Frequently asked questions

Most parents notice meaningful progress within 6 months of consistent training (at least once a week). Significant technical development such as improved flexibility, coordination, and apparatus skill, typically becomes visible after 12 to 24 months. Every child progresses at her own pace, and our coaches provide termly written reports so you can track her development clearly.

Our coaches maintain high standards of discipline, resilience, and commitment because these values are inseparable from athletic development. At the same time, BPA has a zero-tolerance policy on physical and verbal aggression of any kind. Our coaches are demanding in the best sense: they expect effort, consistency, and respect, and they give the same in return.

Assessment results are sent to you by email within one week of your daughter's trial class.

We generally encourage gymnasts to focus on one primary training environment to avoid the difficulty of adapting between different coaching models. That said, we understand that participation in Rhythmic Gymnastics is a recognised pathway for Direct School Admission (DSA) to secondary schools (5 schools as of 2026). We are happy to discuss how BPA's programme can support your daughter's DSA goals. Please speak to our customer service team for more information.

We provide a written Coach's Report at the end of every training term (March, June, September, December). These reports detail your daughter's progress and specific areas for improvement. After six months of consistent training, you will also receive updates via our customer service team. Training photographs are shared via our social media, exclusive WhatsApp Community and BPA parent newsletter.

We have training sessions available daily across the week. Contact our customer service team at customer-service@biankapanova.com for the current timetable, as schedules are updated each term.

The minimum age to enrol at BPA is 4 years old (within the year of turning 4). At this age, children's brain and motor development is at an optimal stage for foundational gymnastics training. We also accept older beginners; if your daughter is 7 or above with no prior experience, she will be placed appropriately following her trial class assessment, usually in the National Pathway or Recreational Programme.

Training fees vary by programme level. For new gymnasts joining the Competitive pathway, fees start from approximately S$700 per month for two sessions per week. Please attend a trial class — our team will provide a full fee breakdown at your post-trial meeting.

Absolutely. We regularly welcome gymnasts relocating to Singapore from other countries. Please share your daughter's current training background when you contact us, we will place her appropriately after the trial class assessment.

Absolutely. We actively welcome beginners. Girls with no gymnastics background join our Foundation Programme or Recreational Programme, where we introduce Rhythmic Gymnastics from the ground up using the specialised Bianka Panova System training model. No prior flexibility or dance experience is required.

BPA runs Holiday Camps during the school holiday periods, in June (usually last 2 weeks of June) and in December (before Christmas). They are open to both current students and new participants. Contact customer-service@biankapanova.com for more details or visit our social media platforms; Instagram or Facebook for more insights.

Yes. Eligibility for competition is determined by our coaches based on your daughter's age and technical readiness. We do not enter gymnasts into competition before they are prepared as competing too early can be counterproductive. When the time is right, our students compete in Singapore Gymnastics-sanctioned events at national and, for advanced gymnasts, international level. For beginners, there are events such as Singapore Gym Challenge hosted by Singapore Gymnastics that is organised twice annually. Internally, we host the BPA cup annually for our own gymnasts.

Yes. BPA welcomes international gymnasts for intensive training camps with Bianka and our coaching team. If you are based outside Singapore or planning a visit, please contact us directly to discuss scheduling and availability.

Two things no other academy in Singapore can offer. First, Bianka Panova — a nine-time World Champion, Olympian, and Guinness World Record holder who coaches personally at BPA. Second, a ten-year track record of producing over 100 champions at national and international level. The coaching standard at BPA is the highest available in Southeast Asia.

We are located at 2 Bukit Merah Central, #02-03, Singapore 159835. There is currently one main campus. The nearest MRT station is Redhill (EW18) on the East-West Line.

Parents are welcome to wait in our designated waiting area during sessions. To maintain focus in the gym, parents do not enter the studio during class. During the Assessment Trial, we provide a viewing link so you can watch remotely. We also hold in-house performances and at least two Open Classes annually where parents can observe training directly.

The 60-minute Assessment Trial gives our coaches the opportunity to evaluate your daughter across several areas: flexibility, coordination, apparatus handling, and ability to follow instruction. Some children find the flexibility assessment a little challenging at first. This is entirely normal and is not a negative indicator. You will receive a full assessment report via email within one week.

Rhythmic gymnastics develops flexibility, coordination, posture, musicality, and physical strength. Beyond the physical, BPA places equal emphasis on mental resilience, sportsmanship, and social skills. Children learn to manage performance pressure, work within a team, taking charge in leading her group, and take direction (and more) qualities that transfer directly into academic and personal life. Our goal is to equip our gymnasts with skills that will help them in the future.

Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG) is performed exclusively by girls and uses hand apparatus — rope, hoop, ball, clubs, and ribbon. It combines dance, acrobatics, and musicality. Artistic Gymnastics (AG) uses fixed apparatus such as the beam, vault, and bars. The two disciplines have different scoring systems, training demands, and long-term physical development pathways. If your daughter is considering both, we strongly recommend choosing one discipline early to avoid disruption to her technical development.

Rhythmic gymnastics is a low-impact sport with a strong safety record. Muscle soreness and mild discomfort during flexibility training are normal, particularly in the early months. Serious injuries are uncommon when training is properly supervised. All BPA coaches hold Standard First Aid certification with CPR and AED accreditation (SRFAC-certified). BPA does not use physical correction or forced stretching.

Rhythmic gymnastics rewards long-term, consistent training. Progress is not linear, there will be challenging periods, but gymnasts who train consistently and with commitment see the most significant development. At the Competitive and Elite levels, this is a serious sporting commitment requiring both the gymnast's and the parents' full support.

We recommend a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins, fibre, and healthy minerals. BPA does not promote restrictive eating. We encourage gymnasts and families to prioritise nourishment, energy, and overall health. If you have specific nutritional questions, our team can direct you to appropriate resources.

BPA stocks competition-grade apparatus from Sasaki and Chacott, internationally recognised brands used at the highest levels of the sport. You can order these apparatus directly from BPA. We also have training equipment, half shoes and gymnast bags specially created by BPA for our students. If you prefer to purchase from another source, please consult your daughter's coach first so they can ensure the apparatus meets training requirements.

Consistent attendance is the single most important thing a parent can do. Beyond that: please encourage your daughter without creating pressure, maintain open communication with the BPA team, and honour the long-term nature of the sport. Parents who treat training as a priority and not an optional activity, raise gymnasts who develop faster and enjoy the process more.

BPA takes a holistic approach to gymnast development. Our programme includes Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Latin Dance, Art, and Strength & Conditioning (and more), all structured as building blocks toward excellence in Rhythmic Gymnastics. Gymnasts are developed as complete athletes, not just technically proficient performers.

Ensure she attends training consistently, encourage her after difficult sessions rather than focusing on mistakes, and show genuine interest in what she is learning. The gymnasts who progress fastest are not always the most naturally talented; they are the ones whose parents show up, stay positive, and stay the course.

BPA has a dedicated customer service team who serve as the primary point of contact for parents. They relay feedback to and from the coaching staff, handle scheduling, and ensure any concerns are addressed promptly. This structure allows coaches to remain focused on training while parents have a clear, reliable channel for communication.

Our current group class format, typically up to 15 students across a mixed age range, is not structured to provide the individualised support that children with special needs may require. Please reach out to us directly so we can understand your daughter's specific needs and advise honestly on whether BPA is the right fit at this time.

Observation is a structured part of our onboarding process, particularly for new gymnasts. Watching more advanced students in training is one of the fastest ways to build context, understand expectations, and develop aspiration. It is not a sign that your daughter is behind, it is an intentional learning tool we use with all new students.

BPA has produced over 100 champions to date. Our gymnasts have competed at national championships and represented Singapore at international competitions.

Yes. BPA is affiliated with Singapore Gymnastics, and our students compete in Singapore Gymnastics-sanctioned national competitions. Our coaches are certified under Singapore Gymnastics standards, and Bianka Panova serves as an official Learning Facilitator and Technical Member for Singapore Gymnastics.

Both develop flexibility, but rhythmic gymnastics approaches it differently, through active flexibility training integrated with sport-specific movement, apparatus handling, and strength conditioning. Many coaches and physiotherapists consider the full-body approach of rhythmic gymnastics more comprehensive for overall physical development.

Traditional enrichment classes focus on academic or creative skill-building. Rhythmic gymnastics at BPA develops the whole child such as physical fitness, coordination, discipline, resilience, musical awareness, and social confidence, making it one of the most comprehensive extracurricular activities available. It is sport, art, and character development in a single programme.

Our coaching team is led by Bianka Panova — nine-time World Champion, Olympian, and Guinness World Record holder. All BPA coaches are certified by Singapore Gymnastics, hold Standard First Aid (CPR + AED) accreditation, and are experienced in developing gymnasts at recreational through to elite competition level. Full coach profiles are available at https://www.biankapanova.com/team

Bianka Panova is the co founder and head coach of BPA. She is a nine-time World Champion, Olympian, and Guinness World Record holder in rhythmic gymnastics. She has been awarded Coach of the Year in High Performance in Rhythmic Gymnastics by Singapore Gymnastics and serves as an official Learning Facilitator and Coach Developer; training Singapore's next generation of gymnastics coaches. She coaches at BPA personally. Personal training with her is available upon special request. Reach out to customer service team for more details.

It is one of the best. Rhythmic gymnastics develops coordination, spatial awareness, and musicality rather than raw athletic power. Many of our students had no prior sport experience and thrived precisely because the sport rewards patience, artistry, and consistency over natural athleticism.

The Recreational Programme has no competition requirement, no minimum weekly training commitment, and no selection criteria. Girls train once or twice a week and progress at their own pace. It is designed to give every girl access to world-class coaching and the physical and artistic benefits of the sport; without the pressure of a competitive pathway.

Almost certainly. The two disciplines share musicality, body awareness, and graceful movement as foundations. Many BPA students train in both if she wants to do rhythmic gymnastics recreationally. Rhythmic gymnastics adds apparatus work, acrobatic elements, and a different physical challenge that complements ballet training well.

Yes. We offer a 1 pass class (60 minutes, by appointment) with no obligation to enrol. There is no pressure to commit on the day.

For the Recreational Programme, once a week is a great starting point. Your daughter will develop flexibility, coordination, and confidence noticeably within the first few months. Gymnasts who train twice a week progress more quickly, but there is no pressure to increase frequency before your family is ready.

There is no upper age limit for our Recreational Programme for children. Girls who start at 7, 9, or 11 with no prior experience are placed appropriately and develop at their own pace. The sport rewards consistent effort at any starting age.

A recreational class introduces girls to rhythmic gymnastics without any competitive pressure or attendance requirements. At BPA, girls aged 4 and above learn flexibility, coordination, dance movement, and apparatus skills in a structured but fun environment. There are no auditions, no minimum ability level, and no obligation to ever compete.

Classes that fall on Singapore public holidays are forfeited and will not be rescheduled or credited. Please plan accordingly when booking your training schedule. We have classes everyday that can be used for make up lessons.

At Competitive Foundation level, training is a minimum of twice a week, with each session running 1.5 hours. Training session duration increases to 2hrs-4hrs depending on age and level. Our Recreational Programme has no set attendance requirement, though once a week is recommended. Elite gymnasts training for international competition typically train 4–6 sessions per week.

We generally recommend gymnasts commit to one primary training environment. Different coaching models can conflict, which slows development rather than accelerating it. We are happy to discuss your daughter's current training background during the trial class.

Book the first class with us for $60 (before GST) $65.40 after GST.

It depends on her age and goals. For recreational enjoyment and physical development, it is never too late. For competitive pathways, the earlier the better — but girls who start at 6 or 7 with no prior background have gone on to compete nationally. Book a trial and let us give you an honest assessment.

Wear a fitted plain T-shirt and shorts with socks. Please bring a personal water bottle. For subsequent classes, a fitted uniform with hair tied back neatly in a bun is required. Our team will advise on specifics once your daughter enrols.

You cannot know from observation alone and neither can we without seeing her move. That is exactly what the trial class is for. Our coaches are trained to identify potential that parents and children themselves cannot yet see. The only way to find out is to book a trial.