Dancing for Physical & Mental Health

Dancercise allows us to dance without inhibition, without needing to perfect “the steps”, which means you can jump in from Day 1 and achieve a satisfying workout. You are encouraged to listen to your body, and feel free to express what really makes you unique! Such a challenge is made easier with the hand-picked, eclectic playlist which gets energy and co-ordination flowing. Choreography is easy to follow and provides a dynamic full body workout whether you choose a low or high impact level. The class has two main aims:

1) Improving our functional performance in the real world. The first step is to actively strengthen and stabilise the body with appropriate engagement of the core (more on this in class!). From here we develop control, balance, rhythm, flexibility and range of motion. Teaching techniques are clear and consistent, encouraging a mindful approach, so that our innate physical/emotional intelligence (awareness of how we move, feel and think) is continually building strength from the inside-out.

2) The class also seeks to significantly improve mental health and well-being. As well as the lovely endorphin rush you will experience, with time you will build confidence, learn to stand up for yourself and step into the world with great posture and an irrepressible smile! For those who have come to my classes a bag of nerves, frustrated at their lack of co-ordination, they have learned that it is a motor skill (which we can easily practise and improve), and is often down to self-confidence. When spurred on in the right environment, your dancing will soon express itself! When someone has faith in us, and we find ourselves a place to feel the music and to just get moving, we begin to trust our natural ability to dance about. Everyone welcome.

Enquiries to Dawn: aerobicagogo@gmail.com

Welcome to Ellisa and Nigel who have proudly re-opened our village store and who provide a great range of goods and services

On Tuesday 29^th September, Ebchester WI hosted its annual group meeting at Ebchester Community Centre.

Our Chairman, Leonie Ducker, gave a warm welcome to chairmen, secretaries and members of Castleside, Consett, Edmundbyers, Lanchester and Satley Women’s Institutes.

The evening began with a rendition of ‘Jerusalem’ by 60 Women’s Institute members.

Reports from each Institute were read and accepted.

The guest speaker for the evening was Louise Gidney who creates replica costumes of peasants. These costumes are often worn at medieval enactments at various historic settings around the region.

Sue Gibson, our Secretary, together with committee members Carole Edwards and Pat Storey modelled outfits portraying the working population from Roman times through to 1066. The garments were very warm and versatile but were a little itchy. The demonstration was very entertaining as well as educational.

The subject for the competition this year was a jar of homemade Raspberry Jam. The winner was Flora from Edmundbyers WI. The judge was Joyce Hutchinson, a retired Domestic Science teacher and long-standing member of Ebchester WI, who said ‘’the jam had a very good set’’.

During the Raffle draw which followed most groups were fortunate enough to take a share of the seven prizes. Guests then tucked into a pooled supper which was provided by Ebchester members.

Once replete, members were entertained by ‘Best of Fettle’, who created a ‘nice and easy’ atmosphere with local stories and songs from Tyneside. Everyone joined in the singing and a number of members acted out The Lambton Worm. The bold Sir John (Carole Edwards) won through and slayed the Worm.

The very exciting evening came to a finale with a rendition of ‘The Queen’.

Carole Edwards
Ebchester WI
30^th September 2015

Well, despite some last-minute nerves about the level of interest, the show went on, and what a show it was! 19 acts, ranging in age from 8 up to 175, showed us what they were made of – we had singers, bands, dancers, gymnasts, comics, cornet  players and a poet, all taking their chance to shine and demonstrating great courage in standing up before a large but very receptive audience

We were fortunate to have the perfect compère in Alex Collier, who did a great job keeping everyone interested, informed and entertained right to the end of the show

Ebchester Drumming Group took a chance to showcase their talents too, and will be delighted to receive new members any time!

Our esteemed judging panel used a very detailed method of scoring each of the acts, with the final results as follows:

8-14 age group:
1^st prize: Jamie Park, age 8 (comic)
2^nd prize: Katie Coleman and Ellen Henderson , age 11 (gymnasts)

15+ age group:
1^st prize: Bboy Mowshun, age 17 (beat boxer and break dancer)
2^nd prize: The Mesmer Twins, age 61 and 175 (magicians?)

Best Dressed:
Hannah Forster, age 8

Well done to all, not just the winners but all those who participated in making it such an entertaining evening; and many thanks to all those who didn’t appear on stage, but made it happen – you were great!