Kalev Estienne hosts the Koop Cup in Toronto in January. The Cup is an international invitational meet celebrating 60 years of Toronto’s "Kalev" Sports Club and Estonian rhythmic gymnastics in Canada. Competitors from Estonia, Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Finland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine and the United States will grace audiences and judges with their skill and agility in individual events as well as for the All-Around championship. The competition will feature current World Champion and 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Evgenia Kanaeva from Russia. The highlight of the Gala on Friday, January 21 at 7:30pm will be a performance by multi- Olympic Game, World RG Champion and World Cup medalist Anna Bessonova of Ukraine. The event runs at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre's John Bassett Theatre on January 21st and 22nd, 2011.

The Estonian-Canadian community has an obvious affection for rhythmic gymnastics as we do for the Godmother of the sport in Canada, Evelyn Koop. Sparked by the visit of her mentor Ernst Idla to Toronto in 1950, Evelyn was one of those who helped coordinate the development of a formal Estonian folk dancing and gymnastics troupe. The organization that eventually became Kalev Sports Club met for practices throughout the 1950’s at places like the Eastminster United Church on Toronto’s Danforth Avenue.
As a former member of the famous Swedish rhythmic gymnastics group “Idlaflickorna” (The Ernst Idla Girls), Evelyn had a desire to give rhythmic gymnastics a greater focus. That desire led her to create “Kalev-Estienne” in 1960. Through 50 years of Estienne, Evelyn has taught and trained thousands of gymnasts as well as nearly a thousand teachers and instructors in the sport worldwide. This Estonian ambassador has worked tirelessly and traveled extensively with her gymnasts to expand the sport's popularity throughout Canada and the world.

She has been honoured by governments and sporting agencies throughout Canada as well as abroad. There might be as many as 20 rhythmic gymnastic clubs in Ontario and several across the rest of Canada that have been affiliated with Kalev Estienne or founded by Kalev alumnae. Without a doubt, Evelyn Koop and her Kalev-Estienne have had a significant imprint on the history and development of rhythmic gymnastics in Canada. A club founder, instructor, international judge and mentor, Evelyn Koop and her Kalev Estienne also have the honour of counting World Champions, Canadian National Champions, Provincial (Ontario) Champions and an Olympic Gold Medalist amongst their alumnae.
The Koop Cup brings together the world’s best in January to celebrate Estonian rhythmic gymnastics in Canada and to honour the traditions of Evelyn Koop’s Kalev Estienne.
For more information about the Koop Cup
On the Web: http://koopcup.blogspot.com/
Email:info@kalev.net orkoopcup@gmail.com
Tel: 905-889-7889
Twitter: @koopcup
Facebook: http://en-gb.facebook.com/page...
Competitions start: January 21, 2011 and January 22, 2011
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Gala Event: January 21, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Location: John Basset Theatre, Metro Toronto Convention Center

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