San Diego Rhythms Coaches
Sofia Minevich - Program Director and Head Coach - 2011 Coach of the Year
She is a former rhythmic and artistic gymnast and a figure skater. She was competing in artistic and rhythmic
gymnastics for her college in Russia and was teaching rhythmic gymnastics and sports aerobics to children and
adults. In 1997 Sofia got her credentials in teaching rhythmic gymnastics from Moscow Sports Committee. She
also worked as a preschool teacher for many years. Sofia has professional dance and ballet training. She is a
professional member of USA Gymnastics, graduate of the USA Gymnastics National Safety Certification
Program, KAT program, and is CPR and First Aid Certified.
Sofia is a Junior Olympic coach
Nicole Minevich - Competitive team coach
Nicole was a Level 10 gymnast who competed in rhythmic gymnastics for 12 years and now is coaching San
Diego Rhythms team.
Nicole is a freshman at UCSD. She has been doing gymnastics since she was 3 years old and started to do
rhythmic gymnastics when she was 5. Nicole was 2009 Region 1 Junior Olympic Team member and competed
at Visa Championships. Nicole has a lot of experience and patience working with very young children. Two of
her students are members of US Children National Future Stars team. She is a USAG Professional Member and
is Safety Certified.
Nicole is a Junior Olympic coach. Her student is a member of Youth Pre - Elite Squad
Maria Weitz (Kaluzhskaya) – Competitive Team coach.
She is awarded a title of an International Master of Sports.
Maria was a Junior and Senior Champion of Russia in 1997 and 1999 in individual and group routines. As a
member of Russian National Team she was representing Russia at many international competitions (1997-2000).
From 1998 to 2000 Maria was in the top 6 in the country.
She graduated from prestigious Russian State University of Physical Education and Sports (Moscow) with
Master Degree in Coaching Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Maria has many years of coaching experience and professional dance and ballet training. She is a USA
Gymnastics professional member and is safety, and CPR, and First Aid Certified.
Her student was a member of Pre - Elite Squad.
Maria is a Junior Olympic coach
Cassanna Atyim
Cassanna is a college student and is currently teaching the San Diego Rhythms competitive team and beginner
classes. Cassanna was the San Diego Rhythms student and has retired from Rhythmic Gymnastics a few years
ago and she was Level 9 gymnast at that time. While competing, Cassanna was Level 7 US National Champion,
was Children National Team - "Future Stars" member and a few times was a member of Region 1 Junior
Olympic Team. Cassanna has a lot of patience working with young children. She enjoys teaching students of all
levels and abilities.
Cassanna is a USAG Professional Member and is safety certified.
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Our Visiting Coaches - College Students
Sarah Belpedio
Sarah started her first year at The George Washington University in Washington, District of Columbia. She will
be working with us during her college breaks. Sarah was the San Diego Rhythms student and was working at the
San Diego Rhythms while attending High School. She retired from rhythmic gymnastics 4 years ago and was
Level 9 gymnast at that time. While competing, Sarah was Children National Team - "Future Stars" member
and a few times was a member of Region 1 Junior Olympic Team. Sarah is a USAG Professional Member and is
safety certified. Sarah is a Junior Olympic coach
Katerina Karaoglanova
Katerina is former San Diego Rhythms student and was working at the San Diego Rhythms while attending High
School. She is currently attending UCLA and will be working with as during her college breaks. She has a lot of
patience working with beginner level students and enjoys teaching little kids. Katerina is a USAG Professional
Member and is safety certified
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Natalie Test - Ballet Teacher.
Natalie has danced professionally for many years with such ballet companies as Canada's Royal Winnipeg
Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and City Ballet of San Diego. Natalie enjoys working with children of all levels and
abilities. She has a lot of experience teaching classical ballet, contemporary and modern dance, and Jazz.
At San Diego Rhythms Natalie is working with competitive team and also is teaching beginner and intermediate
level classes. She focuses on teaching solid ballet techniques and proper lines to help enhance the gymnasts'
overall performance.
Sofia Minevich - Program Director and Head Coach - 2011 Coach of the Year
She is a former rhythmic and artistic gymnast and a figure skater. She was competing in artistic and rhythmic
gymnastics for her college in Russia and was teaching rhythmic gymnastics and sports aerobics to children and
adults. In 1997 Sofia got her credentials in teaching rhythmic gymnastics from Moscow Sports Committee. She
also worked as a preschool teacher for many years. Sofia has professional dance and ballet training. She is a
professional member of USA Gymnastics, graduate of the USA Gymnastics National Safety Certification
Program, KAT program, and is CPR and First Aid Certified.
Sofia is a Junior Olympic coach
Nicole Minevich - Competitive team coach
Nicole was a Level 10 gymnast who competed in rhythmic gymnastics for 12 years and now is coaching San
Diego Rhythms team.
Nicole is a freshman at UCSD. She has been doing gymnastics since she was 3 years old and started to do
rhythmic gymnastics when she was 5. Nicole was 2009 Region 1 Junior Olympic Team member and competed
at Visa Championships. Nicole has a lot of experience and patience working with very young children. Two of
her students are members of US Children National Future Stars team. She is a USAG Professional Member and
is Safety Certified.
Nicole is a Junior Olympic coach. Her student is a member of Youth Pre - Elite Squad
Maria Weitz (Kaluzhskaya) – Competitive Team coach.
She is awarded a title of an International Master of Sports.
Maria was a Junior and Senior Champion of Russia in 1997 and 1999 in individual and group routines. As a
member of Russian National Team she was representing Russia at many international competitions (1997-2000).
From 1998 to 2000 Maria was in the top 6 in the country.
She graduated from prestigious Russian State University of Physical Education and Sports (Moscow) with
Master Degree in Coaching Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Maria has many years of coaching experience and professional dance and ballet training. She is a USA
Gymnastics professional member and is safety, and CPR, and First Aid Certified.
Her student was a member of Pre - Elite Squad.
Maria is a Junior Olympic coach
Cassanna Atyim
Cassanna is a college student and is currently teaching the San Diego Rhythms competitive team and beginner
classes. Cassanna was the San Diego Rhythms student and has retired from Rhythmic Gymnastics a few years
ago and she was Level 9 gymnast at that time. While competing, Cassanna was Level 7 US National Champion,
was Children National Team - "Future Stars" member and a few times was a member of Region 1 Junior
Olympic Team. Cassanna has a lot of patience working with young children. She enjoys teaching students of all
levels and abilities.
Cassanna is a USAG Professional Member and is safety certified.
*****************************************************************************************
Our Visiting Coaches - College Students
Sarah Belpedio
Sarah started her first year at The George Washington University in Washington, District of Columbia. She will
be working with us during her college breaks. Sarah was the San Diego Rhythms student and was working at the
San Diego Rhythms while attending High School. She retired from rhythmic gymnastics 4 years ago and was
Level 9 gymnast at that time. While competing, Sarah was Children National Team - "Future Stars" member
and a few times was a member of Region 1 Junior Olympic Team. Sarah is a USAG Professional Member and is
safety certified. Sarah is a Junior Olympic coach
Katerina Karaoglanova
Katerina is former San Diego Rhythms student and was working at the San Diego Rhythms while attending High
School. She is currently attending UCLA and will be working with as during her college breaks. She has a lot of
patience working with beginner level students and enjoys teaching little kids. Katerina is a USAG Professional
Member and is safety certified
******************************************************************************************
Natalie Test - Ballet Teacher.
Natalie has danced professionally for many years with such ballet companies as Canada's Royal Winnipeg
Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and City Ballet of San Diego. Natalie enjoys working with children of all levels and
abilities. She has a lot of experience teaching classical ballet, contemporary and modern dance, and Jazz.
At San Diego Rhythms Natalie is working with competitive team and also is teaching beginner and intermediate
level classes. She focuses on teaching solid ballet techniques and proper lines to help enhance the gymnasts'
overall performance.
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Coaches Nicole and
Katerina at their first LA
Lights competitions at
the age of 5
Katerina at their first LA
Lights competitions at
the age of 5
Phone: (858) 945-4114
Email: info@sdrhythms.com
Email: info@sdrhythms.com