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. 

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

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 New Leotard

Long-awaited garment (it has been 3 years since my last leotard order)
Eye-catching colours fill the floor
Options to wear non-leotards
Tight and form-fitting
Arrived just in time for interclubs
Remember my physie face
Dance to my heart's content

Physie leotards from different associations

New Lycra!

I've been wearing my 2016 leotard to all physie occasions since I've started except for my first practice competition where F generously lent me her leotard and tights. Routinely, for the past three years I have entered the lollipop (practice) competition, two interclubs, club competition and zones. All together that's been 14 competitions which I have worn my trusty, shiny, bright, Eden style leotard. Thinking about it retrospectively, each competition (in addition any entry fees) actually had the added cost of attire. The leotard cost $87.50 and fishnets $45.00, that's nearly $10 for attire at each of my 14 competitions. A lot of physie clubs advertise its affordability compared to other dance styles which is true, however, if you're collecting different colours and styles then costs may add up. 

Leotard try-ons were last week and I'd managed to try all five leotard styles. Three years ago I would have been hesitant with a plastic clasp. However, three out of five styles this year had clasps. I tried on a few coloured bodystockings to gauge which colours were suitable. Despite trying on all the leotards, I ordered the style and colour which I had envisioned even before going to try-on day. I am looking forward to receiving my new lycra leotard soon. Secretly I hope that I go to nationals so that I can wear my leotard a sixth time this year. I guess I will schedule my next leotard for 2022!

2018 Competitions: Zone competition

This year, my zone event was held a little differently. The location, format and scheduling were all changed since last year. We had two weeks more to prepare for the district event but I felt that it neither helped nor hindered improvement. The schedule for the day also changed. The open teams were first followed by the novice and intermediate teams. Previously, novice/intermediate teams preceded the novice/intermediate champion lady event, then the opens had teams and championships in the late afternoon. 

The format this year also changed and we performed to a front-facing audience. Fortunately, I had the chance to practise to an onlooking audience at the club competition. The experience for the audience was better this way and it was educational in the sense that onlookers could watch from judges’ perspectives. 

Medal with "curly" edges

After watching the open teams’ remarkable performances, the floors were reset with crosses on the ground for the novice and intermediate teams. Since there are marked spaces for the eight dancers in a team, novice teams weren’t able to creatively use other formations. Considering the amount of memory already needed for reconvening on our spots, I am glad to keep it simple. My team placed and I am very proud of everyone for achieving this feat. One of the ladies mentioned that awards at this level had 'curly' edges, it's been very special to our team. 

The individual competition affectionately known as "champion lady" ran from noon to night. By the time the novice/beginner ladies marshalled it was already early evening. No semi-finals for me this year but it was a tough section with 6 heats and over 80 competitors. My friends from my club achieved personal bests from competing in a team for the first time to qualifying for nationals in Sydney, well done! Popular leotard colours this year were red and fluoro orange. Next year I am moving up to the 'intermediate' category and it'll be my fourth year of physie.


Read an in-depth description of zone proceedings and recounts of the 2017 championships below:
2017 Zones Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Competitor's number

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 

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

Season's greetings

125 leotards form the quasquicentennial physie tree

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.