Returning: Compass

ABC’s Compass returns for 2020 in early March with a look inside Physical Culture…. I haven’t quite worked out how this links into spirituality. I guess Dance is a religion for some!

Fun, upbeat music is the soundtrack to a sport that fuses dance styles such as jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, aerobic dance and yoga! The innovative choreography is designed for maximum variety and fun. The unique sport was brought to Australia by Danish immigrant Christian Bjelke-Peterson in 1892.

Recently celebrating 125 yrs, Physical Culture was used to train the WW1 troops, introduced into schools to become what we now know as PDHPE and is the precursor to our current gym culture!

Champion Girls dives deep into the wonderful world of Physie. As a ballet dancer, the director never knew what to make of this slightly unusual dancing activity. Until she ran into an old friend who at nearly 40, was fully entrenched in the Physie world. Apart from being impressed she was still dancing at the Sydney Opera House, she wondered what has held her in this world for so long? She knew a story was waiting to be uncovered.

A true intergenerational community of great strength and colour was found. Grandmothers, mothers and daughters of all ages coming together to learn the perfect combination of movements designed to increase strength, fitness and flexibility. The benefits are increased coordination, brain development, confidence and friendships for life!

It’s so much more than fake tan and big hair! This hardly known activity for girls and ladies has stood the test of time. With 10,000+ members across the globe, Champion Girls, explores cultural and personal significance of this unique and important cultural space.

Sunday 8 March at 6.30pm on ABC.