Learning the BJPop 2020 in 10 days

This August I am going to learn the 2020 BjPop dance. It's a special dance choreographed for all ages to be used as a display rather than competitive routine. 

Usually the juniors learn it during a holiday workshop and one year the ladies did it during a lesson. At my club's annual competition, physie girls and ladies are invited to do a mass display of the BjPop. Ladies stand at the back during club competition and follow the girls, because we often don't know it off by heart. 

This year, I am going to learn it properly and then memorise the BJPop using the SMART principle.

Read about the SMART method of goal setting applied to my 2016 goal here. 

Specific - BjPop 2020.
Measurable - End result = memorised the dance. 
Achievable/Actionable- Spend 10 minutes a day for 10 days.
Realistic - Yes, I can set aside time each day.

Timely - Sat 1st Aug - 10th July

Watching the stars 2020

This year's DVD was a little bit different. Nevertheless, it was an important resource for learning physie at home while face-to-face classes were temporarily suspended. Travel restrictions and closed borders meant that DVD performers did not have the opportunity to film in a professional studio this year, but the end result was still very professional. Well done to Eloise, Hayley, Samantha, Georgie, Ava, Tara, Ashleigh, Peta and Sally. 

For the juniors mermaid print was a popular choice and for the older girls and ladies, performance wear options were embraced. Physie dolls resembling the performers also made it on screen. 

For me, the DVD was valuable for learning the nuances in each routine. The DVD provided clarity on small gestures that I was unable to pick up in asynchronous online modules and live online classes. Watching the difference in style such as how long to execute a position also impacted my choice of style. 

Special features:

• Marching routine - My class learnt some of this before we moved online. The routine looks so cool. Don't you agree? Although, it was a little awkward seeing the part where Peta and Sally were meant to connect their hands but couldn't due to social distancing.
  

• BjPop dance - Performers demonstrated this at different locations around Australia! 
  

• Walk throughs - Each year there are walk throughs of the senior routines. This year there are 'extension' parts for junior ages as well, I wonder how you qualify to get the extension? 
  

• Behind the scenes - This year's behind the scenes included Zoom meetings and home practices, unlike exploring the TV studios and dressing rooms in previous years' DVDs. 
  

• Bloopers - These are a tradition. 
  

DVD performers

Check out previous "Watching the Stars":

Watching the stars (2016)

Watching the stars 2017

Watching the stars 2018

Getting better at physie during isolation

It has been a while since I wrote my article for the self-improvement blog series, so I thought I'd share some activities I've been doing during isolation to improve physie. I have been doing a bit of cross training in similar disciplines to boost my overall fitness and flexibility. There are so many great video resources by inspiring and qualified teachers. 

Physie: Watch the training videos and other resources from your association and club. Have a look at other girls/ladies outside of your age/category and learn something from them. Are there extra resources/online sessions delivered by your club or association? If so, why not join in?

Ballet: Pointed toes, balancing, lengthening limbs and control are transferable skills to physie. 

Pilates: Core strength and control can help with balances and floor exercises. 

Yoga: Mental wellbeing, breathing, strength and flexibility can help you become a well-rounded physie girl/lady. 

Check out my other self-improvement blogs here.

Physie online/ April 2020 lesson journal

Our classes have moved to an online platform where members can share and upload progress videos and asking teachers/group members for feedback. Just last week, the club launched live lessons so that we get the motivation to dance at our normal times and learn routines as if we were at class.

A benefit of the online platform is that we get access to the tutorials throughout the week which might help learning routines. We can also pause, rewind and slow down the speed of the recordings.

However, a few pitfalls include the lack of social interaction (especially our prolonged drink breaks), no peripheral vision, re-watching can get boring, view is sometimes obscured (figuring out the intricacies of each move). Also, I am yet to figure out how to use the online platform to filter tasks I haven't completed.

So far, I have mastered only the warm-up and exercises routines ... Three more to learn.
Thank you to the teachers and volunteers who make remote physie fun!

Lesson journal: Feb-Apr 2020

Woah... it's already April.
Let's rewind.

In mid-February, the club started lessons as normal with ladies coming in for their weekly physie lessons. We continued learning our routines with our 2 teachers. I managed to remember the warm-up and exercises routines before in-person lessons ceased.

March came and hand sanitiser acted as an entry token into the hall. Dance schools and gyms were operating as normal till mid-March. Unfortunately, in the space of just hours, these activities were halted. Literally overnight, indoor sports were ordered to shut down.

The physie community was optimistic that competitions will still go ahead later this year with zones but there are no interclubs for the 2020 (July/Aug) season. Head office announced this a few days before leotard orders had to be finalised so that people could pull out of ordering multiple garments.

On the bright side, I have my physie music, online modules with walkthroughs and soon I can look forward to live virtual lessons.

Physie social distancing