By TANIA PHILLIPS
THE Granite Belt Physie Club has been in existence since 2012 and is looking for new members.
Principal teacher Fiona Kelly has had a lifelong association with Physical Culture and the Granite Belt Club.
Teacher Trudy Campbell developed her love for physie when she brought her daughter along to join a class, later joining and competing herself.
Trudy is also studying Education which is a huge advantage when teaching a physie class.
Assistant teacher Sam Cox has also had a lifelong love for physie and went on to achieve a personal goal in 2015 of making it to the national finals.
The club has continued to grow from strength to strength developing young girls, teenagers and ladies passion for physie.
In 2015, the Granite Belt Physie Club had three teams gain a place at the national finals, with two winning their section and 15 members being selected from their zone competition. This is the largest amount of representatives the club has ever had.
Turning disappointment into determination, having fun and achieving your goals is impressive. Dancing on the national stage of a sport that you adore is a dream come true.
Jenna Sutcliffe and Sianna Green of the Granite Belt Physie Club managed to do exactly that in 2015, achieving their goals and placing third and fifth in the 12 Years sections and competing at the BJP Physie Junior National Championships.
Neither girl had made it this far before but slowly dancing there way closer and closer and working very hard over a number of years to final make it.
Physie certainly helps build confidence and resilience according to Fiona.
“There is something very exciting and rewarding about watching the girls and ladies set goals and strive for their own personal best,” Fiona said.
“To see a member achieve, whether it be the confidence to join in the team, enter their first competition or resilience to strive for a National Final, it is always a highlight. Physie is so much fun and empowering in that way. It develops young girls to be happy, healthy and confident. Physie is a sport for life.”
What is Physie or physical culture?
“A Physie class is based on ballet and modern dance, with floor and standing exercises included in a routine,” Fiona explains.
“Each week, the routine is refined and improved, with competitions held at the end of the year.
“You can start taking classes from about the age of three or four and progress through the junior ranks until they become seniors at 17.
“Many women who were involved in physie come back after a break, or having children, as they are attracted to the camaraderie and the fact that it’s such a well-rounded form of fitness. It’s a form of exercise that attracts a broad age range of participants.”
Fiona is excited that the syllabus of physie changes every year, with about six routines per week, set to the latest music.
“Knowing that you’ll get the variety each week is not only good for your mind, it’s also good for your body,” she said.
“If you would like to make it happen for you in 2016, your first trial class is free and classes are less than $8 per lesson.”
Lessons are held in both Stanthorpe and Tenterfield.
For more information contact Fiona for Tenterfield lessons 0488 006 233 or Kerry for Stanthorpe lessons (07) 4681 2411.
