1. The document discusses preparations for the upcoming KFA National Festival in Birmingham in April 2016, including hotel booking information, rehearsal schedules for two teams from the North East region, and an order form for festival t-shirts. 2. It also provides updates on recent and upcoming events for youth groups, as well as notices about volunteer opportunities, teachers' training courses, and fundraising efforts for charities. 3. The North East region is making plans for various workshops, training sessions, and performances in the coming months.

1. 1
The Mover
North East Region
When a body moves, it’s the most
revealing thing. Dance for me a
minute, and I’ll tell you who you are
Mikhail Baryshnikov ~
2015 was an eventful year.
We welcomed new challenges, but
also it was a very difficult time for
some of us. Throughout, however,
the thread of keep fit and dance in
the company of good friends remains
strong – the rhythm of life.
Catherine
Inside this issue:
Youth Moves 2
Ladies Day Review 3
Southport Review 3
North East AGM 4/6
North East Teams 7
Noticeboard 8
Dates for Your Diary 14
Committee Contacts 14
National Festival 9/11
Branch News 12
Autumn/Winter 2015 /2016
National Championship Apparatus Team (2015)
(Second Place)
(City Dance) with Ribbon Tango
Producer: Lynne Casey
Music: “Santa María de Buenos Aires” by The Gotan Project
(Performing at Panorama,
following the Championships at Nottingham)
A challenging item using ribbons to full effect throughout.
Inspired by the movements of Argentine Tango dancers, the
sequence uses air and floor patterns and dynamics to a
modern tango music piece.
Dance Excellence
Volume 4, Issue 4 / Volume 5, Issue 1

2. 2
EXTRAVAGANZA (November 2015)
A fantastic night and a sell-out! We are delighted and very proud of our Youth Moves and Young Adults,
with new groups performing for the first time and the return of Judith’s Bamburgh team – it was a night
to remember! As usual, huge thanks to our chaperones and volunteers – we couldn’t do it without their
help.
PULSE – YOUTH DANCE ENGLAND (March 2016)
Hopefully, three teams will be able to perform in this event: Dance Electric (the new Youth Moves group
from North Lodge), Spectrum Dance, and the younger members of Northern Lights.
NATIONAL FESTIVAL (Birmigham, 30th
April 2016)
Youth Moves are looking forward to performing at the event next year. Janet will be organising a bag
pack in February to fund costumes. Christine and Amy have started rehearsals, and will organise a
coffee morning to help pay for their costumes. Travel and accommodation all in place.
NEW HORIZONS BUT STILL HOMEBIRDS
Photo of Lucy Batty member of Northern Lights Championships Team with
her grandmother Jean Scofield at Christine Chapman’s Dance Movement
and Exercise Class on 27th
August. Lucy’s mum is Sharon Batty also a
Chester le Street Branch KFA Teacher.
It was fantastic to see Lucy dancing and exercising alongside her
grandmother Jean at Christine’s class today.
Northern Lights have three team members who set off to University in
September. Stephanie Tones, Kate Ferguson and Lucy Batty – they will be
very much missed by everyone, but we look forward to them popping
back to class during holidays. Congratulations to all three for their
achievement and for securing their university places. We wish them Good
Luck in the future.

3. 3
On 18th
October we glammed up for
our Ladies Day at Ramside Hall.
Had a super day.
Thanks to Christine for organising it,
and to Natalie Durkin for the
entertainment
Superb weekend of dance and fun
activities.
Lin Mills and Jo Finnegan took a
variety of dance style sessions
(Greek, Latin, Ballroom, with a bit
of “foxy” and “cheeky” thrown
into the mix)
What a Fab-ul-ous time!
Not content with dance sessions
during the day, we had Strictly
Cabaret Fun in the evening!
Recreative Weekend
11th – 13th September
The Prince of Wales Hotel
Southport

4. 4
MMoovvee aalloonngg …… ttoo oouurr SSpprriinngg WWoorrkkoouuttss!!
Saturday 12th March 2016
Park View School (North Lodge),
Lombard Drive, Chester le Street DH3 4BB
Teachers: Sharon Batty, Lisa Clarke, Bernadette Rogers
Meet & Greet - 9.30am - 10am
First Session - 10am-10.45am
Second Session - 11am-11.45am
Break (tea/coffee & biscuits provided) – 11.45am - 12.15pm
Third Session 12.20pm – 1.05pm
AGM - 1.30pm-2.30pm
Displays - 2.30pm - 3.15pm
Afternoon Tea (provided) – 3.15pm
&
Tickets (will soon be available from your Branch Reps):
All Day Ticket (including Afternoon Tea) £8
Teachers Afternoon Session* (including Afternoon Tea) £4
* (For teachers attending morning training)
Afternoon Tea

5. 5
Volunteer of the Year
Show your appreciation and nominate that hardworking member!
Categories:
 Member
 Teacher
 Committee Member(atBranch/AreaorRegional Level)
Whoever receives the award for the Region will then be put forward for the National Award.
Please fill in the sections of the formon the opposite page, after first asking the permission of the person concerned, and send to
Marilyn by 16th February (marilynlaverick@yahoo.com). Please give as much detail as possible , giving clear examples –
this can make a huge difference - and check out the write-ups on the National Volunteer winners in the latest copy of “Moving
Together” to help you when you write the nominations.
Would you like to help out on the Regional Executive Committee?
We are currently looking volunteers to shadow current Officers with a view to possibly taking those roles
on themselves when the incumbents step down.
- Chair
- Vice-Chair
- Secretary
If you would like to know more about what the role entails, please get in touch with either Lynne, Christine
or Marilyn (contact details on back page of Newsletter) as soon as you can. “Shadowing” is a great way to
learn the ropes and provides an opportunity to get to know the Committee in advance of taking on any role.
Thank you.

6. 6

7. 7
North East Team Rehearsals: Dates, Times and Venues
The Producers for the North East Teams 2016 will be as follows:
Young Adults – Nicola Pilmoor Fitness Freestyle – Clare Iley-Christie and Amy Holden
Movement – Lynne Casey Mature Moves – Sheila Robson
Skipping – Linda Killip and Sandra Carter
Fitness Freestyle: (Day: Friday, Time: 7pm-9pm)
Feb 5th, 19th, March 4th, 18th, April 1st, 8th, 22nd, May 6th
Venue: Park View School (North Lodge), Lombard Drive, Chester Le Street DH3 4BB
Mature Moves: (Day: Saturday, Time: 1pm-3pm)
Feb 6th, 20th, March 5th, 19th, April 2nd, 9th, 23rd, May 7th
Venue: Park View School (North Lodge), Lombard Drive, Chester Le Street DH3 4BB
Movement: (Day: Saturday, Time: 2pm-4pm) (Note change of venue for first rehearsal only)
Jan 23rd
Venue: Park View School (North Lodge), Lombard Drive, Chester Le Street DH3 4BB
All remaining rehearsals (Feb 6th, 20th, March 19th, April 2nd, 9th, 23rd, May 7th
) will be held at usual
Venue: Laurel Avenue, The Woodlands, Durham DH1 2EY
Skipping: (Day: Sunday, Time: 10am-12noon)
Feb 7th, 21st, March 6th, 13th, April 3rd, 10th, 24th, May 8th.
Venue: Belmont Community Centre, Gilesgate Moor, Durham, County Durham DH1 2LL
If you would like to join Nicola’s Young Adults team, please contact her on:
Tel. 07890242055 Email: thepilmoors@yahoo.co.uk
Please Note: The age range of the Young Adults Team is 16yrs to 25 years, and participants are
welcome from all over the North East Region.
Panorama: Saturday 14th
May
North East Team Member Criteria
Participating in a North East Team provides an opportunity to extend your skills and improve your
personal performance, so please come along and join a team. However, if you would like to join a team,
you are strongly recommended to participate in the corresponding Workshop for your benefit and that of
the Producer.
Aim
To be a member of a team with a high standard of performance for displays, demonstrations and
promotions.
Learning Outcomes
Improve personal performance, encourage physical confidence, develop more knowledge and
understanding of the activity, develop group social awareness
Membership
All participants must be members of the EMDP (North East Keep Fit Association)
8 rehearsals February 2015 to May 2015
Attendance: Members are required to attend every session.
£4.00 per two hour session
Producers will have registration forms for first rehearsal. Team members will either pay £32 at first
rehearsal or opt to pay £16 at 1st rehearsal and remaining £16 at 5th rehearsal.
NB. The one-off Panorama performer registration fee of £4 (payable via the Branch/Branch Team
except in the case of NE Mature Movers) remains.
Panorama
 A member must perform in their own Branch item.
 A member may perform in up to a maximum of two extra items of their choice (e.g. Associate /
National Festival / NE Teams,) making a total of three items. (Competition teams to be reviewed
separately.)
 Mature Moves – subject to their Branches approval - for medical reasons, members may be
allowed to perform in the Mature Moves team without performing in their own branch item.
North East Region

8. 8
Interested in Becoming a KFA Teacher?
The North East are intending to run a new teachers course
commencing autumn 2016, and are currently seeking expressions
of interest. The course will take a new, shorter format in
accordance with changes to our training. We are still in the very
early planning stages. If you would like your name to be added to
the waiting list we will send you more information as it becomes
available.
Please pass your details to Ruth McGrath, at mcgrath2@sky.com
***************************
KFA National Charity (Eve Appeal):
Please send any funds raised to Nicola, and she will forward to National.
Cheque will be presented to Charity at National Festival on 30th
April.
***************************
KFA “100 CLUB” January – December 2016
The North East Executive had hoped to run a new regional
“100 Club” in 2016.
Unfortunately, not enough people have joined the scheme for it
to be viable this year.
However, we will try again to get it off the ground for 2017. We will contact those people who
have paid into the scheme already, and refund them.
The “100 Club” is so called because the intention is that there should be at least 100 members each
paying a subscription of £12.00 per annum, which will entitle them to participate in a monthly draw for
cash prizes. The scheme would also help us raise funds for KFA North East. If you would like more info
you can contact Ann Bayley on tel. 01642 815562 Email: ann@thebayleys.com
North East Region

9. 9
Hotel Agreements
Hilton Garden Inn
1 Brunswick Square
Brindley Place
Birmingham
B1 2HW
Tel: 0121 6431003
Twin room @ £89 B & B (all rooms have fridge)
Single occupancy @ £79 B & B
Group Code: KFA Moves
Any rooms not taken up 35 days before the event will be released back into system
Jurys Inn
245 Broad Street
Birmingham
B1 2HQ
Tel: 0121 606 9000 – can’t be booked online
Twin room @ £87 B & B (2 double beds in each room but will only allow 3 per room)
Single occupancy @ £77 B & B
Group Code: THEKEE290416
Any rooms not taken up 6 weeks before event will be released back into system
Hampton by Hilton
200 Broad Street
Birmingham
B15 1SU
Tel: 0121 3297450
Twin room @ £79 B & B per room )1 night 29.04.16
Triple room @ £89 B & B (Queen bed with Sofa bed) )
Twin room @ £ 95 B & B per room )1 night 30.04.16
Triple room @ £ 105 B & B per room (Queen bed with Sofa bed) )
or
Twin room @£85 B & B per room ) book both nights
Triple room @ £99 B & B per room(Queen bed with Sofa bed) )
No mention of single occupancy rate
Group Code: KF1
Any rooms not taken up 28 days before event will be released back into system. Rooms cancelled less
than 7 days prior to event will be charged at full rate.
All hotels charge for car parking approx. £12 – £14 per day
KFAMoves National Festival – 30th
April 2016 – Birmingham Symphony Hall
There is a £3 transaction fee for tickets to the event, regardless of the number booked. 1,100 tickets will be on
sale. In 2014, 979 tickets were sold.
The codes for the hotels that are offering discounts for KFA bookings are on the attached list, which Producers
should have.
The link for Birmingham Symphony Hall is:
https://tickets.thsh.co.uk/event/kfa-presents-elements-of-dance/book/7157

10. 10
National Festival (Teams from North East)
Denise Durkin and Nicola Pilmoor will be producers for two teams.
Both teams will be rehearsing at the same venue, at the same time, but in different rooms (apart
from one date in March – see below).
Rehearsal Venue:
Please note. There are two Park View School Sites. These rehearsals are at Park View School
(North Lodge site), Lombard Drive, Chester Le Street DH3 4BB
All rehearsals: (12.30pm-2.30pm)
Sunday 31st January
Sunday 7th February
Sunday 21st February
Sunday 6th March
Sunday 13th
March (Denise) / Sunday 20th March (Nicola)
Sunday 3rd April
Sunday 10th April
Sunday 24th April
Sunday 30th April - National Festival, Birmingham
(Please note, there will be a charge of £2 per person per rehearsal owing to increasing costs)
Message from Nicola:
Happy New Year to you all!
Some of you may be aware that I am lucky enough to be producing one of this year’s National Festival
teams. The item will be a contemporary piece to 'Bearing the Cross' by John Debney. I am aiming for
choreography that is appropriate for all ages and abilities.
I would love to see some of you in the team. If you're interested please drop me an email or come along to
the first rehearsal 31st January at Park View School in Chester-le-Street. I will be treating this as a taster
session so if after this rehearsal it's not for you then you could withdraw.
Hope to see you soon!
Nicola x
Tel. 07890242055 Email: thepilmoors@yahoo.co.uk
Message from Denise:
Hi
Just a note to let you know that I am producing one of the National Festival items in April, and I would
love to hear from anyone who is interested in being part of the team.
The theme of National Festival this time is "Earth, Wind, Fire and Water", and I have chosen
the instrumental version of "Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas. The aim is to work with scarves of
varying shades to represent the Autumn Leaves.
If you are interested in being in the National Festival Team could you please let me know a.s.a.p. This
will give me and idea of numbers so I can start working on the choreography.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Denise Durkin, Tel. 07894040670

11. 11
Short Sleeved Strap Top
Size Number
req’d
Total Size Number
req’d
Total
Small Small
Medium Medium
Large Large
X-large X-large
XX-Large XX-Large
Order Total:
__________ Short sleeved @ £10 Sub Total: ____________________
__________ Strap Top @ £8 Sub Total: ____________________
P&P: *____________________
Cheque no: _______________ (payable to KFA Ltd) Total: ____________________
Name: _____________________________
Address: ___________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Post code: __________________________
Return to:
Marilyn Laverick
4 Norton Close
Waldridge Park
Chester le Street
Co. Durham
DH2 3JF
KFA National Festival 2016
‘Move to the Rhythm’ – ‘Elements of Dance’
T-Shirt / Strap Top Order Form
*Postage and Packaging
QUANTITY
1 - £1.50
2-5 - £3.00
6-10 - £5.50
11+ - £8.50

12. 12
CHESTER-LE-STREET BRANCH 21st
ANNIVERSARY
On Friday 25th
September, the Chester-le-Street Branch of the Keep-Fit Association celebrated with a
‘Coming of Age’ Party (21 years since the Branch was formed) in the Castle View Function Room at
Durham County Cricket Ground.
On the occasion of our 21st
Anniversary, I
gave a little history of our beginnings, and
we presented Christine with a lovely glass
plaque from the Branch (engraved with her
name and the name of the Branch), and
Barbara presented her with a bouquet of
flowers. We all had a lovely meal and
finished the evening off with some
dancing.
Here’s some of my speech:
“How did it all begin? A meeting to discuss the
proposed Chester-le-Street Branch was held on
Thursday 24th
February 1994 at the Abbey
Sports Centre. Twenty people were present,
including Joan Goodwin as a representative
from Sunderland Branch. The Chairperson was
Christine Chapman and the Treasurer Barbara
Waltham. Joan Goodwin to attend meetings for
six months until our Branch became official and
Barbara to sit on the Sunderland Committee
during this time. A bank account was opened in
the name of Chester-le-Street Task Force but
all membership fees for that year to be paid to
Sunderland Branch. Original Task Force
members here tonight include Christine
Chapman, Barbara Waltham, Jessie Fleming,
Janet Balfour, Kate Ireland and Frances Jones.
Chester le Street

13. 13
“Even before we had our own Branch, Christine made a name for
herself by entering her own team ‘Fitness Unlimited’ into the very first
KFA Championships way back in 1990. I was privileged to be a
member of that team and so was Barbara Waltham, as was Christine
herself. Janet Balfour and Frances Jones were reserves but went on
to join the Team in future years. Fitness Unlimited went on to win the
North East Heats in Gateshead and then also the Regional Heats in
Derby. We performed at the Gateshead Flower Festival, the
Birmingham NEI and many other venues.
“Who would have thought that 21 years later we would still be going
strong and are actually the biggest Branch at the moment in the North
East and we also have a thriving Youth Moves Section. Every member
in our Branch is equally important, and I would like to thank every
Branch member and our Committee. But we wouldn’t be here if it
wasn’t for one person – Christine Chapman. Without her enthusiasm
and dedication to the Branch and all her classes, we wouldn’t be here
tonight. So as a thank-you for all her hard work, the Branch would like
to present her with a small token of our appreciation and a lasting
memento of the Branch.”
Jessie Fleming
Membership Secretary
Chester-le-Street Branch KFA
jessie.fleming@newdur.ac.uk
In Memory
Veronica Ridsdale
Veronica lost her brave battle will illness on 17th
September 2015. She had just celebrated her 80th
birthday in July. She had been a KFA teacher for 40
years, and had enriched the lives of so many people
who had attended all her many classes. She was an
inspiration and driving force for dance, exercise and
health in Darlington and the North East, and also
organised many fundraising activities for numerous
charities. In 2011, she received KFAMoves North
East Volunteer Award. (Catherine and Janet would
like to thank everyone for the flowers, cards and kind
donations – over £300 for Macmillan and over £300
for Cancer Research).

14. 14
President / Member
Liaison (RMLO)
Ann Bayley
Tel: 01642 815562
Email: ann@thebayleys.com
Vice-President
Joan Holmes
Tel: 0191 4422184
Email:
janicemcandrew06@aol.com
Equity
Sylvia Hocking
Tel: 01207 520580
Email: jandshocking@aol.com
Membership
Judith Cossavella
Tel: 01642 535307
Email: jucoss@ntlworld.com
Chair
Lynne Casey
Tel: 0191 5202422
Email: lynne.casey@btinternet.com
Treasurer
Nicola Pilmoor
Tel: 07890242055
Email: thepilmoors@yahoo.co.uk
Events
Christine Chapman
Tel: 0191 3884205
Email:
christinechapman4@btinternet.com
Youth Moves
Janet Balfour
Tel: 0191 3890544
Email: janetbalfour@hotmail.com
Secretary
Marilyn Laverick
Tel: 0191 3888125
Email: marilynlaverick@yahoo.com
Minutes Secretary
Carol Yeomans
Tel: 01207 232780
Email:
carolyeomans1@btinternet.com
Publicity
Catherine Gilsenan
Tel: 01325 332572
Email:
catherine.gilsenan@yahoo.com
Training
Faye Doorbar
Tel: 01748 449191
Email: doorbar@swaledale.org
2016
KFA Moves North East Region AGM
Saturday 12th March (Chester le Street)
KFA National Festival (Birmingham Symphony Hall)
Saturday 30th April
KFA Moves North East Region Panorama of Movement and Dance
Saturday 14th May (Dolphin Centre, Darlington)
KFA Moves North East Regional Rally
Saturday 18th June (venue to be confirmed)
KFA Moves North East Regional Rally
Saturday 2nd October (venue to be confirmed)
(For further details of these and other events visit www.keepfit.org.uk)
KFA Dates for Your Diary
Your Contacts on the Regional Committee
Got any news or events to publicise?
You can send me content for this quarterly newsletter at any time!
Email to: catherine.gilsenan@yahoo.com