Limerick’s dance hall days to be recreated at city event

An exhibition celebrating Limerick’s proud dance hall heritage was launched in the city last Saturday.

The two week exhibition, Are You Dancing? - Remembering Limerick’s Dancehall Days, runs in the Stella Ballroom on Shannon Street and features photographs and other memorabilia from the period, taking in the end of the orchestra era in the late 1950s right up to the showband era of the early 1970s.

Many locals who frequented the dances contributed personal photographs taken at various city locations such as Todsies, The Stella, Jetland and Cruises Hotel along with a host of others.

These will be on display for the duration of the exhibition.

Speaking at the exhibition organiser David Studer thanked those who helped out for their contribution and acknowledged the aid from Limerick City of Culture.

Creative Communities chair Karen O’Donnell O’Connor outlined how the project came about as a collaboration between many community groups in the city.

Limerick’s own Showband star Tommy Drennan reminisced about the city’s dancehall days and recounted tales of playing at the Stella during the early days of the Monarchs.

He spoke of when the Jetland opened first and paid tribute to an immense wealth of talent that existed in Limerick at the time, most especially the great musicians that emerged from the smaller local support bands to tour nationally.

Rock and Roll club founder Paddy Brennan also delved into the history of the showbands in Limerick with fond memory.

The highlight of the two weeks will be a recreation of the dances this Sunday June 22, from 2.30pm to 5.30pm at a specially constructed marquee complete with dance floor in John’s Square.

The free family orientated event will feature music from The Kadillacs with Bryan Meehan of the Monarchs headlining, along with Tommy Drennan, Denis Allen, Shaun O’Dowd, Margaret Ring and Michael Shortt.

The exhibition runs until Saturday June 28.

Source: http://www.limerickleader.ie/what-s-on/arts-entertainment/dance-comedy/limerick-s-dance-hall-days-to-be-recreated-at-city-event-1-6125759

KOYAL RANA WINS MISS INDIA 2014 TITLE

Mumbai: Koyal Rana won the coveted Miss India 2014 crown at the 51st edition of the pageant, on Saturday, April 5. She was crowned winner among 24 gorgeous contestants from across the country.

Miss India 2013 Navneet Kaur Dhillion, and Miss World 2013 Megan Young felicitated Rana with the crown at the beauty pageant.

Jhataleka Malhotra, was crowned first runner-up by Sobhita Shulipala, and Gail Nicole Da Silva was crowned second runner-up by Zoya Afroz.

Koyal Rana hails from Jaipur, Jhataleka from Mumbai, and Gail from Goa.

Rana will represent India at the Miss World 2014 beauty pageant this year.

Gail Nicole Da Silva, Jhataleka Malhotra, Koyal Rana, Lopamudra Raut, and Nikhila Nandgopal, were the contestants who made it to the top 5 finalists.

Abhay Deol, Jacquline Fernandes, Vidyut Jamwal, Megan Young, Malaika Arora Khan, and Manish Malhotra were among the panel of judges. Singer/rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh, and boxer Vijender Singh, were also on the panel.

Bollywood stars, Shahid kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor added glamour to the spectacular event.

The event was hosted by Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh, who was very entertaining and kept the audience going with his wit and humour.

Here’s a list of the of sub contest winners:

Miss Multimedia: Irshikaa Mehrotra

Miss Beauty With Purpose: Koyal Rana

Miss Fashion Icon: Jantee Hazarika

Miss Vivacious: Tenneti Joga Bhanu

Miss Healthy Skin: Koyal Rana

Miss Timeless Beauty: Gail Dasilva

Miss Adventurous: Yoshiki Sindhar

Miss Beautiful Hair: Nikhila Nandgopal

Miss Congeniality: Aarpita Kaur

Miss Active: Nikhila Nandgopal

Miss Lifestyle: Sathitya Jagannathan

Miss Talented:  Deepti Sati

Miss Body Beautiful: Lopamudra Raut

Miss Rampwalk: Varsha Gopal

Miss Photogenic: Jantee Hazarika

Miss Beautiful Smile: Irshikaa Merhotra

Miss Waterbaby:  Mansi Grewal

Miss Iron Maiden: Deepti Sati

Miss Sudoku: Malati Chahar

Miss National Costume: Jhataleka Malhotra

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140406/nation-current-affairs/article/koyal-rana-wins-miss-india-2014-title

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Market Forecast - Allied Market Research

Michelle Obama's Bollywood Dance Among Top White House Photos

Washington:  Michelle Obama's rhythmic dance moves to peppy Bollywood numbers during a Diwali bash has made it to one of the top White House photos for the year 2013.

Taken by Chuck Kennedy, the 49-year-old First Lady is seen doing Bollywood dance in the State Dining Room along with choreographer Nakul Dev Mahajan and students for a Bollywood Dance Clinic at the White House on November 5.

The visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the White House in September and that of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could not make it to the top White House photos for the year 2013.

Released by the White House yesterday, these photographs are not ranked but arranged date-wise.

But the Bollywood dance pictures is among the 10 pictures on its homepage. 

"In 2013, the President was sworn in for a second term.

We commemorated the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. We honoured our heroes, and bounced back from national tragedies and natural disasters.

"We strengthened our relationships with allies around the world, and took action to promote the American dream at home," the White House said.

"Each January, Pete Souza, Chief Official White House Photographer and Director of the White House Photography Office, pulls together his favourite images from the past 12 months - exclusive perspectives of everything from Presidential trips and events to private moments between President Obama and his family and staff," the White House said.

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Sonakshi Gets Dancing Again for Prabhu Dheva

Barely a few days after R... Rajkumar's release, Prabhu Dheva is making his leading lady Sonakshi Sinha dance to the tunes again. Shooting of their next film together, Action Jackson has resumed and this time around, the dance moves for Sonakshi have gone a step further. Pun intended.

"In R... Rajkumar, the only dancing number for Sonakshi was 'Saree Ke Fall Sa' and there too she had relatively easy steps. As for 'Gandi Baat', most of the dancing was done by Charmee Kaur since Sonakshi was there only in the dream sequence. As for all the major dancing, Prabhu Dheva didn't look beyond Shahid and together they came up with something unique. Sonakshi always used to jovially complain that she was being sidelined as far as dancing was concerned," informs a source.

Prabhu Dheva, who had made her go ballistic in 'Go Go Govinda' [OMG - Oh My God! ] and 'Dhadang Dhang' [Rowdy Rathore] listened to her and made sure that when it came to Action Jackson, she was duly compensated for all the misses.

"I had said to him during R... Rajkumar that he was getting greedy due to Shahid in there. Guess he kept all my taunts in mind and now for Action Jackson, he has given me the toughest dance steps," smiles Sonakshi, "Even during rehearsals of these songs, he just stood there and asked me to dance the fullest."

Recently, she wrapped up a hardcore dance number and before that she has already completed shooting for another song. While former is a club track, latter is a dream sequence which is hardcore 'desi' and Indian in appeal.

"Well, I can say that both songs have typical Prabhu Dheva style of dancing though," she laughs, "It is all the more exciting as both songs have Ajay and me together."

Insiders from the crew state that in his typical manner, Prabhu Dheva has devised some never seen before dance steps for Ajay and made him do the unthinkable. As for Sonakshi, she wasn't even a wee bit surprised after pretty much getting used to expecting the unexpected from her director.

Source: http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/features/type/view/id/5959

The School of American Ballet Presents 2014 Winter Ball, 3/3

The School of American Ballet announces the 2014 Winter Ball at Lincoln Center's DavidH. Koch Theater on Monday, March 3, 2014, sponsored for the seventh consecutive year by legendary French Maison Van Cleef & Arpels. Cocktails begin at 7pm and dinner will commence at 8pm, followed by The Encore dessert and dancing at 9pm. Attire is black tie. To purchase tickets, a table, or for more information, please contact Natalie Schweizer at nschweizer@sab.org or (212) 769-6610.

This glamorous annual dinner dance is attended by 500 patrons, including the School's board members and alumni as well as leaders from the New York corporate and social communities.


A highlight of the evening includes a one-time-only performance by the advanced students of The School of American Ballet choreographed by Silas Farley, selected for the second consecutive year by Peter Martins, Artistic Director and Chairman of Faculty for the School of American Ballet.

The proceeds from this event enable SAB to distribute $1.8 million annually in student scholarships and support the School's renowned faculty and state-of-the-art facilities at Lincoln Center.

This year's event will be a Starry Night celebrating SAB's 80 years of dedication to the field of ballet, as attendees toast the School's good fortune at this momentous anniversary. Ron Wendt Design will create another unforgettable atmosphere for the event.

For the seventh consecutive year, Van Cleef & Arpels is the lead corporate sponsor of the gala. This partnership salutes the storied friendship between SAB's founder George Balanchine and Van Cleef & Arpels founder Claude Arpels.

The Encore is the Winter Ball after-party. Following dinner, 200 of the city's most sophisticated philanthropic young professionals join the Winter Ball for dancing and dessert. Dinner tickets include admission to The Encore and after-party-only tickets are also available.

The event is led by Chairmen Diana DiMenna, Julia Koch, and Serena Lese; and Young Patron Chairmen Noreen Ahmad, Amanda Brotman and Chelsea Zalopany.

The School of American Ballet, the official training academy of the New York City Ballet, was established in 1934 by legendary choreographer George Balanchine and philanthropist Lincoln Kirstein as the first and most essential step in their quest to create an American classical ballet company.

SAB, located at New York City's Lincoln Center, is the premier ballet academy in the United States, training more students who go on to become professional dancers than any other school. SAB's former students fill the ranks of the New York City Ballet and other leading U.S. and international ballet companies.


Read more about The School of American Ballet Presents 2014 Winter Ball, 3/3 - BWWDanceWorld by www.broadwayworld.com

Source: http://goo.gl/FvkVSE