Our Coaches
Sonya Golly-Jahn
FOUNDER / COACH
Sonya founded the club in 1986 with the belief that rhythmic gymnastics should be accessible to all, regardless of ability or age. At that time she was known to be one of the youngest women to open a non-profit organization in the city of Edmonton. She has led teams to every World Gymnaestrada since 1991 - nine of them as of 2026!
Sonya has had many unique performance opportunities in her rhythmic career, from the Grey Cup halftime show to the grand opening of West Edmonton Mall. She has also hosted gymnastics teams from New Zealand, Germany and Denmark and has made lifelong friendships in the sport. At the same time of opening her club, she was asked to lead a workshop at the Alberta Special Olympics Summer Games and instantly loved it! She has been a volunteer coach for the Sprites Special Olympics for 40 years, and she is proud to say she has had athletes on her team since the very beginning!
Sonya is a coach for all of Alpha’s programs!
YunPing Chen
COACH
Coach Ping has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Beijing University of Physical Education. She has multiple achievements and awards in rhythmic gymnastics, including silver medals in Team Competitions during the 1983-1986 National Competitions. She was also a silver medallist at the China National University Games in 1988, and she represented China in the 1983 World Championships in Strasbourg, France. She was a Rhythmic Gymnastics coach/lecturer at Beijing University and choreographed several fitness & shaping routines for Beijing Television.
She has been a coach of the Performing Team for Alpha Rhythmic Gymnastics Club since 2004. Ping is a certified NCCP Level 3 Rhythmic Gymnastics Instructor and a National Level 2 Judge for rhythmic gymnastics.
Ping is the coach for both the Competitive program and the Gymnaestrada team!
Assistant Coaches
Anna
ASSISTANT COACH
Anna is a rhythmic gymnastics coach with nine years of experience and the title of Candidate for Master of Sports of Ukraine. She has competed in championships across Europe and is now coaching in Canada, helping young gymnasts develop strength, flexibility, and artistry.
Anna is a coach for the Northside recreational class!
Korbin
ASSISTANT COACH
Korbin has been a part of Alpha for 17 years and counting! Starting as a performing gymnast with the club, Korbin began his coaching journey at age 12, helping to coach recreational classes and the Sprites Special Olympics team. As a gymnast, Korbin has performed in numerous locations and events around the globe, such as a Harlem Globetrotters halftime show, Disneyland, California, and three World Gymnaestradas held in various European countries. Korbin’s favourite memory with Alpha has been competing at Universal Studios Hollywood, a competition where Alpha placed 3rd.
Korbin is one of our coaches for Alpha’s Sprites Special Olympics Team!