Principal Coach/ Tuesday Tinies – Miss Michelle
Michelle was appointed Principal of Del Sante Calisthenics in 1977 when Rosaria Day retired. In 1986, Del Sante amalgamated with Woodville Gardens and she remained Principal.
Michelle has been coaching for more than 35 years for Del Sante, covering all age groups. She started calisthenics at age 2 at Grange Calisthenics Club and moved to Kooyong Calisthenics Club (a branch of Del Sante) in 1969 as a sub-junior.
In her early coaching years she coached Del Sante teams competing in Ballarat, winning a Sub-junior B Grade Aggregate in 1980.Michelle has coached three Sub-junior National teams, twice gaining Runner-up Aggregates. She has won CASA Aggregates with Del Sante teams in all age groups throughout her coaching career.
There have been many Graceful Girl and Best Type Solos Michelle has coached over the years as well as Pupil skills Examinations. She has coached 10 Graceful calisthenics competitor winners at the CASA Graceful State Championships.
Michelle coaches the Tuesday Tinies Team as well as Graceful, Calisthenic Solo and Duos.
Senior Coaches – Miss Kim & Miss Rebecca
Intermediates Coach – Miss Danae
Danae started calisthenics at Highbury Calisthenics where she spent 27 years including participating and coaching for 15 years over all age groups. She was awarded a Life Membership during her time with Highbury. In 2008 Danae started coaching at Del Sante Gardens Calisthenics College taking the Intermediate Team from Division 2 to the Championship Division.
Over recent years Danae has become a fully qualified examiner of the Calisthenics skills program and has been examining for 3 years. She regularly coaches development workshops for CASA including the Graceful Solo workshops in 2008 and Flex/Strength workshops in 2010. She has been a presenter for the Level 1 Coaching course, has facilitated seminars at the National Coaching conference in 2008 and the CALSAC mini conference in 2009.
Danae has coached many Graceful and Best Type solos with 8 CASA state champions in the Graceful Solo competitions and had numerous top 3 placings in the Championship finals as well as winners in other divisions. In 2004, 2005 & 2007 Danae coached CASA National Teams and over the past 10 years has had many National Graceful and Solo finalists. In 2011 Danae coached the winning Intermediate National Duo Item and 4th place in the Intermediate National Graceful section.
When coaching Intermediates, Danae likes to create a sense of team and confidence, encouraging all members to participate fully, whatever their ability. Positive thinking and confidence building are her most important priorities when coaching at any age.
Junior Coach (Team 1) – Miss Melissa
Melissa has participated in the sport of Calisthenics for 25 years, both as a competitor and a coach . During her time as a participant, Melissa has represented the state on 9 occasions and until 2011, was still competing at club level.
Melissa has been coaching since gaining her Level One accreditation in 2002. She has coached all age groups at club level, but finds coaching younger age sections the most challenging and rewarding coaching experience. As well as coaching club teams, Melissa has also coached many Graceful Girl, Best Type Solo & Duo competitors, with success both at state and National level.
In 2009, Melissa was given the opportunity to take the next step in her coaching career, when she was appointed to the position of Head Coach of the CASA Sub-Junior National Team. Melissa has held this position for 3 years. In 2010 & 2011, her Sub-Junior team won the National Aggregate. These National achievements are her proudest coaching honour to date. In 2013, Melissa has been appointed the Head Coach of the CASA Junior National Team, which will compete in Melbourne in July.
This is Melissa’s second year at Del Sante Calisthenics College and she is looking forward to a successful and rewarding year coaching the Junior 1 Team.
Junior Coach (Team 2) – Miss Nicole
Nicole has been coaching at Del Sante for 6 years and is an accredited Level 1 coach.
Nicole started calisthenics when she was 3 at Halifax calisthenics club (which is now Plympton/Halifax)and came to Del Sante in 1989 when she was 10 as a Junior, she competed in Juniors and Inters for 6 years before she gave it away at 16, Nicole was still involved in calisthenics when she wasn’t competing or teaching through her sister Nitsa, watching many club and state team practices, competitions, graceful and solo comps.
Nicole was asked to be an assistant to Katherine for the 2001 Sub Junior 1 team, she assisted with katherine for 3 years, before doing her level 1 course. Nicole taught her first team in 2004 which was Sub Junior 2/3 and the next two years of Sub Junior 3, Nicole was then given Sub Junior team 2, gaining second in 2008 and third in 2009
Nicole is also a Graceful and Solo coach and has taught a few girls gaining good results.
Nicole loves to watch calisthenics, you will probably see her at most competitions, she also loves improving students each week at class and seeing how far they come in her team from first lesson to performing with confidence on stage. Nothing beats the smile on a girl who has achieve their first backbend or flat in their splits.
Sub-Junior C0-Coach (Team 1) – Miss Lauren
Lauren has been doing calisthenics at the Del Sante Calisthenics College for 18 years. Over those 18 years she has represented the state in 3 national teams and also 3 state teams.
In 2002 Lauren started assisting with the sub junior 2 team and then for the next 3 years she assisted the Junior 1 team. In 2007 she was appointed the Junior 2 team coach and is now in her 5th year of coaching them. Lauren feels it’s an achievement as a coach to watch the girls develop new skills throughout the year, and likes seeing them enjoying themselves each week.
Sub-Junior Co-Coach (Team 1) & (Team 2) - Miss Nicolette
Nicolette has been involved in calisthenics for 25 years as a competitor, coach and now mum with her eldest starting at del Sante in tinies in 2012!
She has coached all age groups in this time with numerous aggregates throughout the sub junior and junior sections.
She is returning in 2013 after a years break to have her 2nd daughter and can not wait to get back into teaching again.
Nicolette enjoys watching her girls grow as individuals as well as a team and strives for them to be their best!
Tinies Coach – Wednesdays – Miss Sam
Pupil Skills Coach – Miss Katherine
Katherine has been a student and coach with Del Sante for 33 years. She started calisthenics at age 6 at Woodville Gardens Calisthenic Club and amalgamated with Del Sante in 1986 as an Intermediate.
Katherine participated in 5 State Teams, 4 being in the Championship Division. In 1998 and 1999 she was Assistant Coach for the Sub Junior National Teams, twice gaining Runner-up Aggregates. The past 4 years Katherine has been involved as a State Team Selector for CASA.
Coaching over several age groups at Del Sante, Katherine has won many CASA State Championships throughout her coaching career. Over the last 10 years she has coached the Sub Junior Age Group. A highlight was taking the Del Sante Sub Juniors to Ballarat in 2008 and taking out the Reserve Aggregate. In 2009 she co-coached the Sub Junior Team 1 with Sonya and gained Runner-up Aggregate in the CASA Championship Division.
She has coached many Solos & Graceful Girls over the years as well as Pupil Skills Examinations to students.
Relief Coach & Graceful, Solo/Duo Coach - Miss Sonya
Sonya has been coaching for more than 30 years for Del Sante, covering all age groups.She started calisthenics at age 3 at Kooyong Calisthenics Club (a branch of Del Sante) in 1967 and competed for both Calisthenics and Dancing Competitions including Ballarat Eisteddfods for many years.
Since the age of 13 Sonya has been coaching. She taught her first solo routines and commenced assisting Tinies and Sub Juniors at Kooyong Calisthenics. She has coached all age groups over the many years with Del Sante, with a large portion, 11 years, as the Intermediate Coach. Sonya won 6 aggregate awards over that time.
Sonya assisted Michelle Capel at National Level and had many successes with Graceful/solo/duo and exam participants.
Sonya is currently retired from Team Coaching however she remains involved with the Club by coaching many Graceful/ Solo/Duo’s to our Students.