EVANSTON, IL - Athletes and acrobats in the Evanston area are in for a real treat. Olga Karmansky, who performs in the hit Broadway revival PIPPIN, will be teaching a workshop in flexibility at The Actors Gymnasium. The workshop is open to the public.

Karmansky is a former US Champion and two-time Pan American Champion in Rhythmic Gymnastics. She was named the Official Alternate for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Her training background extends from contortion and aerial arts to theater and dance.

She currently works to improve the flexibility of professional ballet dancers, acrobats, competitive athletes, and pole dancers; and also enjoys teaching privately to beginners of all levels. Olga formed her advanced but egalitarian training philosophy while living and training with the Russian Olympic team, and believes her students will achieve extreme results regardless of age, previous injury or level of experience.

Performance highlights include the Panic at the Disco Tour (MTV Music Video of The Year), Gymnastics Superstars Tour (USA Post-Olympic Gymnastics Tour) and the Venice Biennale International Art Festival (Venice, Italy). Currently, she performs nightly in the Broadway revival of PIPPIN (dir. Diane Paulus of Hair, Porgy & Bess & chor. Gypsy Snider of 7 doigts, Traces). She is currently working towards a B.S. at New York University.

Using rhythmic gymnastics training methods, this challenging workshop will increase range of motion and strengthen the framework that will provide control and stability in maximum ranges. Emphasis will be on injury free stretching that delivers the most effective results. Pre-requisites include splits on the floor or very close. Some experience with backbends.

The two hour workshop will take place on August 30 for students ages 16 and older. For more information and to enroll in the workshop, click here.

The Actors Gymnasium is located at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL - just off of the Noyes purple line 'L' stop. The Noyes Cultural Arts Center is owned by the City of Evanston and home to over 20 artists and arts organizations offering music, theater, and visual arts programs and studios.The galleries exhibit local artists, with exhibitions changing every two months.

Actors Gymnasium classes are taught in a 3,000 sq/ft gymnasium 

space that features a 1,600 sq/ft sprung floor and a fully rigged 17 foot ceiling. All aerial equipment such as the Aerial Hoop, Spanish Web, aerial silks, static trapeze and more are provided, as well as the equipment for ground skills such as unicycling, juggling, tight wire and gymnastics. Classes such as dance, or drama may take place in other studios within the Noyes Cultural Arts Center that feature tiled/wooden floors. Padded gymnastic mats and other equipment will be added if necessary.