Appearing on stage, alone with a six-foot-long ribbon, Carmel Kallemaa begins moving rhythmically to Brenton Wood's upbeat 1967 hit, Baby you got it.

Barely Canada has talent Judge Lilly Singh comments to Howie Mandel about a lone performer appearing alone on such a large stage, when the company arrives.

Kallemaa is joined by 17 other Team Canada rhythmic gymnasts, all dressed in black, a striking contrast to Kallemaa's pink leotard.

And the audience explodes.

“It's difficult, we use six meter long ribbons… it took a lot of practice to get everything in sync,” the 26-year-old, originally from Estonia and now based in Barrie, later explains.

Kallemaa has been dancing since before she could speak and she still loves it. It's a family sport. His mother, Janika Moelder, ran three gyms in Estonia before the family came to Canada.

The family, including her father, Kaupo Kallemaa, now operates three gymnastics facilities called Glimmer Athletic Club in Ontario – one in Oakville, another in Toronto and one much closer to home in Barrie. She works in the family business and competes for Team Canada with her mother as coach.

She credits her mother, who knows how to share her passion, with her lasting love for this sport which, according to her, has four apparatuses: hoops, balls, clubs and ribbons.

“In the routine we have to combine elements that are balances, jumps and turns,” she says, pointing out that there are also throws and rolls, risks associated with launching the apparatus high and rolling and a dance party. “It all has to fit into a minute and 30 seconds… you have to choreograph it into a story.”

All of this should be combined with a leotard designed to match the theme.

Kallemaa has a strong social media presence, with 13,700 followers on Instagram alone. A post of one of her performances caught the attention of one of the TV show's producers and she was invited to audition.

She had previously dismissed the idea of ​​appearing on television as perhaps what other people were doing. But she recognized the opportunity when she called, not only for herself, but also to shed light on rhythmic gymnastics and, perhaps, expand her audience.

That's not to say it was easy. Kallemaa, who regularly travels around the world to perform in front of thousands, was nervous. Acting is one thing, she said. Having to speak and address high-level judges in front of an audience is another.

“It was one of the best experiences,” she says now, without revealing whether or not we'll see her again in Canada has talent.

“I think I was lucky. “My shoot happened one day, 12 hours before I left… The producers are super nice, they are able to help if needed,” she said.

The show aired in the first half of April and it received a 'yes' from all four judges. On Tuesday, May 7, viewers will learn if it was selected by the judges.

Meanwhile, Kallemaa's busy competition schedule persists. The Canadian championships will take place at the end of May and immediately after will take place the Pan American championships in Guatemala.

Kallemaa says she plans to continue gymnastics as long as she can. At 26, she is definitely one of the oldest in a sport, where it is not uncommon to see gymnasts retire at 20 or 22, although some are still competing at 30.

She intends to persevere and has her eyes set on the Los Angeles Olympic Games in four years.

As for how she's doing with the TV show? Well, she doesn't say it.