Australian calisthenics: an introductory analysis

ABSTRACT

This article explores the uniquely Australian leisure activity of calisthenics. The term ‘calisthenics’ has multiple applications; initially, it described a variety of exercise prescribed for physical and mental health. Australian calisthenics defies easy definition, representing a confluence of sport, music and dance; it is a highly structured competitive activity, affording the opportunity for a study of bodies, spaces and places. Individuals’ movements are nestled within the framework of the team, and the synchronous corporeality that is a feature of each calisthenics discipline serves as a stimulus for spatial awareness and the construction of a shared physicality. Calisthenics provides an ideal exemplar of various kinds of leisure work, including somatic, emotional, cultural and community-building labour. Competitions underpin the activity, producing aesthetic strictures and perpetuating the requirement for considerable economic investment. Thus, the article represents a multi-faceted analysis of an important aspect of Australia’s leisure and social histories.

KEYWORDS:

• Calisthenics
• leisure
• movement
• place
• competition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 More recently, boys have begun to attend classes (Calisthenics Victoria 2021) in what is likely to be an acknowledgement of the need for enhanced inclusivity but the activity remains a predominantly feminine pursuit.

2 For the first few decades of this competition, men’s, ladies’, boys’ and girls’ teams were featured.

3 One of Hopton’s ‘descendants’ was Suzanne Beattie, who taught the club I attended.

4 Costumes and props also contribute to this process but there is insufficient room in this article to address their role.

5 Age groups in current use (Australian Calisthenics Federation 2021) are Tinies (under 7), Sub-Juniors (8–10), Juniors (11–13), Intermediates (14–17), Seniors (18 and over) and Masters (26 and over).

6 This is also the purpose of rules in dance competitions (Bosse 2015; Hall 2008).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeanette Mollenhauer

Jeanette Mollenhauer is a dance scholar whose interests have largely focused on Irish dance in Australia. Previous outputs may be found in journals including Dance Research Journal and History Australia. She currently teaches Research Methods at The Sydney Conservatorium of Music.