A Hull dancer and former Britain's Got Talent star has realised his dream of opening a dance studio. Jack Harvey Smith, 20, opened the Vibe Dance Studios at Brough Methodist Church last year and already has an abundance of students queuing up to study disco, freestyle, jazz, street, lyrical, commercial dance and acrobatics and gymnastics. And Jack, who started his own dance training when he was just eight years old, said this is a dream come true. He said: "It's fantastic to be able to do this, and to be able to do this at the age of 20 is incredible. "I've been a competitive dancer for 12 years but all my life I've wanted to train children to become national dance champions." When he was 12 he was picked to represent Great Britain at South African Dance Idol and in 2014, he came third in the World Freestyle Dance Championships at the Winter Garden in Blackpool. Former Britain's Got Talent contestant Jack, of Bilton Grange, left Hull to train at the SLP College in Leeds when he was 15. … [Read more...] about Britain’s Got Talent star’s dream comes true with dance studio
Headliner dance competition
Nathan Carter to headline Summer Jamm Weekend
Strabane’s Big Weekend returns with Summer Jamm from Friday, June 14 – Sunday 16 when the town centre will be ‘buzzing’ with live music, dance, street entertainment, arts & crafts, and ‘Strajamba’ Music Festival with headline act Nathan Carter. Summer Jamm kicks off on Friday night with DJ Jamie B and support in Ruby’s Nightclub. Saturday is full of family fun from 1pm – 5pm as Encore PAA will be opening the event with a showcase extravaganza. This will be followed with live music throughout the town from Folk N Trad, Mad Notions, Strabane Brass Band and Trad for Youth. To celebrate Youth 19, local singers will be performing in the busking tent including Juno Hassan, Jamie Donnelly, Darci Wilders to name but a few. Families will enjoy an array of street theatre, flash mobs, games, funfair, face painting, Jungle Pets, and a host of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Plus a range of products and food will be available from a … [Read more...] about Nathan Carter to headline Summer Jamm Weekend
Rachel Riley admits Strictly helped her ‘break away’ from ex husband before dating dance partner Pasha Kovalev
RACHEL Riley has claimed that her time on Strictly Come Dancing helped her to "break way" from ex-husband Jamie Gilbert. The 33-year-old met Jamie while studying at Oxford university and after a brief split in 2009, they married in 2012, just one year before Rachel's time on the BBC dance competition. Rachel told British GQ: "What Strictly did was give me distance - because I was away from home in Birmingham, Salford, Borehamwood - and it was the emotional distance that I needed to break away." While appearing on Strictly Come Dancing, the Countdown host found love with pro partner Pasha Kovalev. But Rachel insists that there's no bad blood between herself and ex-husband Jamie. She explained: "I'm still friends with my ex-husband. He's great, he's a brilliant guy... We were together since I was 19 and it wasn't right." Earlier this year Rachel revealed that she is in the process of learning Russian so that she could speak to Pasha's family. Rachel made headlines recently when a … [Read more...] about Rachel Riley admits Strictly helped her ‘break away’ from ex husband before dating dance partner Pasha Kovalev
Easter celebrations and walking festival headline Algarve’s April agenda
São Brás de Alportel’s century-old flower torch show ‘Festa das Tochas Floridas’, Loulé’s religious celebration ‘Festa da Mãe Soberana’ and the Ameixial Walking Festival are among the highlights of the Algarve events guide for April – there are over 100 to enjoy! The guide is launched each month by the regional tourism board (RTA) to give locals and visitors an idea of what is happening in the Algarve. The flower torch show in São Brás de Alportel will be held on Sunday, April 21 and is inspired by a once-popular Easter celebration that took place throughout the Algarve, where many towns used to host a procession with torches lit by fire to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Loulé’s religious Easter celebration will also begin on April 21 and run for 15 days until the final event on May 5, the “Festa da Mãe Soberana”, described as the “highlight” of the local … [Read more...] about Easter celebrations and walking festival headline Algarve’s April agenda
What is the Strictly curse? From Seann Walsh and Katya Jones to Joe Sugg and his dance partner Dianne Buswell
STRICTLY Come Dancing is much-loved by viewers, the dancers and celebrity contestants, but with it comes the dreaded "curse". Whether it's break-ups or make-ups, divorce or engagements, the show has seen it all over the years. What is the Strictly curse? The "curse" is a phenomenon that hits celebrities and their dance partners during their time on Strictly Come Dancing. Due to the harsh schedules, sexy dance moves and close quarters with their partners, their off-screen romances sometimes suffer as a result. Strictly became known as cursed after a series of very public break-ups from participants, and ever since more and more fan favourites have succumbed to the "curse". Over the course of fifteen series of the BBC favourite, nearly a dozen couples have split up thanks to their time on the show. Who has fallen victim to the Strictly curse so far? Here is a list of celebrities and dancers who have appeared on the show and split with a loved one shortly after... Stacey Dooley and … [Read more...] about What is the Strictly curse? From Seann Walsh and Katya Jones to Joe Sugg and his dance partner Dianne Buswell