Welcome to the most graceful sport in aquatics!
Above the surface, Artistic Swimming is all about presenting seemingly effortless grace. Yet, underwater, upside down and holding your breath, it is one of the most demanding aquatic disciplines in the world. Since 2014, Imagine Synchro has celebrated this beautiful sport, teaching and training for it at our homebase in TriBeCa. Beginning at six-years-old and extending through adult Masters, we welcome competitors of all ages to join us!
The Artistry
of Aquatics.
Imagine Synchro is the Artistic Swimming program of Imagine Swimming. We welcome swimmers who are comfortable performing all four strokes as we guide them into a new aquatic discipline.
Practices can be hard and loud and a little theatrical, as our athletes learn to hold ballet legs in the water, on the beat, with very little oxygen.
Our international team of coaches are second to none, including Olympic medalists, NCAA standouts, and elite club competitors.
Swim Groups.
Find Your Level.
Three training groups are designated for every stage of Artistic Swimming.
Novice
Young swimmers who want to try and enjoy a different sport with no experience in Synchronized Swimming.
- Intro to sculls, basic positions and movements
- Set to music, in the team format
- Novice Figures event, plus the Winter & Summer shows
All swimmers must be able to swim laps unassisted (freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke), so every new swimmer starts with a trial class.
Competition
For swimmers who want to become competition synchro athletes. The Imagine Synchro team competes at East Zone Championships and US Nationals.
- Building meet readiness and the rules of competition
- Perfecting aquatic choreography
- Attendance at regional and national competitions — including Junior Olympics, Eastern Zones and USA Nationals
Masters
Everyone, no matter age or gender, who wants to try and enjoy Synchronized Swimming. If you love the water, dance, music, and a new activity in the pool — this team is for you.
- Adult-friendly schedule
- Beginners welcome
- Optional masters meets
Swimmers just pay when they practice.
Our Coaches.
Our international coaching staff brings decades of competitive experience. Every coach is USA Coach Certified.
Paola Tirados
Three-time Olympian for Spain (Sydney '00, Athens '04, Beijing '08) and an Olympic silver medalist with the Spanish national team. Paola leads Imagine Synchro's program design and high-performance training.
Aisulu Nauryzbayeva
International Master of Sports, Champion of Asia, and two-time bronze medalist at the Asian Games for Kazakhstan. World Cup and World Championship finalist. Joined Imagine Synchro in 2021.
Callia Tong
Former Santa Clara Aquamaid, three-time Age Group Nationals medalist, and 2014 bronze medalist at Junior Senior Nationals and the US Open. Joined Imagine Synchro in 2017.
Daria Vasilchenko
A technical synchro coach whose calm, kid-first style is the perfect entry point for our youngest swimmers. Brings competitive experience and a knack for translating hard skills into playful drills.
Petra Cacic
European synchro veteran with a competitive background and years of pool-deck coaching. Specializes in routine refinement, musicality, and prepping swimmers for meet-day pressure.
Marina Greenwood
Nine seasons through novice, intermediate and age group in California, competing at Junior Olympics and JR/SR Nationals. Swam varsity for Wheaton College and took first in figures at collegiate nationals. Coached the Attleboro YMCA Lyonfish for three years. Joined Imagine Synchro in 2026.
Location.
Practices are held at the BMCC pool in TriBeCa — a six-lane, 25-yard pool along with a deep-water diving well, ideal for synchro training.
TriBeCaBMCC
Aquatic Center
Borough of Manhattan Community College
199 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10013
Practice Schedule.
Dates to Know.
Imagine Synchro Summer Clinic
Five days in the pool. The best week of the year to try the sport for the first time, or to sharpen skills before the season starts.
2026 / 2027 Season Begins
First practice for every team. Weekly schedule starts as listed above.
No Practice
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Imagine Synchro (IMS) Competitive Team Tryouts
Tryout dates: October 19, 22, 23 and 25.
IMS Novice Team Level Test
Level tests on November 19, 20 and 22.
Thanksgiving Break — No Practice
No practice November 26, 27 and 29.
IMS Winter Show
All swimmers — Novice, Intermediate, Competitive & Masters. Family & friends welcome.
Christmas Break — No Practice
December 21 through January 1. Practice resumes the first week of January.
No Practice
Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
No Practice
Presidents' Day.
Combined East Zone 13–15 & Junior/Senior Championships
Age group swimmers. Dates to be confirmed.
East Zone Invitational
Intermediate swimmers. Dates to be confirmed.
No Practice
Good Friday.
No Practice
Easter.
Novice Figures Event
At BMCC on May 6, 7 and 9. The Novice Team's competition of the season.
East Zone Region B Championships
All competitive swimmers. Dates to be confirmed.
Memorial Day Weekend — No Practice
No practice May 30 or May 31.
East Zone Championships
All competitive swimmers. Dates to be confirmed.
IMS End-of-Season Show
All swimmers. The season finale — family & friends welcome.
Last Day of Practice
The 2026 / 2027 season ends.
Meet the Team!
The 2026 Season
Starts September 13.
FAQs.
About the Program
What is Artistic (Synchronized) Swimming?
Artistic Swimming combines swimming, dance, and gymnastics into choreographed routines performed in water and set to music. Swimmers train on land and in water, building strength, flexibility, breath control and musicality.
It became an Olympic sport in 1984 and was renamed from "synchronized" to "artistic" swimming in 2017.
Does my swimmer need prior swim experience?
Yes. Every swimmer needs to be able to swim laps unassisted — freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke — before joining any team. Swimmers who aren't there yet should start with swim lessons first; we're happy to point you to Imagine Swimming.
Beyond that we teach the rest. For Intermediate and Competitive, at least one prior season of structured swim lessons is recommended.
What's the age range?
Novice is open to swimmers who can swim laps — roughly 6 to 18 years old. Intermediate and Competitive split into 12-and-under and 13-and-over groups. Masters is open from 18 and welcomes any age and any gender — adults regularly join with no prior synchro experience.
Is it a year-round commitment?
The main season runs September through late June, with a winter break around the holidays. We also run a summer clinic at the end of August — the perfect time to try the sport if you're new, or to sharpen skills and prepare for the next competition season if you're on the Competition Team.
Tryouts & Enrollment
How do I sign up?
Fill out the Book a Tryout form. A head coach will reach out within two business days to arrange a free trial class. We use the trial to place your swimmer on the right team.
Are tryouts competitive?
For Novice and Masters there's no competitive tryout — but there is a swimming requirement. Swimmers must be able to swim laps unassisted; swimmers who can't swim yet aren't ready to join a team, and we'll happily point you to lessons first.
The Competitive Team holds a formal tryout each year — October 19, 22, 23 and 25 this season — where coaches evaluate technique, strength, and routine readiness for the upcoming meet season.
Can my swimmer try a class first?
Yes — every new swimmer gets a free trial class. Your swimmer does need to know how to swim in order to attend. After the trial, you can decide whether to commit to the team.
What if my swimmer joins mid-season?
We accept mid-season Novice swimmers any time, prorated by month. Masters swimmers can start any week — you pay per class. Intermediate and Competitive teams have set roster windows tied to meet eligibility — email a coach to discuss timing.
Practices & Logistics
Where do you practice?
Every practice is at TriBeCa BMCC — enter at 199 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007. One pool, one address, all season. The 1 train at Chambers St is a 5-minute walk.
What should swimmers bring?
A one-piece training suit, swim cap, goggles, nose clip, a towel, and a water bottle. If you need something specific, just ask a coach — we sell swimsuits, team caps and nose clips on deck.
Are there make-up classes?
Novice: if a swimmer misses a class, we're happy to help reschedule when possible. Missed classes aren't reimbursed.
Competition: practices are choreographed as a team, so we don't offer make-ups for missed sessions. Tuition is calculated on the season as a whole.
Can parents watch practice?
BMCC has family bleachers above the deck, and parents are welcome to watch the first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes of any practice. Mid-practice we ask that parents step out so swimmers can focus.
Cost, Meets & Everything Else
How much does it cost?
Tuition depends on the group and how many practices a week it trains. Novice, Intermediate and Competitive are billed monthly; Masters is billed per class, so you pay only when you practice. Email us and a coach will send you the current rates.
Every swimmer also has an annual USA Artistic Swimming membership fee. Competition swimmers have additional costs for custom routine competition suits and meet fees.
Do you offer sibling or financial-aid discounts?
We offer a sibling discount for the second child enrolled in any Imagine Swimming or Imagine Synchro program. Need-based aid is available — please email us privately and we'll work with you.
How do meets and travel work?
The Competitive Team travels to roughly 4 meets per season, including East Zone Championships and (for qualifying swimmers) US Nationals. Parents handle their own travel; we coordinate team hotels, ground transport, and meal logistics on-site.
What's your refund policy?
The trial class is free, with no commitment. After enrollment, if a swimmer misses a class we're happy to help reschedule when possible, but missed classes aren't reimbursed.
Novice: for special circumstances, 30 days' notice by email is required to discontinue. Competition: once registered, swimmers commit to the full season, September through the end of June.