We realize from the books read and trainers' stories that the initial development of the rhythmic gymnastics consists of three main stages: i) the first stage presents with the so-called "expressive gymnastics" created by Francois Delsarte in Paris in 1839 and subsequently promoted by his numerous followers; ii) the second stage presents with the so-called "eurhythmics" created by Emile-Jack Delcrauze in the Conservatory of Geneva in 1911. Elaborating on it, Rudolf Bohde, Elli Boerksten, and Heinrich Modau search for the correlation between the nature of music and body movements; iii) the third stage presents with the achievements of the Russian school in the 30s of our century combining different systems from both Europe and America. In 1949, Lev Orlov first introduces the term of "art gymnastics" to emphasize the close links of sports to art. In the English-language literature, however, the term of "rhytmic gymnastics" remains still widely used although many newly-emerged and rather popular kinds of body-building exercises are, in fact, rhythmic in their nature and music-accompanied, too. In Bulgaria, art gymnastics has been done many years ago, i. e., before its recognition in the world. In 1905, the so-called "heroic gymnastic bands" grew up. During their fairs, the participants played mass gymnastic compositions with apparata such as little sticks, flags, veils, balls, bands, and bats with music accompaniment. The first competition held in the town of Plovdiv in 1922 went down in history for ever. The different elements such as jumps, side-splits, balances, waves, and sweeps were combined with folklore-dance steps thus creating original compositions. The following events outlined the progress of art gymnastics in Bulgaria: i) onset of teaching of this sports in the National Academy of Sports in 1944; ii) appointment of the first Commission of Art Gymnastics in Bulgaria in 1951 and elaboration of the first obligatory exercises with a ball, bats and without any apparatus; iii) organization of the first republican competition in the town of Bourgas in 1952 and distinguishing of the first champion of the Republic of Bulgaria, Tsvetana Atanasova by name; iv) foundation of the Bulgarian Federation of Art Gymnastics in 1964.