Sophie Mei

Some of us may hurl at the thought of public displays of affection but when it comes to simple hand-holding that’s acceptable right?

It seems our society embraces friendliness amongst heterosexual couples but are not so tolerant when it comes to same-sex couples.

I got news for you, times are – a – changing and Saturday 25th September marks ‘SSH’

Over the last year, this silent revolution of same-sex hand holding (sshh) has established itself in over 20 countries. For many participants it has changed the way they feel about themselves, their loved ones and their place in the world. Watkins continues, “No longer victims, hand holding people in same-sex relationships are now fighting to be the agents of their own equality. They are becoming the change that they seek. Their courage has been infinite. They are living their love and have realised that if they want to live in a world where they can hold their partner’s hand in the street, they’ve got to hold their partner’s hand in the street. ‘Sshh! Saturdays’ and A Day In Hand have created spaces for many LBGT people to see that the more ‘out’ they are, the easier being ‘out’ is.”

A Day in Hand heralds a revolutionary way of making the world a more liveable place: a revolution in which anybody, on any day, can be a part of. Same-sex hand holding (Sshh) is a silent revolution because we simply have to show the world that same-sex love exists in all places and in all cultures. The campaign is designed to promote equality of respect for people who wish to hold hands with someone of the same gender in public. It launched on May 2009 and is now featured in over 20 countries worldwide. By holding hands we visibly challenge stereotypes and show we love and commit like everyone else. Events like Sshh! Saturdays remind people that each individual has the power to change the cultural zeitgeist. Holding hands with your partner or your friend, where you can, is about being true to yourself and to those you love.

Website:    http://www.adayinhand.com

MEI INTERNATIONAL FROM YORKSHIRE MAKES STARTUPS 100

MEI International Ltd. from Sheffield, South Yorkshire makes it into this year’s Startups 100, which identifies UK’s most innovative, inspiring and ground-breaking new companies.

Startups 100, organised by the startups.co.uk, the UK’s most popular website for small businesses, celebrates the 100 most exciting, promising, disruptive new businesses and entrepreneurs shaping the start-up market right now.

MEI International Ltd is the umbrella company for Sophie Mei schools and Creative Octopus Media Services (COMS) specializing in media relations, campaigns and entertainment, events and social marketing.

One of our company’s key purposes is to work with the Public and Private Sector to increase their profile, product and service awareness amongst identified target audiences and particularly to encourage health literacy and well-being in the general public, and in seldom-heard groups, through media campaigns, training, diverse entertainment and events.  We are a social enterprise and we pride ourselves on insight gathering that provides a solid foundation to our campaigns.

Sophie Mei Co-founder of MEI International says;

“We are thrilled to win our first award as we are so new to the market.

“We’re incredibly proud to have MEI International on our list of the UK’s most innovative and dynamic new businesses and look forward to watching its continued success.” Sara Rizk, editor, Startups.co.uk

In choosing the Startups 100, the team were looking for businesses and entrepreneurs that demonstrated:

• Innovation, in concept or delivery
• Ability to disrupt existing market places
• Growth potential
• Strong management, bright thinkers
• Evidence of existing or future revenues

For more information or to see the full Startups 100 list please visit: www.startups.co.uk

Media Contact:

For more information, or to interview any of the Startups100, please contact Ella Gascoigne at ella@startuppr.co.uk.

On Saturday 4 June, at 3.30pm, the steps of City Hall will come alive with the sound of East as a group of select performers, including TV star Sophie Mei, perform an Eastern taster to promote the international Bellydance Superstars’s festival: Raqs Britannia – which comes to Sheffield’s City Hall from 25 – 27 June.

The performers will also be showing their support for the England and Sheffield bid to be a host for the 2018 FIFA World Cup^TM by wearing the Bid’s products for a special photo shoot.

Raqs Britannia is the biggest bellydance festival in Europe and it is presented by the international Bellydance Superstars (BDSS), who were founded by former manager of Sting and the Police Miles Copeland.   The festival’s new spectacular Saturday night show – The Art of Bellydance – has garnered world-wide accolades.

Sheffielder and nationally-known TV bellydance star Sophie Mei will be compering some the festival’s events, along with the legendary Miles Copeland.

Compere and co-director of MEI International Ltd, Sophie Mei, says:

“The event on Saturday 4 June will bring a taste of the east to the steps of Sheffield’s City Hall and highlight the wonderful opportunity we have at our finger tips later in June, to get involved for the first time ever in Europe’s premier bellydance festival, Raqs Britannia, and to see its spectacular Saturday night show, The Art of Bellydance. We hope that people will come and join us and enjoy the popular dance form of bellydance. It is not elitist and you don’t have to be a perfect shape or a certain age to do it.

“It is a tremendous coup for the city to have landed Miles Copeland’s international Bellydance Superstars to put on Raqs Britannia – which lasts three days from 25 – 27 June here at the City Hall and we hope people who might be a bit nervous about trying out the workshops, will at least come to see the BDSS’s spectacular Saturday night show The Art of Bellydance.  Tickets for the Saturday night show are as cheap as £10 and they can book tickets by ringing 0114 2 789 789”

Director of Sheffield’s 2018 bid Wayne Coyle says:

“We are delighted to have the backing of Sophie Mei and the International Bellydance Superstars who will be helping to spread the word globally about how equipped and enthusiastic England is to hold the World Cup in 2018 and what huge support Sheffielders are giving to the Bid. It once again demonstrates the International dimension of the city and why Sheffield would be like ‘home from home’ for visitors to the FIFA World Cup”

The Art of Bellydance starts at 7.45pm on Saturday and tickets cost from only £17.50 (some as affordable as £10 in section D) – there are also family tickets and concessions.  For tickets, please call Sheffield City Hall Box Office on 0114 2 789 789.

The 3 day Bellydance festival includes a series of special workshops throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday from £20 – £28.  These can be booked on line at www.raqsbritannia.co.uk

For more information on Raqs Britannia 2010, please visit: http://www.raqsbritannia.co.uk/

To view clips from the BDSS’s spectacular international shows, please visit:  www.bellydancesuperstars.com

How to Back the England and Sheffield bid to be a host for the 2018 FIFA World Cup^TM ,  please text,  England to 62018, go to www.sheffield2018.co.uk, or call at your local Morrison store and ‘sign up’

Notes for the Editor

The not-to-be-missed Raqs Britannia festival involves 3 days of spectacular workshops lead by the Bellydance Stars themselves. As part of the weekend festival, there will be a huge souk (large market of bellydance wear and products), live bands and DJs, Middle Eastern buffets, Superstar auditions, and the all new Bellydance Superstars Show: The Art of Bellydance.

Family-friendly and featuring bold new choreography, exquisite costumes and spectacular new production elements, the Saturday night show The Art of Bellydance builds on the BDSS troupe’s renowned reputation in highlighting a variety of bellydance styles and unique fusions.

The Bellydance Superstars (BDSS) are at the forefront of a worldwide explosion in prestige and popularity in the art of Bellydance, taking this once largely solo performance and ancient art of Middle Eastern culture, into the 21^st Century mainstream

The All-Star Summer 2010 Bellydance Superstars cast includes:  Sonia, Petite Jamilla, Sabah, Moria, Kami Liddle, Samantha Hasthorpe, Issam Houshan and other sensational performers.

Workshops are available from Friday through to Sunday afternoon.  Throughout the 3 day festival, there are some fantastic classes from the Bellydance Superstars and their invited guests, teaching everything from back bends to isolations and pops and locks!  There is even a special offer: book 4 workshops and get the cheapest one free!  Teachers include the world-renowned: Moria, Sabah, Sonia, Lauren, Issam and others!

On Friday night, there is an evening buffet before the Guest Teachers and Performers Show in the Oval Hall.

On Saturday, there will be a Middle Eastern buffet before the new Bellydance Superstars Show: The Art of Bellydance shimmies onto the stage, with entertainment continuing in the Ballroom until the early hours. This will include guest performance artists and musicians; plus DJs and two after-show dance parties, one Tribal and one Oriental.

The festival organizers will be running an Open Stage where you can show off your latest choreography or group and solo work.

Referred to as “the most important dance troupe in the world” by London’s Sunday Times, the Bellydance Superstars is the realized vision of Miles Copeland, legendary music business mogul (The Police, Sting, I.R.S. Records). Comprised of America’s best-known, most sought-after bellydancers, the troupe has performed over 500 shows (including many sell outs) in 20 countries in the last five years, wowing over one million enthusiastic fans in venues and 100 million on television, with their fascinating live performances. The troupe has connected with fans through its performance and commercially successful Bellydance Superstars series of CDs, which are the biggest selling Arabic CDs in the mainstream marketplace, and Bellydance Superstars DVDs – the top-selling DVDs among the titles sold by Universal Music Distribution, the #1 distributor of music and video in America.

Ever-evolving, ultra-innovative and mega-popular, the Bellydance Superstars have continued to wow crowds and break new ground in 2008, proving the troupe can compete head on with the likes of mainstream dance shows such as Riverdance.

Worldwide TV interest spiked in 2008 with PBS stations broadcasting the troupe’s ‘Live in Paris show’ – filmed at the famed Follies Bergère, the Documentary Channel airing BDSS doc ‘American Bellydancer’ in November, and DirecTV in Latin America airing both shows in October to strong response.  The special, Dissonance and Harmony, featuring the Bellydance Superstars, also debuted on PBS in November as part of the Crossroads series, again noting the efforts of BDSS and Copeland to promote a bridge between cultures via entertainment.

Other hallmarks celebrated by the BDSS in the past year included its first shows performed in the Arab world to rave reviews, a highly successful tour of Italy and Spain and acclaimed performances in Dubai and Morocco (where they returned to Morocco in late 2009 for shows in Casablanca and Marrakesh).

In addition, the BDSS launched four new annual Bellydance festivals: Raqs LA and Tribal LA in Los Angeles, TribaLondon in London and Raqs America in Washington D.C.  Universal Music & Video, which has been distributing the BDSS line in the U.S. for five years, signed on to distribute to the rest of the world.

The international Bellydance Superstars have a wealth of other exciting events coming up this year, including Raqs Japan!

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR THE BELLYDANCE SUPERSTARS:

“Bellydancing has burst out of the harem, into exercise classes around the world, and a stunning new troupe of international hip-wigglers – the Bellydance Superstars – are poised to be the next Riverdance.”

- Sunday Times Magazine (London)

“A celebration of femininity and sensuality that attracts dancers from 17 to 70.  Meet the Bellydance Superstars, the world’s most famous bellydancing troupe.”

- Daily Mail’s YOU Magazine (UK)

“Bellydancing – it’s the new Riverdance.”

– Daily Telegraph (UK)

“The show itself is pretty fabulous – beautiful, exciting, sometimes amazing.”

- Daily Express (UK)

“Gorgeous, spiffily dressed, skilled dancers…sheer genius.”

- Village Voice (New York)

“Bellydance Superstars, America’s latest musical extravaganza – a new show to rival the internationally successful ‘Riverdance’ is currently touring the globe.”

– Egypt’s Insight (Egypt)

“Bellydance show is plenty hip.”

– Las Vegas Sun (US)

“The audience is left blown away within the first 5 minutes of the opening set…The Bellydance Superstars demonstrate beauty, power, energy, sheer vivacity and brilliance as they grace the stage…At times the music and dance is so mesmerizing you think you are sitting in Egypt or Arabia.”

- DesiXpress (UK)

X Factor finalist Stacey Solomon and Britain’s Got Talent’s Sophie Mei are the latest celebrities signed up  to bend the ball and aim for victory as she heads the line-up for this year’s Samaritans Soccer Six football tournament at Charlton FC on Bank Holiday Monday, 31 May.

Get your tickets now, for just £12, to come and watch this year’s celebrities dust off their football boots to raise vital funds and awareness for Samaritans, the emotional helpline charity. Joining Stacey Solomon at the 2010 tournament will be Comedian Omid Djalili, pop band The Hoosiers, grime artist Lethal Bizarre, indie band The Coral, T4’sRick Edwards and actor Danny Dyer.

Claire Duncan at Samaritans said: “It is fantastic that so many top celebrities will be supporting us at our annual star-studded football tournament Soccer Six.  In these tough times, life can be very demanding and the need for Samaritans is greater than ever. Funds raised will allow Samaritans to continue to offer confidential support to people in emotional distress, 24 hours a day.”

For your chance to see who will triumph as 2010’s Celebrity Soccer Six champion log on towww.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=383773 or call  08444 77 1000. Alternatively you can purchase them directly from Charlton FC. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Samaritans.

Beauty and the Beasts

Beautiful, educated and talented – Sophie Mei is all set to share top billing with the Legends of Rugby star names at the palatial indoor English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on Thursday December 17.

Television audiences were bedazzled by Sophie’s mesmeric belly dancing performance in Britain’s Got Talent.

Impressario Simon Cowell summed up Sophie’s display simply and splendidly as

” absolute star quality! ”

Legends of Rugby is an international touch event featuring the top names from League and Union.

England,Wales,New Zealand All Golds and the Buccaneers will clash with the aim of lifting the special glass trophy.

Sophie will perform – alongside the Legends’ team of top dancers – especially for the audience and just before the final in a routine which in her own words will be

‘an entertaining and stunning Christmas package of fun and excitement  which is set to thrill the large crowd.”

The fact that the Wooden Spoon charity will be the main beneficiary as a result of Legends’ night is something that pleases Sophie greatly

” I was very happy to take part in such a tremendous evening’s action but it is particularly pleasing to be involved knowing that we shall be helping to improve the lives of children at Christmas time.”

Some of the greatest names of both Rugby League and Rugby Union will take centre stage in the inaugural ‘Legends of Rugby ‘which will be held at the £38million English Institute of Sport in Sheffield on the evening of 17^th December.

Past and present stars of both codes will take part in a unique indoor tournament in the Athletics Arena at the EIS. Played under International touch rules, 4 teams: England, Wales, New Zealand All Golds and the Buccaneers will play each other to find the Legends of Rugby Champions 2009.

The event will be screened by Sky Sports as a 2 hours special in their Christmas schedule. Some of the players already declared include: Neil Back. John Bentley, Robbie Paul, Iestyn Harris, Paul Sculthorpe and local hero Mark Aston.

Team selection will be the subject of further announcements but the teams will wear specially commissioned indoor kits and play in squads of 9 with 6 players taking the floor at one time and operating unlimited interchange.

Tickets are on sale and are available from www.eis-sheffield.co.uk

With just 600 seats available to the paying public, tickets are strictly on a first come first basis.

The Wooden Spoon has been adopted as the events official charity and will receive a cheque on behalf of the winning team. Wooden Spoon will also benefit from other fundraising activity on the night.

Notes for Editors:

The English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS) it is one of the country’s most impressive indoor sports venues.

This multi-sport venue has a range of high quality facilities that are used predominantly by the community. With a seating capacity of up to 2,000 spectators the arena is a fantastic setting for a wide range of activity.

Since opening in December 2003 the Arena has hosted a selection of major sporting events including: Norwich Union World Trials, The AAA Championships, UK Inter City Cup and Channel 4’s The Games.

‘Touch rugby refers to games derived from rugby football in which players do not tackle in the traditional, highly physical way, but instead touch their opponents using their hands on any part of the body, clothing, or the ball.

A formal, competitive variety, known as Touch developed initially from rugby league and now exists as a sport in its own right. In addition, touch rugby games are played as training activities for rugby league and rugby union; as safer variants of rugby, particularly in schools and junior clubs, and as an informal social sport.’

Wooden Spoon

Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby, dedicated to improving the quality and prospect of life for children and young people to give young people across the UK and Ireland a chance to achieve their full potential. Over 25 years Spoon has helped more than half a million children through equipment and facilities in schools and hospitals and has used rugby (union, league and wheelchair) to help young people tackle obesity, manage aggression, gain qualifications and re- build their lives through the teamwork, respect and support built into the game.

Sophie Mei – Performer, Presenter & Actress

Twenty-one-year-old Sophie Mei, from Pitsmoor in Sheffield, shot  to stardom on the popular TV show Britain’s got talent.  Her determination and talent in belly dancing saw her reach the semi finals where she gained world-wide accolades, along with Simon Cowell’s declaration that Sophie has:  “Absolute star quality”.  Sophie recently sat on the elite judging panel of the biggest bellydancing championship in Europe, Raqs Britannia, with founder Miles Copeland (former manager of the Police and Sting) and she is set to welcome Raqs Britannia 2010 to her hometown of Sheffield. Sophie, who is mixed race (Chinese and English) is an established teacher in the art of belly dancing and an experienced TV presenter, having presented her own documentary in Egypt for YTV. She is soon to produce a bellydancing health-fitness DVD.   Sophie has trained extensively with Sheffield Theatres, Contact Manchester, as well as workshops at RADA, SKY Television and the Third Angel Theatre Company. Very recently Sophie has filmed with Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.  She has now also set up her own bellydance troupe ‘Mei Dance’ who recently made their debut at th O2 Academy in Sheffield.

For further details about Sophie, please visit  www.sophiemei.net

Contacts:

Tournament Directors

Lionel Hurst   07817 520789

Neal Coupland 07747 787509

www.legendsofrugby.com

For more information on Wooden Spoon and how you can make a difference contact Jai Purewal on 01926 863776 or

jpurewal@woodenspoon.com

For Sheffield International Venues,

Natalie Ross or Abby Worsnip HR Media Ltd

0114 221 0230.

Released on behalf of:

The Sports Channel, Aspect Court, Park Square, Leeds, LS1 2NL leeds@thesportschannel.co.uk