The News Review:
- Review: Chris Brown wows fans at Oracle Arena with music spectacle
- The Peninsula On-line: Qatar’s leading English Daily
- High hopes for new skate park at shopping mall
- Around the world revelers greet New Year with fireworks singing…
- To get in shape in the new year avoid the gym — no really
- Dec. 31 – Game 4 – US tops Finland
- The Making of Celebrities and Hot Scandals’
Review: Chris Brown wows fans at Oracle Arena with music spectacle
San Francisco Chronicle – Dec 31, 2007
Only two musicians were actually present: turntablist DJ Baby Drew and drummer Gerald Heyward whose bashing accents helped bring life to the otherwise prerecorded instrumental and vocal backgrounds. Although Brown has cut back on musicians he was surrounded by a dozen dancers – men women and children – throughout most of the show. Movement is the essence of Brown’s entertainment and the routines were brilliantly choreographed amalgamations of break dance pop-and-lock and crump styles. The tall lanky star was at the center of this undulating sea of bodies much of the time except when DJ Baby Drew took over during quick wardrobe changes and when the two kids – dancer Myles Brown and rapper Scooter – grabbed the spotlight while Brown exited the stage only to re-emerge minutes later on a second makeshift stage on the opposite end of the arena floor much to the surprise and delight of adoring fans. Brown and two dancers performed two songs “Lottery” and “Take You Down” as the circular stage rotated. Screams turned to a deafening roar when he removed his T-shirt and his well-toned sweat-soaked torso rippled in time with the rhythm. Brown sang duets with Lil Wayne T-Pain and Rhianna none of whom were actually there but appeared on video screens.
The Peninsula On-line: Qatar’s leading English Daily
Peninsula On-line – Dec 31, 2007
A good mix of nationalities was represented at Friday’s bash said Omer. “We had people from Iraq Egypt France the Philippines Scotland and Qatar” said the 23-year-old Egyptian who holds a job here when he’s not busy breaking to the latest in hip-hop. Break dancing a term coined by the media for b-boying first came into being in the Seventies in New York. The style of dancing became known to the masses through the Jennifer Beals starrer ‘Flashdance’ which highlighted the Big Apple’s hip-hop scene. The dance style proved to be a huge hit as it was flexible enough to absorb other forms of dance with a bit of acrobatics martial arts and gymnastics thrown in for good measure. The dance form also led to innumerable sprains and other injuries to those who were not figuratively made of rubber.
High hopes for new skate park at shopping mall
Edinburgh Evening News – Dec 31, 2007
For a massive empty unit on the shopping centre’s top floor is being converted into a skate park BMX track and break dancing arena. The urban sports centre ? to be known as Transgression Park ? is expected to officially open within days and has been designed by Scottish professional BMX rider Dave Sowerby. Initially it will consist of a skate park ? thought to be the highest in the UK ? a break dance area a cafe and a shop. But it is hoped facilities for free running and a stunt school will be added in future. The 9020-square foot unit has previously been used for art exhibitions a boxing club and even as a space for events at the Leith Festival. The centre which cost a “five figure sum” to fit out will cost users a £25 annual membership fee as well as an as yet undecided entry charge. It will be open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm.
Around the world revelers greet New Year with fireworks singing…
International Herald Tribune – Dec 31, 2007
Beijing started the year with singing and dancing displays hosted by Summer Olympics organizers. And rare celebrations resounded in war-torn Baghdad… Across the globe people gathered for parties shot off fireworks and held out hopes for a peaceful and prosperous 2008. But reminders of violence were apparent as well as security was tightened in many nations. Fireworks were canceled in downtown Brussels Belgium where police last week detained 14 people suspected of plotting to help an accused al-Qaida militant break out of jail. In Paris where festivities centered on the famous Champs-Elysees avenue and the Eiffel Tower about 4500 police and 140 rescue officials patrolled the streets. In Thailand an army spokesman said he believed that five bombs set off by suspected Muslim insurgents in a Thai-Malaysian border tourist town likely targeted New Year's revelers. The bombs which wounded 27 people exploded in the hotel and nightlife area of Sungai Kolok including two inside a hotel dance club and one hidden in the basket of a motorcycle outside a hotel spokesman Col. Akara Thiprote said.
To get in shape in the new year avoid the gym — no really
Record-Searchlight – Record-Searchlight (subscription) – Dec 31, 2007
And every little bit might just as well be a pretty good time. • Dance with the masses: Or your friends at least. The point is who cares about stars and who cares about your couch? This is about you and that flash-dancing maniac you’ve kept locked away for too long now. Christine Haas a Herndon Va. -based personal trainer tells her clients to set up regular dance sessions with a partner or at a local dance school. Tango? Tap? Hip-hop? Belly dancing? Classes are available for every style of dancing. And breaking into a sweat at a nightclub works just as well Haas says… And breaking into a sweat at a nightclub works just as well Haas says. But make sure you’re refueling with water instead of sugary cocktails. • Take a coffee break: Does that sound beside the point? Not if your coffee break is four blocks away. Chances are you’re already taking time out of your workday for this kind of release probably with a reliable gossip buddy. Now get the gossip while you walk back and forth rather than while you sit and stir. It might not seem like much but it’ll definitely work against the calories in that creamer. • Have a kid: OK don’t have a kid.
Dec. 31 – Game 4 – US tops Finland
USA Hockey – Dec 31, 2007
Despite two goals in the first the team came out renewed in the second and dominated. What’s next: The semifinals await after a long break. More on this as the week progresses. Comments? Questions? Send them to. org—Another power play goal for Finland and as I write this they are on the power play again… —Finland cashes in a power play goal with a great pass from a defenseman to a wide open forward at the side of the net. While its still a long shot the Finns and this crowd (aka drum beaters) were instantly energized by that goal. —The arena staff just played the ‘Chicken Dance’ song and to my delight no one clapped along or did the dance. Does anyone else hate that dance as much as I do?—Joe Palmer replaces Jeremy Smith to start the second with Team USA up 5-0. Another solid performance by Smith and now we get to see Palmer for the first time. Good call by Hynes as this game is a less pressure-packed debut than say if Smith were to go down with injury in the middle of the semifinal game. —A lot of players are losing their edge and hitting the deck.
The Making of Celebrities and Hot Scandals’
Newswatch – Newswatch (subscription) – Dec 31, 2007
Ofunnekama Molokwu 29 Nigeria’s representative came second. But the show generated wide public condemnation over sex scandal involving some House mates. Other reality shows that took centrestage to entertain viewers in 2007 included the dance competitions Maltina Dance All Close Up Dance competition and Celebrity Takes 2. It was one reality show after another and these shows became very popular because of the way they turned participants into instant celebrities. There was a boom in award ceremonies both at home and abroad. On March 3 the African Movie Academy Awards AMAA took place at the Gloryland Cultural Centre Yenagoa Bayelsa State. The Nigerian Music Awards NMA made a grand return on May 19 after a 15-year break… There was a boom in award ceremonies both at home and abroad. On March 3 the African Movie Academy Awards AMAA took place at the Gloryland Cultural Centre Yenagoa Bayelsa State. The Nigerian Music Awards NMA made a grand return on May 19 after a 15-year break. There was also the MTV Base Awards Nigeria Music Video Awards Nigeria Movie Award NIGMA the Nigerian Movie Journalist Award and others. On the international scene awards like the Music Of Black Origin MOBO honoured Innocent Idibia Tu Face as the Best African Act. The Grammy Emmy and Academy Awards also made global headlines. However in the midst of all the celebration and awards there was also mourning.