Hotklub

Hotklub is a historical, women-only secret jump rope club that started in Queensland, Australia in 1905. The club started shortly after women were granted the right to vote in Queensland. Women were still not welcome in the male-dominated bars and clubs where most political debate took place. The community was not in favour of women meeting to discuss politics and so, certain women began to congregate in secret locations every full moon devising political ideas and strategy. It was not long before the women were found out and the community (men and women) mocked the ladies group with the titles such as 'fairy ladies'(lesbians) and galah (cockatoo/stupid). In order to cull the rumours and ridicule, the ladies began to meet under the guise of a jump rope club. These meetings began with heated political debate, but soon developed into drunken brawls where the women would drink, practise jump rope and then have blazing skipping face-offs between each other. The club was named Hotklub, because it would get extremely hot in the old warehouse venues.
In the 1920s had an underground status and the groups had spread to niche areas in cities in America and Europe. Fiery jump rope competitions were named after female anarchists and feminists:
The Emma Goldman Cup in America
The Rose Scott Cup in Australia
The De Pizan Shield in France

A Hotklub champion was given to women who not only won the competitions but also gave outstanding political contribution to outside interests.
In 1955 Helena Halasa (born 1939) won the title of champion in Krakow and was the only past champion to attend the recent Hotklub centenary in London in 2005.

Rebecca Closure wrote a song about the infamous club entitled 'Die Heisse Klub'.Closure also took part in and documented this centenary with a short film and music video entitled 'Hotklub'. The Anthemic chant of 'I am a women and I like it hot' was prevalent in the centenary which highlighted the determination and intensity of 100 years of Hotklub.
Plot summary
This short film documents the anniversary of a historical skipping club that started in Queensland Australia
In 1905, Women in Queensland, Australia got to vote. Banned from male only pubs and bars, certain women secretly met on the eve of every full moon to debate current politics, socialize and drink. Once their meetings were discovered by their community and subsequently ridiculed, the Women continued to meet, however, this time under the guise of a Jump Rope club. One hundred years later, the civilized centenary of this infamous club takes place on the eve of a full moon. However, events take a turn back to the old days, when a notorious guest arrives.
Format: DV
Year of Production: 2006
Running Time: 7 mins 13 secs
Director: Rebecca Closure
Producer: Rebecca Closure, Bernard Mordan
Principal Cast: Rebecca Closure, Helena Halasa
Hotklub Track by Rebecca Closure
Screenings
*
*Bang Films Festival 2007 Brasília

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