Latest / The BJ Show / From Ballet to Boot Scoot: One Hour That Will Change Your Week

Transcript

From Ballet to Boot Scoot: One Hour That Will Change Your Week · The BJ Show

• 0:13
  Speaker 1: Hello, welcome to here at the Blackwood Community Centre.
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: Thank you to the Michigan Council and today's guest.
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: We have got amazing persons.
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: I love fitness and I will eventually try and do it, but today we are not going to be able to have two jurors of these two who have been doing fitness on a Monday program.
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: So let's welcome our guest, susie Welcome.
• 0:39
  Speaker 2: Hello there, nice to be here and thank you for having me along.
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: No worries.
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: So we've got a few questions to share today.
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: So the first thing is can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: Certainly, I don't take much notice of age, it's just a number for me.
• 0:57
  Speaker 2: So I'll be turning 80 in a couple of weeks' time and we're still going strong.
• 1:04
  Speaker 2: And when I say we, I'm talking about my son, russ, who is my.
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: I call him my two.
• 1:09
  Speaker 2: I see he's uh, he's always been there.
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: He's always been there for me when I've been teaching and running dance schools and doing shows, whether that's big productions or working for well, a lot of the other areas that require support and in the community and being on call for those people.
• 1:34
  Speaker 2: So to brighten up their day, to help them get fit and, most importantly, to have some fun.
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: So Russ and I run the fun and fitness program at the Blackwood Community Centre, tiwukamanga, and just love it.
• 1:52
  Speaker 2: We started with 20 people.
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: I was asked if that would be okay to work in a teaching position for a small group, but I can't turn anyone away and I won't.
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: So we've got about I don't know 40 or 50 people turning up every Monday and we have a heap of fun and I'm getting to mix and meet with these wonderful people from around the Blackwood area.
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: So I wanted to put together a program that everybody would like and if you look at the genres of dance.
• 2:29
  Speaker 2: People are very specific.
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: Some people would want to do ballroom dancing, some people tap dancing, tai chi, ballet, drum fit.
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: There are so many genres out there so to be able to put it right across the board, I've combined the whole lot so in one hour.
• 2:47
  Speaker 2: Every Monday we do seven at least 10 minute sessions of different things.
• 2:53
  Speaker 2: So it's the feel that if you aren't keen, say on ballet or drum fit, if you wait 10 minutes, the program changes.
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: So I get good feedback from the group.
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: They tell me what they want to keep and what they want to promote and that way we're turning out product that everybody ends up with a smile on their face.
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: So we usually kick it off.
• 3:19
  Speaker 2: Russ helps me with all the music, the setup.
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: He's my support.
• 3:24
  Speaker 2: I bounce stuff off him and we work together at home doing the choreography and getting a good plan so that everybody's happy.
• 3:31
  Speaker 2: And we'll usually start with drum fit and, being a low impact program, it's suitable for any age group.
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: So we have people in their 30s, people in their 90s and they are pretty good at knowing what they can and can't attempt and we're here to help them develop their balance, their confidence and, most importantly, to have an enjoyable hour with a whole pile of like-minded people.
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: Russ and I just love doing this.
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: We've been going for a year and I don't know I'll just keep going, I think.
• 4:10
  Speaker 2: So we've got drum fit and if you've ever tried it, it's the most amazing exercise.
• 4:17
  Speaker 2: So drumsticks are given out, everyone's got a drum and we do sort of choreography to tighten up the brain a bit, so trying to remember what move comes after each one.
• 4:29
  Speaker 2: Then I put in ballet, because the community centre has the most amazing deck outside with a classical ballet bar that runs.
• 4:40
  Speaker 2: I can fit 60 or 70 people on those bars and being out in the sunshine and doing very minimal work but strengthening work with ballet as the theme and the music, it's a joy, and to see everybody getting stronger is it blows me away, to be perfectly honest, to see how far people have come in a year While they're having fun, they're getting fit and a lot of laughter.
• 5:08
  Speaker 2: So tap dancing I am a tap dancer as well and that's one of my passions.
• 5:14
  Speaker 2: So we do some tap routines or tap exercises using different music.
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: Typically it's piano music for tap dancing.
• 5:25
  Speaker 2: So we'll stick with Mrs Mills and for ballet.
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: Well, the world's my oyster.
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: I would just finish the piece with using the nutcracker.
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: And currently we're doing some balance and strength exercises with Leopold de Wenzel, monte Cristo.
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: With Leopold de Wenzel, monte Cristo, beautiful music, beautiful stretches and balance-based work, theraband we'll get outside with those, and so that's resistance work, all gentle, all within your own area of care, and people are practising at home.
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: I certainly don't expect that, but just turn up for an hour and have some fun is what we're really looking for.
• 6:13
  Speaker 2: So we get around doing choices of music which brings us to.
• 6:19
  Speaker 2: We just finished doing YMCA, which I turned into sort of a Charleston idea, and lots of fun using pom-poms and New York, new York hula work, barbarian club swinging waltzes, and we're doing.
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: Everyone's turned up bringing hats and wearing boots, so we're doing boot scoot and boogie and with a few yeehaws in there, but it's terrific exercise and great cardiac work, finishing off to slow down.
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: We do a lot of tai chi and yoga and bring a mat if you're coming.
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: So our class is every Monday between starting at 11 and bring a mat, just for the final 10 minutes.
• 7:07
  Speaker 2: We'll do some yoga, stretching and everything.
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: I will certainly be catering for your needs and keeping it in a safe exercise environment.
• 7:18
  Speaker 2: We've also had a thrill Dee Nolan a thrill, dee Nolan.
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: I met her a couple of months ago and she's been studying Qigong, which is about very slow, low impact movement and breathing and about the beauty of nature.
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: We can work outside doing it.
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: We can practice on our own or with a group, and everyone's embraced it, so thrilled that Dee started her own group, which is going to run on Thursdays at 11 o'clock for half an hour.
• 7:54
  Speaker 2: So if you're into Qigong or if you want to try it, come along to our group on Mondays and you'll have 10 minutes doing Qigong and see whether it's your scene and if it is, then you've got a wonderful group getting together on Thursdays here in Blackwood at the centre upstairs, and you'll have that to enjoy as well.
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: And to make it, the team here are incredible.
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: The Blackwood, the Midtjam Council runs staff here that embrace what we do, support me incredibly and, as if they don't do enough, they give us a free lunch at the end of the session.
• 8:38
  Speaker 2: So when we finish at 12, you can sit down with your mates, meet some new people and have a bite to eat and a coffee and a good chat.
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: So loads to do, no cost and you are so welcome, and I'll guide you through the program, with changes every couple of weeks.
• 8:58
  Speaker 2: So what are you thinking, ben?
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: Yeah, that's quite inspiring and and you know you spoke about that program already by a bit more detail and all that.
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: So what do you enjoy about running program at the community?
• 9:16
  Speaker 2: center.
• 9:17
  Speaker 2: What a good question.
• 9:18
  Speaker 2: I've talked at great length to the family, to my family, who I adore.
• 9:23
  Speaker 2: I have two children and I'm firstly a mother, I'm secondly a nurse and thirdly I'm a dance teacher.
• 9:30
  Speaker 2: I want to give back and it's a perfect time for me.
• 9:34
  Speaker 2: I've just retired from nursing and I can't stop dancing and joining a gym with the rest of the family.
• 9:42
  Speaker 2: I'm very much into fitness.
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: My background in physiology has served me well.
• 9:50
  Speaker 2: I nursed for about 40 years, so I'm really passionate about exercise and longevity and having a good, strong body at any age, and so it's definitely time for me to give back and this is just perfect.
• 10:09
  Speaker 2: I get to meet you all and share your good and bad times.
• 10:14
  Speaker 2: I am here to guide you and have in the process of having fun, of strengthening your body in a safe and perfect environment.
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: Couldn't be better Thrilled with the facilities we've got.
• 10:30
  Speaker 2: We've got the function centre and that beautiful deck and the bar and yes, I've just over the moon.
• 10:36
  Speaker 2: I didn't realise how much by giving something to the community, how much Russ and I get back.
• 10:44
  Speaker 2: We go home with smiles on our faces and can't wait to spend the following week, choreography being the paramount thing be able to work with different genres and for you to have fun.
• 10:58
  Speaker 2: So yeah, I'm a happy girl.
• 11:00
  Speaker 1: Yes.
• 11:00
  Speaker 1: So I used to do hip-hop and and pom, so you know, not not cheerleading a different version of that.
• 11:09
  Speaker 1: So I learned about like, lots of like jazz.
• 11:12
  Speaker 1: You gotta wear jazz shoes for dance and not with central.
• 11:17
  Speaker 1: Talent was the first dance school.
• 11:19
  Speaker 1: I was eight years of hip-hop and then all abilities is kind of special Olympics.
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: So I've been told you have to wear a jazz suit, wear runners.
• 11:28
  Speaker 1: So I was like, okay.
• 11:30
  Speaker 1: So there was a dance shop close to where training was.
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: So I didn't realize, dance school you get a discount from dance school.
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: I had no idea.
• 11:39
  Speaker 1: So a dance coach said oh yeah, I meant to tell you that.
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: So I was like they fit, fit me.
• 11:44
  Speaker 1: I haven't worn them for a while.
• 11:46
  Speaker 1: I do miss dancing.
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: So I did zumba, yes, and I love zumba and the person who runs it does it like in a mannequin center on a tuesday night and it was like flying floorboards.
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: So she told me can I wear my jazz shoes as a?
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: And her advice no, because the way of getting how the floor she can wear them.
• 12:07
  Speaker 1: But carpet and long floors are too material for a jazz shoe.
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: So it tells me that I want to wear them because you know zumba is a mother dance.
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: You know so much, but I, I miss dancing.
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: I love it.
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: You know something like my goodness great to learn to tap, but it's in Ballerina, all that.
• 12:28
  Speaker 1: So it's called pollination.
• 12:30
  Speaker 2: I'm going to have to get you into the group.
• 12:32
  Speaker 2: Then We've got, I've ordered some absolutely fabulous trilby hats for everyone.
• 12:38
  Speaker 2: They're covered in sequins I'm a mad sparkle girl and canes.
• 12:43
  Speaker 2: So top hat, hat and cane really traditional in tap routines.
• 12:48
  Speaker 2: So, yep, come along, ben, and we'll do some tapping together.
• 12:54
  Speaker 2: But we're not wearing tap shoes, we're wearing runners.
• 12:56
  Speaker 2: Runners because and we manage equally well, it's just because it's so much in the program.
• 13:03
  Speaker 2: Well, tap.
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: No, I never wear tap.
• 13:06
  Speaker 1: I never worn tap shoes, so I don't know how my feet will be.
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: Like A few more questions for today.
• 13:13
  Speaker 2: I've got to put in about pageant, the Blackwood pageant.
• 13:17
  Speaker 2: We did it last year.
• 13:18
  Speaker 2: We had 15 people and we dressed in the Christmas spirit and we danced our way down through Blackwood and had too much fun.
• 13:28
  Speaker 2: It was fabulous.
• 13:30
  Speaker 2: So this year we're going to go all out.
• 13:33
  Speaker 2: We've had our first go and now we're going to.
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: I think the pageant is possibly going to be on the 5th or something like that of December and I'm hoping to have maybe 20, 30 people.
• 13:47
  Speaker 2: Whether they want to dance or not, they can still be part of the pageant and, yeah, be part of fun and fitness.
• 13:55
  Speaker 1: Yes, be great, I'll be 100% because Good on you and I enjoyed it and I was in part of another one that I haven't got in a while.
• 14:03
  Speaker 1: Yep, it's actually fantastic, and it's grown so much.
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: A new gym is now going into there any time Yep, fantastic, for you know generally a gym going in there, but finish up with you know what's okay, what is your favourite routine or favourite part of running fun and fitness.
• 14:25
  Speaker 2: Oh, because I just love so many different forms of that.
• 14:29
  Speaker 2: But just currently we're doing boot, scoot and boogie and when I see everybody sort of get a feel for the routine, none of them are hard and there's just so much enjoyable time spent learning just a few steps, nothing too hard.
• 14:46
  Speaker 2: But to see that, to look out over my class and to see everybody laughing and having fun and moving in time.
• 14:56
  Speaker 2: People say that they are not dancers.
• 14:59
  Speaker 2: I just can't see it.
• 15:00
  Speaker 2: Everybody, whether it's ballet or drum fit or theraband or routines, new York, new York routines, new york, new york, waltzing, tai chi, uh qigong, they just embrace it and it's an absolute joy for me, absolute joy, and for them too.
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: So, yes plus, it's not here, unfortunately being yeah.
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: So you know you spoke about your son and we'll share one of the questions for today.
• 15:33
  Speaker 1: So, if you can, how much you know how amazing is what's meant to you in, you know, being your son and helping you behind the scenes?
• 15:45
  Speaker 1: How much do you enjoy spending time with your son doing employment?
• 15:50
  Speaker 2: Oh, there aren't words for this one.
• 15:51
  Speaker 2: It's beyond belief.
• 15:54
  Speaker 2: And I think when I was here and I was approached by council to would I like to take this on and assist, and I said, look, let me sleep on it.
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: And I went home and told Russ and he laughed and gave me a hug and said come on, old girl, one more time.
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: So we've got our feet back on the boards and the music turned up and he's just yeah, what would I do without my boy?
• 16:23
  Speaker 2: It's great.
• 16:24
  Speaker 1: Yes, and not a lot of.
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: You know a lot of in general to do a mum and son activity.
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: You know to lot of in general to do a mum and son activity like you know, to show mum and son, Absolutely yes, I think that reminds me of that.
• 16:38
  Speaker 1: But you don't have, you know, and you don't have a son named Robbie.
• 16:41
  Speaker 1: You always keep forgetting my favourite, even though I was born in the 90s mum and son, you can't go wrong in the 80s version of it.
• 16:50
  Speaker 1: Yeah, because Robbie always forgets that.
• 16:53
  Speaker 1: You know, he's always been the number one one, and then, vice versa, zaba has to look after him.
• 16:59
  Speaker 1: But you know, classic like a show.
• 17:01
  Speaker 1: But you always put a show on and I'll see you warming up.
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: He's like I know that song, I know my own music, even that I'm born from the 90s era.
• 17:12
  Speaker 1: I know.
• 17:14
  Speaker 2: Zotnokka, I know ABBA Right because we use a lot of ABBA and John Farnham and Dizzle.
• 17:20
  Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right.
• 17:22
  Speaker 2: You just name it, george Michael.
• 17:29
  Speaker 2: We're thrashing a present Corner Sisters and then we go old style.
• 17:32
  Speaker 2: So, andre Gagnon, I more into the classical musics and I certainly enjoy Biggie with her piano for stretching and yoga at the end Lovely.
• 17:42
  Speaker 1: Anyway, that is all for today.
• 17:45
  Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Susie, for your time on a very busy schedule, but thank you so much for your time today.
• 17:55
  Speaker 2: Absolute pleasure, Ben Absolute.
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: Thank you.
• 17:58
  Speaker 1: That's our guest, susie, and thank you once again Blackwood Community Centre for your support and the Mitchell Council as well.
• 18:07
  Speaker 1: Catch you all later.
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: Bk shows out.
• 18:09
  Speaker 1: Bye for now.