Fifteenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

The Rhythmic Gymnastics group series are artistic performances in which five gymnasts perform body and apparatus movements in a choreographed sequence set to music, in which the artistic component is evaluated. A notable characteristic of Brazilian performances has been the use of national rhythms in their presentations, which has made a significant contribution to spreading Brazilian culture internationally and, above all, to the gymnasts’ identification with the routines presented. The aim of this study was to identify how many and which songs and rhythms have been used in the performances of Brazilian groups in international competitions since 2000, the year in which the Brazilian team came to international notoriety. For this purpose, 67 songs used in 32 events were analyzed, between 2000 and 2023 years. We found that 49 songs (73,13%) are from rhythms such as samba, maracatu, axé, bossa nova and forró, by Brazilian composers and performers. The fact that the majority of the songs are Brazilian may indicate that they are well received by the public who follow the competitions. At the same time, the music and movements characteristic of these rhythms are an interesting way of promoting Brazil’s body and music culture worldwide, making sport a way of affirming Brazilian culture on the international stage. Finally, the relationship between the use of Brazilian rhythms and the factors of identification and representation of the gymnasts with the competition routine is reiterated, promoting motivation and demonstrating the possibility of greater protagonism of the gymnasts in the choreographic composition performed.