Danish Gymnastics is an exciting, non-competitive, interactive sport that combines rhythmic dance and high flying tumbling. On Sunday, Oct. 21, the East Jutland Danish Gymnastics Performance Team, 33 young men and women from Arhus, Denmark, will be in Berea for an exhibition performance of their national sport. Their program “Prepare to be Amazed,” scheduled for 3 p.m. in Seabury Center arena at Berea College, is one that audiences of all ages will enjoy.

The performance is sponsored by Berea College Convocations and the Berea College Department of Physical Education and Health. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Berea College has had a more than 35 year cultural exchange relationship with the Danish Sports Association (DGI). In 1983, Berea College launched a teaching program, allowing resident Danish instructors to teach Danish gymnastics, dance and wellness classes at the College through the school year.

This year’s Danish instructor at Berea College is 26-year-old Tina Hejsel, whose is from Southern Denmark. In addition to classes in Danish Gymnastics, she also will be teaching a wellness course at Berea. A recent graduate of Silkeborg Seminarium (College) in Denmark, Hejsel has been involved with Danish gymnastics since the age of 2, and has taught the sport for many years. With Hejsel is Peter Sorensen, who also has had many years of experience with Danish gymnastics and will be assisting Hejsel with Danish gymnastic activities at the College and in the community. Sorenson is both a Nordic Champion and European Champion in the sport. He and Hejsel have performed on elite performance teams in Denmark and traveled over most of Europe and in Brazil with gymnastic teams. For each of them, Danish gymnastics is their "number one activity.”

Hejsel and Sorenson know almost all of the Danish gymnasts who will be performing in Berea on the 21st and have performed with them. Like themselves, the athletes visiting Berea are among the best in the sport.