Strictly Steps out in London

27 Oct 2008 09:00 Africa/Lagos

Strictly Steps out in London

LONDON, October 27/PRNewswire/ --


- TV Star Karen Hardy Launches Brand New Dance Studio in the Heart of London


- With Photos


"Fans of the hit TV series Strictly Come Dancing will be a step closer to their dreams of tripping the light fandango, as Karen Hardy one of the outstanding dancers from the BBC One show, launches her own luxury dance studio in London"


Karen Hardy, the World Masters Champion Latin American dancer and former Strictly Come Dancing winner with Mark Ramprakash, has created Karen Hardy Studios in response to the enormous rise in popularity of ballroom dancing since the show launched in 2003. The studios aim to bring the dance class experience into the 21st century, offering professional tuition, exciting social events and once-in-a-lifetime dance experiences in a glamorous Chelsea setting.


On December 9, Karen Hardy Studios will roll out the red carpet to all the Strictly celebrities for its launch - a night filled with glamour and glitz at its stunning location at Imperial Wharf on the Thames. From January 2009, the studio will open its doors and offer all dance disciplines, from the salsa to the Paso Doblé, to newcomers and professionals alike. All classes will be taught by professional instructors trained by Karen Hardy herself, and Karen will also teach classes and individuals by special arrangement.


The studios are a cut above the traditional formal, old-fashioned ballroom dancing school, with luxurious touches such as a fully licensed bar, where nervous novices can sip a glass of champagne before class, and stunning interior décor featuring maple flooring, air-conditioning, plasma screen TVs and full length windows revealing the sensational backdrop of the Chelsea riverside. And you won't find a tuneless piano in the corner: each studio is equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system to cater for the exciting variety of dance styles on offer.


Members can choose from individual tuition, group classes, social evenings and practice sessions. The studio also caters for corporate events, while those looking for the time of their lives can book one of the studio's luxury gift packages, which include a private lesson, a meal in a hip Chelsea restaurant and a night in a fabulous hotel.


Commenting on the launch, Karen Hardy said:


"With the studio I want to take the dance experience to the next level. We cater for everyone, from first-timers to accomplished dancers, couples, individuals and groups, both young and old.


"This isn't just a dance studio, it's an experience. It's all about luxury, glamour and attention to detail. We want the real experience of dancing to live up to the fantasy and magic that you see on shows like Strictly Come Dancing."


Show business legend Bruce Forsyth CBE has said of Karen:


"I am delighted to hear about Karen's new dance studio in Chelsea, Wilnelia and I cannot stop our toes twitching in expectation. Good luck with it all, Bruce"


Karen Hardy Studios open on 5 January 2009. For bookings and further information, visit http://www.karenhardystudios.com


About Karen Hardy


Karen Hardy competed as a professional Latin American dancer, and is a former World Masters, United Kingdom Open, and Strictly Come Dancing Champion. Karen was awarded the Carl Alan award for services to the dance world in 1995. Karen was named Teacher of the Year in 2002 & 2003 at the Crystal Palace Dance Championships and to date devotes her time to successfully producing new young and inspiring champions in her coaching worldwide.


In 2005 Karen was asked to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing. She took BBC Newsreader Bill Turnbull seven weeks through the show and in the Christmas show trained former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Evander Holyfield. The following year Karen showed her true talents and pure love of dance as together with her celebrity partner, cricketer Mark Ramprakash, they took the nation by storm as they took the title of Strictly Come Dancing Champions Series 4.


2007 Karen Hardy and Erin Boag released the first ever Strictly Come Dancersize fitness DVD. This DVD made it to the number one slot in the fitness market and has over 200,000 copies to date.


Pictures accompanying this release are available through the PA Photowire. They can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.


Source: Karen Hardy Studios Ltd

To request further information, interviews with Karen Hardy, images or an invitation to the studio launch event on 9 December, please contact Rachel Matthews: Tel:+44(0)871-218-2341, rachel.matthews@karenhardystudios.com

'High School Musical 3: Senior Year'

Watch the trailer for "High School Musical 3: Senior Year." Video courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.



Returning cast
Zac Efron as Troy Bolton
Vanessa Hudgens as Gabriella Montez
Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans
Lucas Grabeel as Ryan Evans
Corbin Bleu as Chad Danforth
Monique Coleman as Taylor McKessie
Olesya Rulin as Kelsi Nielsen
Ryne Sanborn as Jason Cross
Chris Warren, Jr. as Zeke Baylor
Kaycee Stroh as Martha Cox
Alyson Reed as Ms. Darbus
Bart Johnson as Jack Bolton
Leslie Wing as Lucille Bolton

New cast members
Jemma McKenzie-Brown as Tiara Gold
Matt Prokop as Jimmy Zara
Justin Martin as Donny Dion

Lana Fuchs Couture Attracts Attention During LA Fashion Week

America's Next Top Model winners Saleisha Stowers and Nicole Linkletter were among the models that presented the Lana Fuchs Couture collection during the Mercedes-Benz fashion week in Los Angeles. (PRNewsFoto/Lana Fuchs) LAS VEGAS, NV UNITED STATES 10/17/2008

17 Oct 2008 19:19 Africa/Lagos

Lana Fuchs Couture Attracts Attention During LA Fashion Week
Celebrities and media applaud Lana Fuchs spring collection.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Lana Fuchs launched her Spring 2009 line in the Main Tent at the Mercedes-Benz 7th Annual Fashion Week in Los Angeles. Splashed with exuberant colors and handmade embellishments, Fuchs' debut collection, titled "Rhapsody In Bloom," featured a romantic bouquet of ultra feminine shapes juxtaposed with bold prints and floral notes.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081017/LAF521)

America's Next Top Model winners Saleisha Stowers and Nicole Linkletter were among the models that presented the collection on the runway. For the finale, Sudanese model Atong took to the catwalk a silk chiffon and organza bridal gown culminated by a confetti of pastel colored rose petals that rained over her for the epic closing scene to the show.

Fuchs' debut collection received a standing ovation and rave reviews from stylists, editors and celebrities. Those in attendance included Joel Madden, Camille Anderson, Natasha Alam, Angela Simmons, Vanessa Simmons, Dominika Wolski, Lady Victoria Hervey, Pamela Bach, Julia Verdin, Crystal Allen, Simona Fusco, Inna Korobkina, Patricia DeLeon, LA Laker Lamar Odom, tennis professional Jan-Michael Gambill and celebrity stylist George Blodwell.

About Lana Fuchs Couture
Fuchs Spring 2009 collection, titled "Rhapsody In Bloom," features elegant dresses from day to evening, in an array of ultra feminine silhouettes. An avid traveler, Fuchs was inspired to use stunning floral prints after an unforgettable walk through the gardens of Claude Monet in Giverny, France. Eastward bound in exotic India, while traveling from Udaipur to Jaipur, she also fell in love with the vivid colored saris, which inspired her spring color palette. Thus, Rhapsody in Bloom came to life in rich silks, delicate chiffons and embroidered lace, with delicious accents of handcrafted embellishments.

Lana Fuchs' signature style transcends the world of reality into fantasy. From exquisite dresses to extravagant red carpet gowns, Fuchs continues to design for the discerning woman with a need to dress for every occasion. The Russian-born designer and Las Vegas resident has been creating one-of-a-kind pieces and custom couture since 1995. Since then, Fuchs has been featured in a growing list of international publications, fashion shows and television programs in praise of her talent and spirit. In addition to designing for Lana Fuchs Couture, she is the founder of the Emerald Dream Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization. For more information, please visit http://www.lanafuchs.com/.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081017/LAF521
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN12
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Lana Fuchs
CONTACT: Kenn Henman of aLine media public relations, +1-310-576-1808,
kenn@alinemedia.com, for Lana Fuchs
Web site: http://www.lanafuchs.com/






KISSES & ROSES WEEKEND CHIC GIFT RECOMMENDATION:




OAKLEY THUMP 2 Black Iridium - Sunglasses with digital player - flash 512 MB - WMA, AAC, MP3 - polished white


The world's first digital music eyewear is now available in a new design with the option of even greater memory. Built around the hard-edged style of Oakley's Gascan eyewear, THUMP 2 offers memory storage up to 1 gigabyte. That's 240 songs in a fully integrated design that frees you from dangling cords and wires. Listen to music virtually anywhere with speaker booms that adjust easily for a customized fit, and just swing them out of the way when you need to hear your environment. For all-day comfort, the durable frame is made of lightweight O Matter. Patented XYZ Optics extends clarity to the lens periphery, allowing for contours that open peripheral vision.

The Twilight Saga 1

cullen cast for upcoming movie, TWILIGHT!





Amazon.com Review
The book that started the phenomenon is now available in a deluxe collector's edition! Featuring a ribbon bookmark, cloth cover, ragged edges, new chapter opener designs, and a beautiful protective slipcase, this edition is perfect for fans and collectors alike.

Bella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (September 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316015849
• ISBN-13: 978-0316015844
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

My Heroes Are Not Making Headlines

I kept to myself for two days and stayed indoors in the apartment on the third floor.
My publisher had gone to the Eastern state of Abia in Nigeria and I had the time to relax and read The 48 Laws of Power and reflect on the discoveries of Robert Greene. Then I composed the following thoughts.

My heroes are not the newsmakers making headlines
They are ordinary people living ordinary lives
But they are doing extra-ordinary things in their own simple ways.
I see them everywhere everyday
And they are making a great difference along the way.

Everybody has a story, but not everybody will make history
You can get over your misery and live a life of victory.

Let us work together hand in hand
And we will restore the lost glory of our motherland.

My heroes are not engaged in the power struggle of the rat race.
God knows how best to reward the burden bearers of humankind.
They will reap the greatest harvest of the earth.

Caution: Pretty Girls Crossing

Caution: Pretty Girls Crossing

Beauty inspires genius.I adore the Almighty God at the first sight of any object of beauty, from the beautiful face of my darling lover to the dazzling allure of a blossoming pink hibiscus flower in the sunlight. The alluring power of beauty cannot be denied.

The heart of man skips a beat at the sight of a beautiful woman.He swallows lumps of saliva as he ogles at her. His Adam’s apple bulges as his crotch bulges. Gosh!A man almost veered off the main road whilst ogling at a pretty and sexy babe on a street in Lagos. The object of his admiration was the kind of pretty babes my mom called car stoppers, the babes who make drivers to stamp on the brakes in awe!

The desire for a pretty and sexy woman sets a man on fire, burning in the fiery flames of lust. Even the loins of a castrated man burns in the presence of a pretty and sexy woman.

In the daily traffic of commuters in the crowdy and rowdy mega city of Lagos, the pretty girls stand out like the exotic water lilies of the Nile, a pure delight to sight. Drivers often slow down as a pretty woman is about to cross the road. She makes heads to turn on the street.

The best places to see pretty girls and ladies in Lagos city are often the shopping malls, from the Mega Plaza on Victoria Island to the Palms in Lekki. You can also see many of them strolling on the Marina in Lagos, on the Adeniran Ogunsanya Street in Surulere, on Allen Avenue and Toyin Street in Ikeja, on Awolowo Road in Ikoyi and on Adeola Odeku Street on Victoria Island.

The pretty working class ladies in their skirt suits and pantsuits seem to be on fashion parade during the hours of lunch break as they go out walking tall in their low heels or high heels. Watching a pretty working class lady walking down the staircase is worth all your attention in respect of the beauty of womanhood. She looks best if she is chic!Admiring pretty women in their trendy fashion crossing the street makes my day.

What’s next?

Caution: Ugly Girls Crossing?

There are no ugly girls or women in my world.

Anyway, no woman is ugly, except she is ignorant of her own beauty.

Britney Spears Sets the Record Straight in a New Documentary 'Britney: for the Record' Airing Exclusively on MTV on Sunday, November 30th at 10pm ET/P

10 Oct 2008 12:00 Africa/Lagos

Britney Spears Sets the Record Straight in a New Documentary 'Britney: for the Record' Airing Exclusively on MTV on Sunday, November 30th at 10pm ET/PT

NEW YORK, Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 90-minute exclusive documentary film, "Britney: For The Record," Britney granted access to the award winning team at @radical.media to tell her side of the story in her own words. The film will not only give viewers a look into what it is truly like to walk in the shoes of one of today's biggest musical icons, but behind-the-scenes access to everything from Britney recording her new album to preparing for her appearance on the "2008 MTV Video Music Awards," and much more. "Britney: For The Record" will air exclusively on MTV on Sunday, November 30th at 10pm ET/PT.

"MTV has had a long history with Britney Spears and our support for her has been unwavering," said Tony DiSanto, Executive Vice President of Series Development for MTV. "We are thrilled she has chosen MTV as the exclusive outlet to share the intimate details of her personal journey for the first time ever."
In an unprecedented three-month shoot where no topic was off limits, acclaimed filmmaker Phil Griffin captured, via personal stories and all-access to her during her day to day life, an intimate look into the artist that reveals those closest to her, gives insight into her music and career and a glimpse into her hopes and aspirations for the future.

"So much has gone on over the last couple of years and there's a lot that people don't know about me that I want them to know." said Britney "I wanted to make this film because I started to feel like I wasn't being seen in the light that I wanted to be seen in. This is an opportunity to set the record straight and talk about what I've been through and where I'm headed."
"Britney: For The Record" will show the reality of trying to live a normal life after all that has been exposed through the media.

To check out an exclusive teaser trailer from "Britney: For The Record" .
Britney Spears' sixth studio album, Circus, on Jive Records will be released on Tuesday, December 2nd, her 27th birthday. The album's first single "Womanizer," was officially released to radio on September 26th.

"Britney: For The Record" is Executive Produced by Larry Rudolph, Adam Leber, Jon Kamen, Frank Scherma, Robert Friedman and Justin Wilkes. Maira Suro, her title is SVP of Series Development, Heather Olander is VP Series Development and Steve Bilchik is Director of Music, Talent & Series Development for MTV.
"Britney: For The Record" will be distributed internationally (excluding North America) by FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) and launched at MIPCOM next week.

About MTV
MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 26 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries -- giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV has been the number one rated 24 hour ad-supported cable network P12-24 for 16 straight years. Online, MTV.com scored double-digit growth in 2007 and MTV launched ten dynamic online communities and six new virtual worlds. On the go, MTV Mobile is the #1 music brand in the wireless space -- delivering 90% more streams than in 2006. And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in...www.mtvpress.com.

Source: MTV
CONTACT: Melissa Barreto, MTV Press, +1-212-846-7226,
melissa.barreto@mtvstaff.com
Web site: http://www.mtv.com/
http://www.mtvpress.com/
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?vid=287