‘Let’s Get Physical’ theme for a day

Press, 20 January 1984, Page 21

‘Let’s Get Physical’ theme for a day

Huff Puff ’n’ Stuff Day this Sunday focuses attention on physical activity, bringing together a wide variety of exercise and fitness oriented activities that can be either watched and admired or joined in by spectators. As part of the Christchurch City Council’s Summer Times programe, Huff. Puff ’n’ Stuff Day is sponsored by the company that operates the Q.E. H Park Hydroslide and it coincides well with the have-a-go philosophy promoted by the slide.

A good deal of emphasis will be placed on dance for Huff Puff ’n’ Stuff Day and, as usual, people taking part are invited to dress up for the occasion. The organisers are asking people to wear a fun creative dancing costume that allows for ease of movement, and to pay particular attention to their feet.

Part of the fun will be to find the most creative feet at the park — feet dressed up in dancing shoes, painted feet, musical feet wearing bells and bangles or any other imaginative idea to make feet interesting. Huff Puff ’n’ Stuff Day starts at 11 o’clock on Sunday morning and continues until 4.30 in the afternoon with non-stop action all round the Summer Times stage in North Hagley Park. At 11.15 the prize-giving ceremony for the Summer Times Triathlon will take place, and Stu Buchanan’s Big Band will entertain with their special brand of jazz. The Moving Company, a well-known local dance

group, will show off some “physical” routines between 12.30 and 1 p.m., followed by Out of Order, a music group which will play between 1 and 2.

On the outdoor stage at 2 p.m. “break dancers” will demonstrate their unusual skills; and from 2.45 until 3.15 the dance group Alter Ego will perform. Meanwhile, in various parts of North Hagley Park, the Wizard and the Jester will be wandering among the crowd, looking for the most creative pair of feet and the most creative dance-wear, Natural Magic Children’s Theatre will be entertaining with songs and puppet shows; and the New Games Team will be demonstrating another family-involvement game, this one called ‘Touch.” Touch is, according to the organisers, a team game, played with a ball, that can be enjoyed by all age groups. Demonstrations during the afternoon have been arranged with many different sports and physical fitness groups and the public is invited to join in with most of them. A roller disco will be in progress at the tennis courts, with skates available for those without their own. Model boats will be sailing round Lake Victoria. Australian Rules football, trampolines, jazz exercise and land yachts will be demonstrated, and spectators invited to join in. The martial arts have not

been forgotten by the Huff Puff ’n’ Stuff organisers — judo displays, Okinawa Te karate and Tai Chi bring the mysteries of Eastern selfdefence to Hagley Park. For those feeling less aggressive, yoga techniques and exercises will also be demonstrated.

Horse riding and creative dance groups are bound to be popular and with so much active participation going on, the food and re-

freshment stalls will be even more welcome than usual.

At 4.30, to close what promises to be a hectic and extremely physical day, a period of “body rest and and silence” has been scheduled to demonstrate the techniques and benefits of meditation.

“Meditation with the trees and the water” sounds just the thing to finish off such an interesting programme.