2020 club competition

This year's club competition was unforgettable! The event aligned with 2020's theme of expecting the unexpected. We, the novice/intermediate ladies, were just about to finish our floordrill routine when the blackout started. Some ladies joked that we could use this to our advantage as the judges would miss fine details. 

Family members were allowed to watch the show which was held in a large arena venue. However, the march past with our sashes and the men's marching challenge were cancelled. These two proceedings are a crowd favourite each year. 

I love how the annual club competition gives the club community a yearly gathering to watch and celebrate girls and ladies flourishing at physie. Thank you teachers, volunteers, supporters, venue staff, and my clubmates for making this year's event so special. 

Read more:

2018 Club competition

2016 Club competition 

Practice competition 2020

It has been a long 10 months since I last performed physie. I'd forgotten the feeling on putting on heavy-duty fishnet tights and the fear of accidentally pulling or ripping the mesh.

The showcase was remarkably different from any of my previous physie performances. Usually, dancers would have had at least three opportunities to compete both in informal and judged settings by the end August. 

It was a nice sunny day outside, however, it felt quite chilly to me indoors. I didn't remove my jacket until we had to line up for marching in height order. The practice competition took place in a large sports arena where I'd physied on several occasions. At first, I could hear the lag between the sound bouncing off the walls from the speakers, it was quite boomy. Then, I concentrated on the music. A small audience may have contributed to making the venue 'ring' more as few people were there to absorbed the sound. All the ladies were relieved that we made it to the end of our performance and we felt not so cold anymore.

Well done to all competitors and especially the beginner ladies who have learnt their first set of physie routines through a mixture of online and in-person lessons. Thank you to all the volunteers who made this event happen. I am so grateful to perform physie after this hiatus. 

Why do physie as an adult?

Fitness

Music and choreography

Disciplines us (for me it has motivated me to stretch regularly)

We can wear whatever

Choose to compete or do it for the fun and fitness

Great role modelling for our children

Getting involved with something with our daughters

Flexibility and mobility (improving or maintaining it as we get older is important)

Meet new like-minded people

Pick up where you left off (if you're an ex physie girl)

All ages and experiences, size and shapes are welcome

Gives us 'me' time

2019 Competitions: Champion lady @ Zone (part 3/3)

Following the team competitions, the beginner, novice and intermediate ladies registered for the individual Champion Lady heats and received a participation medal. Grouping the heats was done in the usual process of lining up with our clubmates, then splitting off into equal heats. Initially, the Intermediate Ladies were grouped into 5 heats. However, we had to re-group into 4 heats of around 17 ladies in each! Once in our heats we drew playing cards for the marching order, but because each heat had more participants than anticipated, I missed out on a card and marched towards the back of the line.

That afternoon, I made it to the semi-finals. I was excited to hear my number selected since I hadn't made the semi-finals since 2016 as a beginner lady where I placed. I was in the front row for the Exercises routine in both heats and semi-finals. Luckily, I was most confident with Exercises so when we turned to the corner and no one was in my peripheral vision, I did not hesitate.

After the semi-finals, I didn't progress further. I ate more snacks and headed to the grandstands to watch the finals. What a spectacular day of physie! Well done to all the dancers, teachers, volunteers and supporters!


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Part 1: The lead-up
Part 2: Teams

2019 Competitions: Zone championships - teams (part 2/3)

The night before the team competition, the ladies class had a gathering for hair styling and nibbles. On the day we added a shiny hair accessory, put on our team leotard, applied matching lipstick and were ready for our final run through.

We walked on to the floor ready to start the routine on our team spots. Two floors were running simultaneously. Initially, I’d thought that the other floor was empty but then realised they must’ve choreographed a more elaborate walk-on. As always, the first 16 counts of the warm up includes walking/directional steps allowing teams to omit the original choreography for getting to their spots. Our team started on our spots and kept the choreography as if we were doing it individually.

This year, I was not in the front for the first time. It definitely was a different role in the back, attentively watching the whole team and aligning with the lady directly in front. After performing our five routines, we showcased a finale that one of the open ladies choreographed for our novice and intermediate teams. This was special since I’d only marched off in previous years with the team.


Read part 1 here

2019 medal collection

2019 competitions: The lead-up to the zone championships (part 1/3)

This year, my club entered 2 ladies teams: novice and intermediate. Most ladies were experienced in team competitions but we had a few new ladies joining physie or a team for the first time this year. Some ladies even gave the individual performance at club competition a go to prepare them for the team event.

In the month leading up to the team event, our club had the attendance sticker chart. Every time that we had a full team, we got a smiley face sticker to add to our tally. The older girls are usually the ones who win the attendace award, they did again this year. My team had 4 full practices. 

As usual, the ladies class had their gathering the night before the Zone competition for hair styling, nibbles and some bubbles too. It was a great way to calm our nerves before the big day.


Stay tuned for
2019 competitions: Team competition (part 2/3)
2019 competitions: Champion Lady (part 3/3)

2019 Competitions: Interclubs 1&2

This year's interclub competitions have come and gone. These interclubs were my first time competing as an Intermediate Lady and the bar was certainly set very high. It was wonderful to reconnect with some ladies from different clubs who had started as a Beginner Lady with me in 2016.

Interclub #1

This was my first time competing with this host club. It was held in a school's spacious sports hall on a Saturday afternoon. Including the host club, there were five clubs in attendance. The Over 50/60s category danced before us, it was a lovely and inspiring performance to watch. Physie is really lifelong passion.

Interclub #2

There were many participants at this interclub with some age groups split into 3 sections. The Intermediate Ladies category was split into 2 sections and I danced in the very last section of the day. Like the first interclub, I stood at the front for the warm-up routine. In the future, I will make sure to run to the back as I now know that I would be more confident to 'copy' the first routine. Despite not placing, I received a dark blue medal (usually 5th place). I think pink participation medallions must have ran out as we were the last section of the day.

Only 7 weeks until my Zone Competition.


Read about my 2018 Competitions here.

My lesson journal: February 2019

I am back to physie for my fourth year which means I've progressed into the intermediate category. On arrival at my first lesson I learnt that over 40 registered ladies were attending my club this year. This is an incredible enrolment and a testament to the passion and effort from my teacher, clubmates and volunteers to build this wonderful club.

Lesson 1:

Warming up our bodies and brains included walking, lunging and marching in a (very) large circle. Then we learnt the travelling step in the warm-up routine. We start with learning a travelling step every year because travelling steps are always included in warm-up. Five lines gathered at the back of the hall and we learnt the step firstly with our feet, then added our arms. We also learnt the first few steps of 'exercises' and soon after class was over.

Lesson 2: 

We started with a circuit warm-up. Nine stations were set up including toe rises, lunges, wall push-ups and hip bridges. Then we all stood at a marker on the floor to revise and learn new moves for warm-up. Afterwards, we learnt the first couple of counts for swing. I'm guessing it won't be long before my teacher introduces bean bags for us to feel the weightiness in our arms (I hope that we have enough, we're the largest class now). A few more positions were discovered for exercises and then we revised all three routines at the end of class.

P.S. New format this year! All blog posts will be quick reads limited to 250 words so that you can get on with life and practising more physie :) 

2018 competitions: Club competition

A rainy afternoon set the scene for my club’s annual competition. Despite the weather, enthusiastic dancers and supporters welcomed the dazzling display of physie. The late afternoon to early evening event showcased the talents of girls from preschoolers to ladies. This year the ladies’ class had over 20 members with most participating in this event leading up to teams and champion lady the following weekend.

I enjoyed watching each age groups’ routines and seeing the girls grow up each year. This year also introduced a front facing audience. Although last year’s club competition had the audience to the front, they were seated well above eye level. With the audience in direct sight this year, it took a few moments to settle and focus at times. Little did I know that this was preparation for the following week’s zone competition also with an audience at the front. The club event had the annual men’s marching challenge where male friends and family participated in a round of marching. Their siblings, partners or family members made great instructors, teaching their men how to have nice pointed feet and stride to the music. This year I also had a go at the BjPop which is the association's leisure dance for all ages. Since the ladies had not learnt the choreography in class, a few of us stood in the back row and followed along. It was amusing and in a few moments we'd struck our end poses.

The annual march past where all girls and ladies wore a sash displaying the medals received during their physie careers was held during this day. My sash was embellished with eleven shiny medals and I would earn one more the following weekend with my novice team. As usual, I had labelled my medals with a sticker at the back. Afterwards, the club photo was taken. The evening ended with awards presented to age champions, best performances, marching champions and the overall club champion. Congratulations to all the girls and ladies who danced on the day.

Read about my previous competitions here:

Club competition 2016 
2018 interclubs
Interclub #1 2016 (my very first interclub competition)

2018 Competitions: Interclubs

On two consecutive weekends during August, I competed in interclub competitions and was awarded second place in both. Both of the events I attended were multiday competitions due to the ever-increasing popularity of physie and competition participation.

2 x 2nd place

On the first weekend, I competed in an interclub hosted by my own club. It was professionally set in an arena that I'd previously danced in. However, the last time I'd physied there, spectators were allowed to view from the front as it was not part of an interclub and therefore had different guidelines. Interstate competitors came from afar to take part in this event. It's amazing to see how physie brings people together.

The next competition was just six days afterwards hosted by another local club. We were seated on the side of the dance floor after our marshalling. While waiting and watching, I noticed that the first marker in the middle lane was deliberately closer to the judges compared to the other lines. For the last routine, I was dancing on this marker which made it feel like a solo as I had no others in my peripheral vision. Blue leotards were popular at this occasion. I'm now looking forward to my Annual Club Competition.


You may also like to read:
My lesson journal: May/June
Interclub #2 & Club Competition 2016
2017 Interclub competitions 

Labelling physie keepsakes

By this time of year, you may have already accumulated a few medals, certificates and numbers from competitions. At my club's annual competition, we have a march-past where we wear our sashes accessorised with our colourful medals. With similar-looking badges from year to year, it can be hard to pinpoint the exact competition when it was earnt. This is why I label my keepsakes. This is also a good measure to prevent lost badges. In the case that it gets unlatched, you will be able to identify your handwriting.

Medal:

• Date
• Interclub host/ type of competition

Number:

• Date/day
• Interclub host/ type of competition
• Placing (if applicable)
• Age group/ category
  At the moment, I don't label my category but I keep the program booklets to follow what level I'm in.

I keep my certificates, numbers and programs in a display folder. The medals with lanyards are hung up on a bookshelf until it is time to attach them to my sash.

Labelling the back of my number and medal.

My lesson journal: April 2018

Last week was my twelfth lesson of the year! Where did all that time go? I have a feeling that it's going to be time to perform these routines very soon.

Lesson journal 30/04/2018

As always, our teacher likes to start the class with marching. Then we then ran through all our routines although we were still missing some moves from 'advanced'.

I know all the steps of the warm-up routine but the transition between the 16-count sequences is still unfamiliar and awkward to me compared to the choreography of the last two years' routines. With exercises, I think that its repetitive nature and regimented positions make it the easiest to learn. Floordrill is also very positions-based but the view from the floor obstructs peripheral vision. Swing and advanced are least familiar to me and sometimes the moves get blurred between the two because of both their swinging, flowing and free-moving nature.

We learnt the remainder of the choreography for advanced. Again, I am having trouble with remembering swing and advanced at home. I can remember small parts but can't remember preceding and subsequent moves.

Then we worked on the techniques of turn-out and lateral bends. My teacher's innovation was to have two dots on her inner thighs near the knee. Laying on the ground, she showed the class how the dots were revealed when the whole of the hips and legs were correctly turned-out. In pairs, we worked on our position of the week the 'lateral bend' checking that our partner's hips were still and their back not caving in.



For more tips and exercises on goal setting, progress tracking, learning routines and inspiration, check out the self-improvement blog series. 

My lesson journal: February 2018

It's the end of February and my classes have already been back for a month! Today, I'll share with you what I've learnt in this week's lesson.

26/02/18

Marching
- put band on left ankle, this is the leading foot
- brushing the foot from the ball until the toes flick up to point
- left foot on the down/heavy/prominent beat of music

Warm-up routine
- revised
- added a few extra steps
- isolated the arm movements from the leg movements
- then put together arms/legs

Advanced routine
- learnt the first few counts

Floordrill routine
- we were shown a couple of additional moves
- learnt from peripheral vision as mostly lying down

Exercises routine
- routine uses a lot of mirroring on reverse side
- revised a few times, but didn't learn new counts as lesson was nearly over

Skills learnt:
- multitasking, learning arms/legs/together
- flexibility
- core strength (especially the 'crunch' in floordrill)

To do before my next lesson:
- Visualise: draw a series of stick figures to remind myself of some of the routines.
- Practise the routines that I can remember and won't mislearn eg. exercises.
- Work on interchangeable skills eg. positions, turnout, facial expression
- Train my abdominal muscles - crunches will help me in floordrill.

For more tips and exercises on goal setting, progress tracking, learning routines and inspiration, check out the self-improvement blog series.

Zone championships (part 5)

We marched along the blue taped box on the sports floor. As the marching music progressed, the gap between me and the lady in front increased. It was the luck of the draw. The lady with the shortest strides might go first. This was a fairer system than at some interclubs where taller ladies might be continually assigned to march first.

The tape on the ground had changed. Three different colours were available forming a left lane, right lane and middle staggered lane. I ended up in the middle lane which meant that I had many ladies in my peripheral vision. Since starting physie, I've improved at not looking at my competition; however, this innate habit still exists.

I danced remembering most of the corrections that I had written down the week before after watching a clip of myself at my club competition. For example, I remembered to not spread my legs so far for the final pose of warm-up and to lead with my hips instead of chest when marching.

My heat was over and it was time to hear the songs re-looped another four times before the announcement of the finalists. In the marshalling room, all novice ladies sat in their heats again. Numbers were called out starting from heat one. They'd already moved onto the heat after my one. Clearly, I had not made the cut and therefore no semi-finals for me this year. Bring on 2018!

Zone championships (part 4)

We huddled in the marshalling room where the process of organising the heats began. I had already forgotten this process since last year but soon relearnt it.

1. Line up with our club
2. Headcount to decide how many heats
3. Number off, split off into heats (standing in club lines ensures members are spread)
4. Once in heats, draw playing cards to determine marching order

I had overheard that two years ago my zone did not have a separate beginner ladies' section. This year there were three beginner heats and seven novice heats! I had at least 30 minutes to spare, so I went snacking.

Crackers, a fruit plate, chocolate slices and dips lined our club's table, enough physie fuel to last well into the night. Then came the decision whether to go to the bathroom or not. Being in a leotard and fishnet stockings was hard enough, but with a stiff competitor's number already pinned on, I decided that it was better to wait until after my heat. Not long afterwards, my heat was finally called...

Zone championships (part 3)

At the presentation of the teams' competition, we sat in columns. Each team nominated one representative to collect the prizes if they'd received a place or an honourable mention. No place for my team but I am incredibly proud to have danced with these fabulous ladies.

It was just past 11 am by this stage and we lined up for the change rooms. Luckily, I had already predicted the situation and got changed swiftly after the presentation.
"Beginner, novice and intermediate ladies to registration!"
An unprecedented number of novice ladies lined to put their name down for the heats. There were so many of us [novice ladies] that the organisers ran out of competitors' numbers initially.

Ladies donned leotards in various colours and styles. Sleeved designs also made a comeback. Time dragged on and the changeover afforded us enough time to have lunch. The first heat did not commence until noon.

Zone championships (part 2)

At 9 am the team events began. Thick white tape drew eight crosses on the floor. The taped makers were in a configuration of 3 - 2 - 3 (front, middle, back). I'm not sure if the arrangement can be changed to 4 - 4 or if there were different markers that I was oblivious to.

When it was time to dance, direct and peripheral vision - affectionately known as 'team eyes' - set in. Unlike my club's hall, this venue had lined floors which amplified the problem of spacing if we weren't in line with our teammates in front, side or diagonally. Luckily, our team eyes allowed for quick, subtle adjustments to set us back in clean, straight lines.  

From my limited team experience, I've concluded that the first 32 counts of warm-up must include travelling steps so team members can move from a starting formation to the set configuration.

Throughout the routines, I felt that time slowed down. Perhaps this was the result of having an impressive venue, sound took longer to reverberate from the walls.

The get-on and get-off allows for creative choreography usually set by the teacher (I've heard that these components are not judged). My novice ladies' team had a comparatively straightforward get-off. Other teams had fancy, cabaret-esque, theatrical moves with half the members in alternating positions, for example, four with hands up and four with hands down. Mexican waves were also popular among well-rehearsed teams.

Zone championships (part 1)

It's a tradition at my club to have a pre-competition gathering at one lady's home. At this occasion, we do each others' hair and physie daughters play with each other. Styling hair the night before makes me wonder if I'd ever fall asleep. The concoction of hairspray and volumising powder as I sleep is not a scent that I prefer. Amazingly, once you fall asleep you do not realise the scent nor the pain until you are woken up by stabbing bobby pins and hair being stretched.

I would like to thank P for your hospitality, welcoming us to your home every year, and K for making my hair look physie.

In the morning, I was woken up by my phone's alarm. The hair survived the night. I ate some breakfast, put on some makeup sans lipstick and headed off to the venue. Upon arrival I found my club's area. Some other clubs' areas were left vacant as they did not have novice or intermediate teams which were the first events of the day.

I checked out the hair accessories. Team events are the only time that BjP allows ladies to wear headbands, ribbons, flowers and other decorations in our hair. Some clubs used club coloured flowers and scrunchies which I thought were very clever. 

With the draw order up on the walls, I realised that there were quite a few more intermediate teams than novice. Two floors ran simultaneously and the same club never competed at the same time allowing teachers and supporters to give their full attention when one of their teams were performing. 

2017 Interclub competitions

In my opinion, this year's interclubs went by very quickly and now classes are focusing on synchronicity for the team competition. As per BjP guidelines, clubs may only compete in two interclubs per year, I entered in both. Over two consecutive Saturdays, I travelled to school halls about an hour's drive from my residency.

Interclub #1 

As with last year's interclubs, the beginner and novice sections were scheduled as the last events of the day. The sun was setting as I looked beyond the louvres of the hall. This interclub consisted of fairly local dancers. We were treated with a generous warm-up space and provided with plentiful parking which took a lot of the stress away. I was able to practise in a mirrored room to music which accompanied previous ladies' sections. During marching, I gauged that grip on this particular floor was smoother than that of my usual venue's. Also, the music was louder than my usual setting's, I had to adjust to these differences. It was time for me to dance! I discovered that I had forgotten to focus on my five words and let my mind drift away until about the third routine. I had a great time doing my best physie. Eventually it was quite dark outside as ladies and their supporters headed towards the car park. 

Interclub #2

I was impressed with the dedication of the families who flew in especially for this competition. Unlike Interclub #1, the host had welcomed clubs from three different states. The school hall was packed with girls, ladies and their supporters resulting in a lot of standing audience members. After marshalling, we were seated for about one and a half sections (about 15 minutes). I've never experienced this before, even at zones we were able to actively stand up and keep our blood flowing. On the floor, I found the problem of comparing myself to others which meant I couldn't give my full attention on physie-ing. I will try to focus on my own dancing rather than watching others in my peripheral vision at the zone competition. As we marched off, I realised that strategically positioned sideways-facing chairs created a barricade so that dancers could have an aisle to exit. 

Overall, I was very pleased with my performances. I am glad that I had the opportunity to experience how different clubs run their events and to explore different venues. 

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