Sophie Mei

Times: 6.30pm (arrival)
7pm – 8pm (Belly basics workshop)
8pm – 9pm (Social dance and music)

Venue: The Showroom Cafe, Paternoster Row, Sheffield S1 2BX

The event is supported by My Social Events
http://www.mysocialevents.co.uk/

http://www.raqsbritannia.co.uk

Bellydance Superstars

It’s back, it’s bigger and it’s better than ever before. Europe’s largest bellydancing festival – Raqs Britannia – is taking its place once again from Friday 5 June to Sunday 7 June 2009 in Blackpool.

The weekend extravaganza of bellydancing will be hosted by the world famous Bellydance Superstars, who will also be taking to the stage on the evening of Saturday 6 June.

The Bellydance Superstars is the brainchild of music impresario Miles Copeland, former manager of The Police and Sting. Copeland’s father worked for the CIA in the Middle East, where he spent many formative years of his childhood and grew in love with its music and culture.

As bellydance begins to attract a younger audience and new talent is increasingly developing, another highlight of the weekend will be the festival’s first ‘Junior Bellydance Competition’ on Sunday 7 June for dancers aged 19 and under. The competition will see young talent from all over the UK shimmying away in front of judges Sophie Mei from Britain’s Got Talent, Copeland himself and a selection of the Bellydance Superstars’ troupe to become the UK’s number one junior bellydancer.

HOW TO BE BELLY BEAUTIFUL
Muffin’to lose

Over half of women in the UK are obese and, Sheffield has the largest percentage of women with a ‘Muffin top’ waist line according to a recent survey.
How can women lose their ‘muffin top,’ the flesh that spills over a waistline, in today’s climate of a financial crisis and, hectic life styles?

“It’s easy- you just incorporate gentle forms of exercise into your everyday lives. Such as, bellydancing! I always advise people to practice their bellydance moves in the home- shimmying as you iron or sat at your desk and shimmying your chest. Once you begin being active it boosts your confidence and, bellydancing is perfect for improving women’s self- esteem.” Explains Sophie Mei, the Bellydancer from Sheffield who made it to the semi- finals of last year’s Britain’s Got Talent.

Sophie Mei has been asked to share her advice further, by Miles Copeland – former manager of The Police and Sting – to teach alongside the Bellydance Superstars and get involved in Europe’s largest bellydance festival in June – Raqs Britannia 2009.

Copeland explains: “While some would say that bellydance is an art of seduction, others believe that – as the only dance created by women for women – it is a celebration of the woman as a woman. As such, it has become a recognised self-esteem builder, a dance to be enjoyed and participated in no matter what your age, size, or shape.”

Sophie continues: “I will be teaching a ‘Belly Babes’ workshop that’s, designed for young beginners who want to discover more about the art of bellydance and performance. They can learn the basics from simple hip circles to their first shimmy. I will also be putting a strong focus on confidence-building techniques.”

Belly dance is a toning exercise that builds on core stability, as does yoga, and is a gentle form of exercise that burns around 250-300 calories per hour.

“Although the more you shimmy the more you burn- as it’s a great cardio work out too,” says Sophie.
Raqs Britannia – is taking place from Friday 5 June to Sunday 7 June 2009 at Blackpool, Winter Gardens. The weekend extravaganza of bellydancing will be hosted by the world famous Bellydance Superstars, who will also be taking to the stage on the evening of Saturday 6th June,along with workshops and, a Junior bellydance contest taking place on the Sunday.

To make a booking or for further information about the Raqs Britannia 2009 visit www.raqsbritannia.co.uk or call 020 7456 8905.

For more information about The Bellydance Superstars visit www.bellydancesuperstars.com

 “There is a need for more ethnic minorities and women in power”

(Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party)

On Friday 22^nd May, BBC Radio 4 broadcast, their long-standing topical politics show – ‘Any Questions?’ from Burngreave.

Longley park 6^th form college hosted the national debate between an eclectic panel of MP’s which included Rt Hon Ken Clarke MP (Conservative), Ed Balls MP (Labour), Caroline Lucas (Green) and Simon Hughes MP (Liberal Democrat), who were all tamed by the lively Chair – Eddie Mair.

The event was attended by over 200 people and organized by Dave Darwent, the Deputy Director of Longley Park 6^th Form College; “This is extremely important for the local area – and it’s great that a number of people from the area have come.”

Attendees were invited to submit their questions to the panel via a ballot box, of which 10 questions were selected, and the key audience members were invited to the front to ask their question live on BBC Radio 4.

Vice Principal of Longley Park 6^th Form College, Don McClean asked: “Should the BNP be allowed to attend official state functions?”

(Following Nick Griffin’s, leader of the BNP, invite to the Queen’s recent garden party).

The panel opposed the BNP, but their responses were somewhat ambiguous.

Caroline Lucas, leader of the Green Party, felt that the invite would lead into a political stunt for the BNP and felt angered that Ned Griffin “who incites racial hatred” would be attending such an event. Avoiding the question itself she did however, use it as a political rally to which she stressed the importance of voting for other parties to “keep the BNP out.”

Simon Hughes, Lib Dem spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change, remained diplomatic as “BNP are a racist party but a legal party” consequently, if they weren’t to be invited the worry is “It’d be even more of a political stunt.”

Ed Balls, the secretary of state for children, schools and families, replied:

“The thought of the leader of the BNP with the queen makes me sick to the stomach.”

The debate focused on the current row over the MP’s expenses scandal to which the panelists agreed that the government needs to ‘rebuild trust.’ Kenneth Clarke, shadow business secretary, went as far as calling to “bring back the Major government” to which the audience and panelists alike, strongly opposed.

Ed Balls, close ally to Gordon Brown and has recently been condemned for his second home expenses, called for an independent investigation over the expenses row and agreed that the “massively important” expenses row needs to be solved before the government can “get back to the big decisions.”

Such a reformulation of parliament is clearly needed and as Caroline Lucas suggested “a government with more women and ethnic minorities” and, a need to “get rid of the house of Lords – people choosing the people,” added Simon Hughes.

The debate was lightened up by Burngreave’s Rose Almond’s question: “What would you do if four million pounds was deposited into your bank account?”

To which Simon Hughes ensured that he would “give it to other parts of the world that need it more.”

The panel was challenged live on radio by the public forum style event as Ed Balls admitted: “it was livelier than normal.”

Paul Scriven, the Liberal Democrat Leader of Sheffield City Council, who also attended the event added: “Sheffield has shouted up and made it clear we have views.”

You can listen back to the discussion on the BBC radio 4 website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kfvgv

To read the full report of the night log on to:

http://www.burngreavemessenger.org/

Sadly not, No.

The recession has hit the UK and those who survive under the wrath of the harsh economic climate are those who remain optimistic and open to change – a hope for a new sustainable era for small businesses, the progression of new media and a new and reformed society.

Those who fail – are the ones who remain wedged in tradition, refusing to accept advancements in technologies and broaden their minds.

With the new appointment of Archbishop of Westminster and head of Catholic Church, Reverend Vincent Nichols unfortunately has chosen the latter.

As Steve Slack, Centre for Hiv and Sexual Health has written; ‘Speaking recently, the new Archbishop of Westminster appointed by the Pope, reasserted the Papal view that homosexuals were not themselves to be condemned but it was their relationships, their sexual acts and their parenting desires which should be censured. In other words he was falling back on that old chestnut: ‘love the sinner not the sin’ – a line which is quite frankly now wearing as thin as a Holy Communion wafer.’[1]

A sad fact, yes, that in a time when the Catholic faith is under much scrutiny from the reported child abuse of over 30,000 children in Ireland, that the Archbishop merely sypathises with the perpertrators:

“It is a tough road to take, to face upto our own weaknesses.”

 The Ryan report that states that rape and sexual molestation were “endemic” in Irish Catholic church – run industrial schools and colleges.[2]

It is somewhat scary that the Archbishop and Pope continue to condemn minority groups rather than reform their own church.

Exclusive Interview:  Simon Hughes, Lib Dem spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change (Speaking backstage, BBC Radio 4’s ‘Any Questions?,’ May 22^nd, Sheffield)

Q: ‘In light of the abuse in catholic Church yesterday – can we  look forward to a less hypocritical leadership, more concerned with the wrongs in the Catholic church than condemning homosexuality and contraceptives ?’

A: (Simon Hughes) Reverend Russell is normally a good communicator but the Roman Catholic Church should stick to being the voice for the poor and powerless. One of their weaknesses is that they need women in church. It’s nonsense that women don’t have equal status. I accept that abortion happens although, I myself aren’t in favour of it and I think the justifiable legal position is an abortion by 20 -23 weeks.

As with most MP’s the question itself was avoided but if the Catholic Church’s main responsibility lies in helping the poor- then why is it one of the richest institutions in the world?

It’s about time the Catholic Church used it’s power to support a new era of equal rights and celebrate global diversity. Surely faith and love is at the heart of the religion?

As Jesus stated: ‘Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’ (Leviticus 19:18)

All faiths, Agnostics and Atheists could all use such principles for the good – so why does the Vatican continue to contradict these foundations of religion in our modern society?

 http://www.guardian.co.uk