Head Over Heels: Best Gymnastics Programs

Edited by Lauren Vespoli – Photography by Daniel S. Burnstein, Karen Haberberg Photography & Andrew Schwartz

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74th Street MAGIC
“I love doing cartwheels and handstands into backbends and roundoffs.” -Orly Gallo, 7
92Y
“Try hard and don’t be afraid to  do something that you think you can’t do. If you fall, just get right back up and don’t get sad or  mad if you mess up.” -Alexandra Bobrow, 8
Asphalt Green
“My favorite thing would be all my friends, and the trampoline. I have gotten really close with my friends over the years, because we spend so much time together and have been on the team with each other for three years. I really like the trampoline because, if I go high enough, it feels like I’m flying and it is truly amazing.” -Kate Kaplin, 13
Bounce & Flip
“My favorite thing about practicing gymnastics is I get to perform skills like bounders, front handsprings, cartwheels, and front tucks.” -Dorian Vaughn, 10
Chelsea Piers
“I’d like to compete in gymnastics for as long as I’m in school and see how far I can get, and hopefully get to the elite level. Maybe I’ll even be a coach someday.” -Emory Smith, 11
Columbus Gym
“[Gymnastics] makes me stronger and teaches me to push harder to achieve difficult things. I learned how to focus and be more concentrated. “ -Andrea Ottomani, 7
Discovery Programs
“Once I start practicing I never want to stop, and when I accomplish something I feel so good about myself and [I] want to do it over and over.” -Sadie Nipon, 10
Gymtime: Rhythm & Glues
“I love Gymtime because of the people… I have met so many nice teammates and coaches. At the meets I went to this past season, I had so much time to bond with other girls on the team and we have all gotten to know each  other very well.” -Sophie Ingber, 11
Jodi's Gym
“It’s an individual sport, which to me means that you can focus more on your own individual skills and strengths without the added stress of competing directly against other kids, like in other sports I play such as tennis and basketball.” -Micki T., 10
NY Kids Club, 89th Street
“My favorite thing about gymnastics is that there is something for everyone—there  are different apparatuses, and you can make your routine artistic and unique.” -Alice Newman, 11
NYC Elite
“Our goals for this year are to qualify to Nationals and HOPES [division], and then qualify to a Junior National Team.” -Hannah and Emma Loyim, 11