DRESS REHEARSAL AND CONCERT: The dress rehearsal will be held at the school theatre on Sunday 15th November. The dress rehearsal will be used primarily to set the lighting and stage markers. Costumes may be fitted at the rehearsal or at a separate costume fitting. Additional rehearsals (dates and venues TBC) may also be held to perfect dances.

The Christmas concert is a wonderful way to end the year and will be held at the school theatre on Sunday 6th December commencing at 2.00pm. The girls will perform their syllabus work as well as a number of additional dances. All costumes will be supplied by the Club, so no sewing! A DVD of the concert can be purchased for a small fee and will be available February 2016.

“fun, fitness and friendship”

Berwick Fields Physical Culture Club Jenni Bramham 9873 2459 (h) 9899 9414 (w) or 0409 556 615

jenni.bramham@gmail.com www.berwickfieldspcc.org

BERWICK

FIELDS

PHYSICAL CULTURE CLUB

“fun, fitness and friendship”

INFORMATION BOOKLET 2015

This booklet contains important information. Please keep it handy and refer to it throughout the year

INTRODUCTION: The Berwick Fields Physical Culture Club was formed in July 2006 and its motto is “fun, fitness and friendship”. Physical Culture (Physie) is a great way to keep fit through the fun of dance and is an activity girls can do all their life. Physie is a fusion of aerobic exercise and various dance styles such as jazz, ballet, hip hop and contemporary dance, all set to popular songs and music. Physie encourages the development of good posture, strength, flexibility, co-ordination, balance, rhythm and musical interpretation, whilst helping to improve confidence and self esteem. The syllabus takes about six months to learn, culminating in an end of year concert.

Marching Marching starts the series of routines, and in competitions, is an opportunity for judges to make initial selections. Judges would be looking for body control, strong, stretched legs and pointed toes.

Warm Up The Warm Up is a series of aerobic and dance movements, designed to warm up the muscles of the body.

Exercises Exercises are a strong and controlled routine. Elements are designed to show correct technique and physie positions and to demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance and co-ordination.

Breathing and Relaxed Breathing is a slower routine with movements being smooth. Relaxed contains a series of softer, ballet movements designed to show grace, expression and musical interpretation. Hands should be soft with the fingers separated as if playing the piano.

Floor Drill The Floor Drill is similar to the exercises and designed to demonstrate strength and flexibility with the majority of the movements performed lying, sitting and kneeling on the floor. The splits are included in the syllabus for children of all ages.

Dance The dance is a fun way to end the syllabus routines and demonstrates rhythm, the ability to execute dance movements as well as bringing out the personalities of the girls.

COMPETITIONS: Although competitions are not compulsory, they provide the opportunity for girls to work towards a goal, and assist in raising the standard of Physie across the Club as a whole. Participation in competitions is fun, particularly when it involves weekends away. Competitions also develop a sense of team spirit and good sportsmanship. Girls have the opportunity to compete in Champion Girl as well as in a team, which involves 8 girls per age group from the one Club working “in sync”.

An Interclub competition between the other Melbourne Clubs may be held mid year or we may attend one interstate (by invitation). These competitions are a good opportunity to gauge how the girls rank against girls from other Clubs and to confirm their strengths and weaknesses in preparation for the zone competitions.

The BJP Office assigns each Club to a zone where the girls can compete in both champion girl and team sections, and in 2013 a Victorian zone was established with the competitions held in metropolitan Melbourne for the first time. Girls up to the age of 14 compete at zone in champion girl (some age groups may be combined depending on registration numbers), with girls over 14 competing in Sydney, however again this may change depending on numbers across the zone.

Girls who are placed at zone then have the opportunity to compete in the nationals finals held in Sydney in November. Finalists not placed are eligible to compete at repechage, also held in Sydney, with place getters at repechage also eligible to compete at the national finals.

ALL girls are encouraged to compete in both the interclub and zone competitions.

“Excellence is found in doing YOUR best,

not in being THE best.”

CLUB UNIFORM: Correct grooming is an important aspect of Physical Culture. Girls are asked to come dressed in a leotard (no skirts) with hair tied back and pinned. A basic leotard from Target or Kmart is satisfactory or new/secondhand leotards can be purchased through the Club. Bike shorts/leggings with a singlet/T shirt may be worn, but must not be baggy/loose fitting. The rehearsal room has air conditioning and heating, making it comfortable in both the hot and cold weather. Work is performed in bare feet. A Club polo top and a tracksuit top can be purchased (optional).

For competitions a special BJP leotard (purchased from Sydney through the Club (or Danz Design directly) will be required. These are made to order and a try on session will be held in March. Further details will be given later in the year. CONDUCT OF CLASSES: Physie is based on a developmental syllabus and it will take up to two terms before the entire syllabus is taught. Classes will combine games, exercises and dances to assist with teaching the syllabus, correct technique and ways to stretch. Girls will be given a book containing important information and are asked to bring this to class each week Regular practice at home is essential to reinforce what was learnt in class each week.

You are welcome to stay and watch from the foyer but please keep noise levels to a minimum. Parents of new girls are invited to watch from inside the rehearsal room for the first few weeks. Occasionally classes will be held in the theatre.

In order to get the most out of each lesson, girls are asked to bring a drink and be ready to begin on time. Please discuss with your daughter the importance of concentrating throughout the duration of the class and trying hard each week.

ABOUT THE TEACHER: Jenni Bramham did classical ballet for 10 years as a child then took up Physical Culture in 1992, as her 3 daughters were also doing the sport. Jenni was an assistant teacher at the Vermont South Club from 1992 to 2007. Jenni has been successful at zone and interclub competitions and has placed first on a number of occasions. She greatly enjoys teaching and doing Physie, and seeing girls develop their dancing skills, grow in confidence, achieve their own goals and mature as young adults.

TERM DATES: Term dates are as follows (additional classes may be held during the school holidays depending on numbers):

Term 1 4th February - 25th March 8 weeks Term 2 15th April - 24th June 11 weeks Term 3 15th July - 16th September 10 weeks Term 4 7th October - 2nd December 9 weeks

Other important dates: Interclub Competition Late July/mid August (TBC) Zone Competition 17th & 18th October (TBC) Dress Rehearsal Sunday 15th November Concert Sunday 6th December Christmas Party Wednesday 9th December (TBC)

CLASS TIMES: Classes are held on Wednesdays in the rehearsal room of the Star Bright Theatre, Berwick Fields Primary School, corner Gwendoline Drive and Centre Road, Berwick. Please note that the age group is determined by your daughter’s age as at 31st August 2015. Class times are as follows:

5 – 8 Years 4:30pm - 5.30pm* 9 – 12 Years 5.30pm - 6.30pm* 13 - 16+ Years 6.30pm - 7.30pm* Ladies 7.30pm - 8.30pm*

*Note: Times may vary depending on enrolment numbers and prior to competitions (if classes need to be split) and the concert (if classes need to be combined).

Classes may be held at usual times during the school holidays depending on numbers available. Private lessons on the weekend are offered at NO CHARGE (subject to negotiation).

Girls are encouraged (where possible) to attend all lessons and to regularly practice at home to obtain the most out of each lesson. A BJP training DVD is available to purchase ($45.00 TBC) and orders need to be placed by the end of April for delivery at the end of May (payment required at the time of delivery).

TERM FEES: Term fees are based on $10.00 per week (payable per term) for the first girl/lady in the family and $8.00 per week for the second girl/lady in the family. All fees must be paid by the third lesson of each term. An invoice will be given at the beginning of each term and receipts will be issued for all payments. Direct deposit into the Club’s account is preferred. If paying by cheque please make payable to K Mitchell and J. Bramham. If paying by cash, please enclose the correct money in a named envelope. A small fee will also be charged for competition entry. Each girl/lady learning the syllabus is required to be registered with the Bjelke Petersen School of Physical Culture in Sydney under which the Club is auspiced. This $50.00 BJP registration fee is also payable with the Term 1 fees. If a third member of the family joins the Club, they will only be charged the $50.00 registration fee. In 2015 a insurance levy of $25.00 per girl/lady will be charged to offset the cost of public liability insurance the Club incurs (please discuss a payment plan if need be).

Term fees for 2015 will be as follows:

• Term 1 $80.00 8 weeks ($64.00 2nd family member) plus $50.00 BJP registration and $25.00 Insurance levy

• Term 2 $110.00 11 weeks ($88.00 2nd family member)

• Term 3 $100.00 10 weeks ($80.00 2nd family member)

• Term 4 $90.00 9 weeks ($72.00 2nd family member)

During the year there may be some fundraising activities, with money raised going towards medals, trophies and costumes. These may include a chocolate drive, a pie drive, handmade cards, shopping tour and a canteen and raffle at the concert.