Hidden Sydney: Shannon Dooley from Retrosweat’s Top Five Secret Spots
Here's where you find inspiration both retro and sweaty.
If you've noticed a shortage of high-cut, neon leotards around the vintage shops of Sydney of late, here's your answer: Retrosweat — an aerobic workout taking the music, moves and fashion of the '80s as its inspiration — has been rising up the ranks of the city's most popular niche exercise sessions, and its fans have been hogging the best lycra. Like something of an antidote to all that CrossFit, Retrosweat encourages laughter, levity, your flailing attempts at co-ordination and a fat-burning, bun-firming workout.
Founder Shannon Dooley studied at the Fitness Institute Australia but also NIDA (where she learnt from, among others, Baz Luhrmann's official choreographer, John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell), so she knows how to wield a bit of drama in her hour of power. Taking Jane Fonda as her spirit animal, she started Retrosweat three years ago in the rustic mirrored dance hall of Redfern PCYC, where the class still runs — only now it's bigger and twice weekly (Tuesdays and Thursdays). It also makes appearances around town at institutions such as Work-Shop and the Bondi Feast festival, where it includes a special cocktails-and-canapes post-sweat package.
We asked Dooley for her favourite places in Sydney that provide her with inspiration both retro and sweaty, and learnt about some surprising new spots. "I love theatrical places, places that let you feel like you're on a little holiday," she says. "Even if only for an hour!"
Waverley Cemetery
As morbid as this may seem, it's so beautiful to see the angels casting their shadows in the late afternoon, and the waves below crashing on the headland. It's so peaceful. I go there to get some perspective. I love the ocean and am pretty happy to stay living in Clovelly until the end of my days — for eternity if I can get a plot at the cemetery!
Yeah Hair Baby on Illawarra Road, Marrickville
Not enough people know that the greatest hairdresser in Sydney is Teri Richards. As the name suggests, the interior of her salon looks like a tangerine 1970s acid trip. You enter Yeah Hair Baby and just feel happy. She's an amazing colourist and boy does she cut a rad mullet!
Bus Stop Cafe on Clovelly Road, Randwick
I live at this cafe. The coffee is so good, so are the smoothies. I'm gluten intolerant and they are one of the gluten-free friendliest places in Sydney! Jose, Gus and the rest of the crew know every customer's name and it almost feels like you're in an episode of Cheers when you're in there. The same friendly faces are always in there having a laugh. It doesn't get much local than at the Bus Stop.
The Lord Dudley Pub, Paddington
I only found this place a month ago! I've lived in Sydney for ten years, that's how hidden it is. It's the cosiest place in winter, it feels like you are suddenly in England in the 1800s. There's a big fireplace, and the menu is all about simple comfort food — chicken pies, eton mess, steak frites. They have board games, too. You can really settle in here for hours. There's an elderly man who loves to sing Barbara Streisand songs at you if you're lucky enough to run into him at the bar. I love a good serenade.
The Seagull Room at the Bondi Pavilion
With its arched windows, it looks like a set from one of Jane Fonda's VHS workouts. I walk in the room and can feel the ghosts of freestyle aerobics past. There's nothing like walking into an empty space and just feeling the possibilities. This one is definitely magical. If I'm ever alone in there I just leap from wall to wall and corner to corner like a four year old.
Retrosweat is on at the Seagull Room during Bondi Feast on Saturday, July 11.
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