in various forms (physical, verbal, emotional). That has motivated me to want to be a part of a positive force in gymnastics.
  • I have had a chance to watch the Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastics Club - have seen the difference that Camille makes, and the way that she pushes the girls to the limits of their abilities and beyond with joy.
  • I realize that in gymnastics the option now exists to have girls achieve their potential in a loving, supportive, and challenging atmosphere in this club, and would love to be able to help facilitate that in any way I can. 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Christina Cuglietta
Fitness leader and assistant coach

Christina was born and raised in the Okanagan and is thrilled to be back where her artistic journey began.  Trained primarily as a classical musician and rhythmic gymnast, Christina entered the theatre world at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria BC and graduated in 2008.  She holds her Grade 10 Royal Conservatory of music certificates in both piano and violin, and enriched certificate in Performing Arts and is certified in a variety of fitness programs including Zumba and Zumbatomic (Zumba Kids). 

Christina believes that voice/sound, story and movement are one and that memorable performances are achieved when these three elements come together to create one product.  Upon cohesive joining of these performance foundations the physical, spiritual and emotional benefits to the performer and spectators alike are endless and truly define why we engage in our respective art forms. 

Christina has returned to the Okanagan in hopes of sharing this philosophy through coaching, performing and producing professional theatre works in our community.  Currently she has a private voice and acting studio, instructs Latin dance and fitness, does professional theatre work throughout BC and manages the group fitness programs at Ladies World Health and Fitness.

Christina loves working with kids and adults alike and is especially excited to work with the Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.  Rhythmic gymnastics and Camille have played a huge role in shaping the performer and coach she is today and she looks forward to sharing some of herself with other athletes.    

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rachel Martens
Fulltime for the 2006-2007 season
Currently joins as a guest coach and artistic consultant

Rachel Martens is a dynamic performer, coach and teacher.  The excellence and diversity of her training and awareness benefit athletes of all levels and backgrounds from beginner to elite. After graduating with honours from the BFA Acting Conservatory Program, at the University of Alberta, she performed in over 30 professional productions in theatre and circus.  Rachel has studied clowning with Jan Henderson and Francine Cote, specializing in animation and creation at the Quebec Circus School.  She has worked for and performed with world class companies including Cirque Du Soleil.  Rachel combines her extensive dance training in numerous styles: ballet, jazz, modern, and contact improvisation, with her skills as a musician (voice and piano - 12 years of study in each).  She is a certified RG NCCP Coach and is certified by the Yoga Alliance on Canada as an Instructor.  She is also a personal trainer and regenerative nutrition consultant.  She has studied with numerous masters of meditation, Qui Gong and Yoga including Sri K. Pattabi Jois in Mysore, India.  She facilitates athlete development in many areas including breath and alignment awareness, focusing, goal setting, overcoming obstacles, discipline, confidence, flexibility, core strength, expression, dance, drama, movement, yoga and nutrition.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Madeleine Shaw (guest coach)
NCCP Level 2 Certified

Previous coaching involvement:
- Junior coach in recreational classes since the day she became a gymnast 12 years ago!
- Assistant Coach 2003-2004 (Okanagan Rhythmics) working athletes in recreational, performance, provincial and national (all ages)
- Assistant Coach 2008-2009 (competitive programs)

Athletic Result Highlights:
-3-time individual apparatus finalist at National Championships, 6th in clubs (senior)
-9th AA Elite Canada 2002 (senior), 10th AA Elite Canada 2001 (senior)
-14th AA Cyprus Invitational in Limassol, Cyprus (senior)
-12th AA Gity Cup in Brno, Czech Republic (junior)
-And two favourites: Queen of Hearts 2000 and Terry Bruce Dance Award 2001 from Yule Cup, Seattle Washington

More about Maddie's experience and heart – in her words:
A Few Things I learned through my RG involvement:
-The importance of being active and prioritizing one's physical health and wellness at a young age (activity, nutrition, rest, injury prevention, physiotherapy).
-You cannot worry about the things beyond your control. The only thing you have control over is your own attitude towards these outside forces and how much you let them affect you. Be outrageously positive - it makes life fun!
-To perfect the physical, you must engage the mental; I am a huge advocate of sport psychology.

Best Gym Memory:
Nerd Bowling! I was 14 or 15 years old and the entire gymnastics club dressed up as Nerds and created alter-egos for ourselves (I was Chad). We walked across town to the bowling alley and had a giant, awkward tournament, spending all day in character. Years later my friends and I had a themed dinner: dress up as someone (real or fictional) who has altered your character. I went as Chad because it embodied the value I place on keeping things silly and sweet, regardless of how "cool" it is.


Description of non-gym life:
-Entering the fourth year of my undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria with hopes of completing a Masters in Occupational Therapy at UBC
-I spend every summer working at Easter Seals Camps for Children with Physical and Mental Disabilities. Working with people of various abilities (including the hyper-ability of gymnasts) fascinates me. I love Easter Seals because it facilitates physical and outdoor education for children with permanent, limited mobility and in rehabilitation. My ideal day would be spent at camp, getting someone in a canoe or kayak for their first time.
-I really enjoy traveling; at Christmas I returned from backpacking Peru!
-My family cannot stay still: my parents recently returned from a year in Australia and my sister just returned to Canada after 5 years in Korea/China. We are all back in Canada now...save for my brother... he's in Malaysia.
-I am currently completing my Yoga Fitness Instructor Course through BCRPA.


Favourite quote:
-Keep it simple
-Never Give up on Anybody
-Desiderata


Why I want to stay involved, what I am looking forward to, what I am excited about:
-I am always thrilled to be back in the gym! Gymnastics never leaves you; no matter how you grow and mature and change, gymnastics will always remain a great teacher.
-I value the 1-1 connection the girls have with their teammates and coaches. I am looking forward to contributing to the creation of a positive, supportive and safe community.
-I am excited to see the athletes challenge themselves and grow during the 2009 competition season.
-I love both the artistic and technical part of gymnastics. I love to create those little moments of choreography that alter the performance from good to moving.