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Lawal Sakoba Dance Theatre launches the Hawth’s exciting new dance season

A ground breaking new show by the critically acclaimed company, Bode Lawal Sakoba Dance Theatre, launches the Hawth’s exciting new dance season this January. Since their conception, Sakoba Dance Theatre has drawn much attention and praise for their innovative style, which draws upon traditional African tribal dance – mixed with contemporary Western styles.

Comprising of three individual pieces, Okan’ Nijo (One), Ogo (Glory) and Aiduronijo (Clockwork), Bode Lawal’s exciting style of choreography is apparent in all three; an assimilation of a vast array of dance influences spanning different cultures and genres.

Aiduronijo (Clockwork)
This piece oscillates within the different components of time through intricate interaction and precise movements. It introduces the concept of Bode Lawal’s Dance Technique, with music by international jazz/classical composer, Tim Garland.

Ogo (Glory) New Work
In today’s endless human pursuit of material goals we often ignore the fulfilment of God to guide our thoughts in our daily lives.

Okan’ Nijo (One) New Work
The complex evolution of dance throughout diverse cultures, across continents and through time has produced a vast array of styles and techniques. Cultural tastes in music influence movement and styles are developed and enhanced through changing trends.

The Hawth, Crawley Wednesday 30 January at 7.30pm. Tickets priced £12.50 (discounts: £9.50. Schools/under 18s: £7.50) are available from The Hawth box office on 01293 553636 or you can book online at www.hawth.co.uk

Sandra Omo races against the clock to make an important appointment

Have you ever felt like you have made the worst choice although it was the best option? This was exactly how I felt last Wednesday. I had purchased my coach ticket to Birmingham to attend a casting by Levis for the launch of their new range of denim. It will be four days of show room displays, workshops and catwalks with great pay and huge exposure for the selected models. Therefore, it was worth the travel.

Come Wednesday, I was running late due to an earlier appointment. I knew I would have to fly if I was to make it to Victoria coach station before 11 am when my bus departs. Therefore, I decided to use a taxi. “Why didn’t she use the tube?” I can hear someone ask. Well, you know that thing they say about the tube being the fastest means of transportation in London? It really depends on how many times you have to change lines. If it is up to two times for a journey that will take you no more than 20 minutes by road, honey, you are better off by car. A taxi to Victoria from where I was at the time would take fifteen minutes or less. It would have been the perfect choice if not for unexpected traffic that spoilt it all for me.

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Dani decides that a New Year is time for a new start, to include curbing sarcasm and dodging the models that spy on her

I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, but I decided that there are a few things I would like to accomplish this year. And here they are.

Number one: eventually give up smoking.
Or at least think about it seriously. For the obvious health benefits and also to shut up all the people who constantly tell me off about it and nag me about it, while conveniently sipping a beer and forgetting that I hardly ever drink and I’m so anti drug I’m afraid I’ll eventually turn full circle! Everyone is allowed one vice surely?

Number two: become a grown up.
I feel like I have to bite the bullet and get a proper adult handbag and start wearing lipstick and high heels. Not that I necessarily want to, it’s just that I can’t possibly continue on as I am. I need to start writing cheques and doing all the things proper grown ups do. Perhaps all I need to do is just be a little more sure of myself and eventually the grown up thing will naturally follow!

Number three: pay off my overdraft.
This one is quite self explanatory. But now that I have a proper job it shall be a hell of a lot easier than before!

Number four: be less sarcastic.
I suppose this one will be quite hard. I have a dry sense of humour and most of the time I can’t help letting a sarcastic comment slip out. In actual fact I think it’s best if I just leave this year as a year to practise being less sarcastic, and make next year the year when I totally try and cut it out!

Number five: stop worrying about getting old, fat and ugly!
Obviously quite a random one, but this is quite a big deal. I have nightmares about settling down, having a couple of kids, letting things go and then being traded in for a younger, firmer and more attractive model! I have no clear idea as to why I am actually having full-on nightmares about this but I am. And I feel I should probably try and not think about it.

Number six: stop getting the creepy feeling that I’m always being watched.
I’m not entirely sure why I have this feeling or more to the point how to get rid off it. It’s not that I feel I am being watched by invisible things, it’s more the feeling that I am being spied on. For instance, if there are any packets of hair dye in the bathroom, I have to turn them away from me, so I can’t see the models faces before I can use the loo. I fully understand that this makes me sound like an absolute nut job but I can’t help it. I have always had that feeling!

Number seven: stop slipping in and out of a dream world where I am the star of a 40s film.
Right, officially bonkers. It’s not a big thing and it’s only very rare, but sometimes it’s just a hell of a lot more fun than waiting for a train in the rain! It just takes the edge off boring situations!

I could probably write one hundred more, but I’m worried the men in white coats will come knocking if I continue! So I’ll just settle with these few and hopefully combat at least one of them!

Victoria Nangle… decides when and how to make New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year! Still feeling the ‘benefit’ of New Year’s Eve? Were you stimulated in body and mind until the small wee hours seeing out the old year and bringing in the new? Are you really SO grateful that New Year’s Day is a Bank Holiday? Regardless of your answers to the previous questions we’re all pretty much in agreement on the last. This is the time we really have to take stock of our ambitions for thecoming year, rather than any rushed resolutions discovered after a bit of lacklustre soul-searching at a quarter to midnight on New Year’s Eve. It’s the quiet that lets you think, the space that lets you consider, and the sobriety that lets you make reasonable resolutions rather than ones determining to open Preston Park’s first reptile petting zoo. Really, it can seem like a gap in the market.

“Sobriety lets you make reasonable decisions rather than ones to open Preston Park’s first reptile zoo”

Obviously, intentions to see more comedy are on my agenda, along with booking more gigs to play myself – or as my grandmother calls them ‘jigs’. Writing new material, supporting the new material of my friends and colleagues, going along to support them even if I’m not playing there and it’s further away than a leisurely stroll. All of these things I must do more of this year. And enjoy it.

It’s quite good having resolutions that are set up for things you’re going to enjoy rather than stopping things you were previously enjoying – enbittered former smoker vocal and present. Surely resolutions should be about improving your life in more ways than simply admitting your faults and trying to fix them. Standing around at midnight with everyone celebrating trying think up a list of things that are wrong with me surely isn’t my best way to get in the party mood. It’d be like going to Trinny and Susannah’s New Year’s Party but with do-it-yourself criticism.

This year, as I said, I’m making building resolutions rather than maintenance ones. None of this – ‘I shall resolve to get into work on time every day this year’. That’s not a resolution! That’s what I get paid to do! Hardly fair to try and take credit for achieving something I’m supposed to do in the first place.

Admittedly some would say I’m already supposed to support my friends, write new material and get gigs, but I’m talking about upping the ante on my previous efforts. And making time for it. Sorting out priorities. Again, a good time for doing this is New Year’s Day with a pen and paper and a whopping big brand new diary in a calm environment. I’ve got my day planned now. And my week, month and possibly large section of the year. And it’s all going to be glorious fun. Best make sure yours is too.