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

Watching the stars 2018

Welcome to the third instalment of Watching the stars, my annual review on the BjP syllabus training DVD distributed for girls and women around Australia to practise in their own homes. This year marks the start of web-streaming so you can view it from a range of devices. However, I do miss the lovely cover printed DVDs as memorabilia. The routines' names were watermarked in the corner which I found very helpful as the video was in one block of about eight minutes. Marching was also a special feature in this resource.

The ladies had two Melissas demonstrating the routines. Melissa R, the winner of the 2017 Open Over 33 section and Ladies Overall Champion performed the beginner-intermediate routine while Melissa D, last year's Elite Champion showcased the Open section. A few of the other girls on the DVD returned to filming after having previously appeared on it. Some have already gathered years of filming experience which I assume is quite different to a real physie competition - multiple takes, changing leotards, fuller makeup, learning everything in a few months and it's essentially a solo. Well done to all the performers on this year's DVD.

Interclub competitions have just started for the BjP School of Physical Culture and I'm sure other codes of physie are having their's too. With my first competition in a week's time, these final days leading up will be scheduled with several sessions of following the stars. In 'advanced' I feel a little bit awkward with the transference of weight in some transitional steps, but Melissa beautifully executed the routine with connection and smoothness throughout. Let's see if I can get the awkwardness out of my routines.

2018 BjP Syllabus DVD Performers

If you've enjoyed this blog post, you may also like:
Watching the stars 2017
Watching the stars 2016

BjP 125

It only happens once every 25 years !!! Congratulations to all the performers, zone leaders, volunteers, families, supporters, archivists and event staff. Even though I didn't go to the show, the photos of the event looked marvellous. My personal favourite was the lighting display during the finale when the characters "BJP 125" were made by the arrangement of torch lights. What a beautiful example of how each person's contribution is integral in making something amazing and worthwhile.


Here are some links to media coverage focusing on BjP's rich history and the event:

Physie marks 125 years | photos (Newcastle Herald)

Wow, some of these photographs are truly a blast from the past! 

Combined celebration for physie at 125 (Tenterfield Star)


Weekend Breakfast ABC News 24

Watching the stars 2017

The new DVDs have arrived and practice competitions are underway! Each year the School of Physical Culture compiles a DVD of the syllabus featuring the age/category champions of their respective sections. Check out last year's post for more explanation.

It is a wonderful practice tool for practising between classes as both front (mirrored) and back views are shown. You can put on your own physie workouts in your lounge room! Usually in a class setting you would be simultaneously mimicking your teacher's moves which leaves little time to take in all the nuances. Viewing the DVD gives you a chance to sit back and analyse the champions' nuances. The performers are stars, they are role models within their club. I wonder how they felt when they were announced as champions and syllabus demonstrators.

After the DVD filming at the Foxtel Studios in Sydney, many become idols for the physie community and continue to inspire their fans. It is a noticeable trend that some go on to perform on the syllabus biennially (when they advance to the next age group bracket). Perhaps, learning the syllabus by the April filming date sets them on the path to perfecting the syllabus for the current year's championships thus propelling them into perpetual success.





Now, a bit about my observations on this year's DVD:

• A lot of flexibility - bendy backs, splits (excluding ladies), kicks 
• Strength - planks, V sits 
• Feet gripping on floor after splits/astride sit
• Nicole and Carly both presented the ladies' choreography with their own flair
• Special bloopers reel - pulling out wedgies 
• Nine beautiful performers. Is Carly missing from the cover?
• Spectacular physie from all the performers

Watching the stars

It has already been 17 weeks into the physie year and learning the syllabus has been fun, challenging and rewarding so far. Each year the association puts together a DVD of the syllabus which is released at the end of May, so I just got it. The videos allow physie students to see how the routines are performed and are shown in front (mirror) and back views. It's also done with the music (although you can buy a CD separately). I think that this is particularly helpful as the routines are only snippets of songs and you won't need to find the specific verses and put them on loop.

The syllabus DVD performers are all girls and ladies who have won their respective categories at the national championships the year before and are in the same age division for this year. For example, 11-12 year olds have the same routines but are judged separately. The winner of the 11 year old age group gets to be on the DVD the year following their victory. This makes sense as she will still be in that age group the year after the win while the winner of 12 years will have progressed to the next age bracket.

It is delightful to see these champions demonstrate their talents for us physie-goers. Additionally, these DVD girls and ladies serve as positive role models for their peers. The performers and their teachers have spent innumerable hours of behind-the-scenes rehearsal to ensure flawless delivery of the syllabi. And don't forget these girls and ladies have perfected all this in a mere few months. It is truly inspiring to watch the performers. Likewise, these DVD girls/ladies will have undoubtedly gained inspiration from the whole process. From the excitement of becoming champion and learning their routines to meeting others and being filmed in a professional studio, the experience I would assume is one that they'll never forget. For the time being, I'll keep practising at class and with the DVD and try my best at my first practice competition which is coming up very soon.

Edit: I have found out that the girl demonstrating the 5-6 year's syllabus was actually last year's 6 year's winner. The routines for 5/6 and 7/8 age groups are the same and only the music is different.