Pure Gold Jewellers Turns The Spotlight On Diamonds With Trendy Pure Diamonds Collection For Summer And DSS

Award winning jewellery retailer Pure Gold Jewellers has added new stylish and elegant designs to its ‘Pure Diamonds’ jewellery collection in anticipation of greater demand during summer as Dubai Summer Surprises shopping extravaganza hits Dubai. In addition, the retailer is offering a 75% discount on all ‘Pure Diamonds’ jewellery.

‘Pure Diamonds’ brand is known for trendy designs in 18 karat yellow and white gold embedded with original Belgian cut diamonds. There is a selection of diamond jewellery in different carats, shapes and fancy cuts that include the princess, marquise, rounds, baguettes and pears.

Speaking about the offers, Karim Merchant, CEO & Managing Director, Pure Gold Jewellers said: “We are once again turning the spotlight on diamonds all summer and DSS, offering customers exclusive designs and huge savings on the best quality diamond jewellery. With our 75% discount offers, we expect great consumer demand this year. For customers this is an investment that will last a lifetime as diamonds have held their value over the years; and with the offers, they can easily indulge in their favourite diamond jewellery that is certified and designed with care and precision.”

Pure Gold Jewellers offers lifetime repair policy, exchange guarantee, and 100% certification for all the diamond jewellery pieces.

“The quality and customer service we offer matches what customers have come to expect from Dubai as the shopping destination of the world,” Merchant added. “DSS is one of the best seasons for Dubai’s jewellery trade. Every year we have seen an increase in sales with tourists and holiday shoppers eager to take advantage of the best offers.”

Offers can be availed throughout the months of June and July.

Legendary Musical Comes To Dubai! Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC Returns This Summer With Smash Hit West Side Story

Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC is returning this summer with one of the most acclaimed musicals in Broadway history: West Side Story – the unforgettable musical adaptation of the greatest love story of all time. Hot on the heels of last year’s hit production of Hairspray – West Side Story will give the very best local performers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work, rehearse and perform alongside some of the UK’s leading theatrical stars. So if you think you’ve got what it takes to be a Shark or a Jet in this legendary musical, why not come along to the auditions at DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates on 6th and 7th May 2011.

Auditions are free and open to anyone aged 11 and above. The successful auditionees will go on to take part in three weeks of intensive theatre workshops and rehearsals with some of the UK and USA’s top creative talent, including award winning director Joseph Fowler (Hello Dolly, Singing in The Rain, Hairspray) and the Broadway choreographer Sarah Miles (Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, The Sound of Music, Saturday Night Fever). The workshops will culminate in seven performances of the multi Tony and Olivier award winning musical West Side Story in DUCTAC’s magnificent Centrepoint Theatre from 19th – 23rd July. Preparations for West Side Story are designed to run in exactly the same way as the preparation period for a professional West End production, giving Dubai’s aspiring musical theatre stars the chance to see exactly what it takes to be a professional performer.

West Side Story is the thrilling musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet that changed musical theatre forever. This classic show explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs in New York City. Carefree young dreamer Tony, one of the Jets, falls in love with the beautiful, wide eyed and open hearted Maria – the sister of the Sharks’ leader. But the deadly rivalry between the Sharks and Jets means that their love is ill-fated from the start…

From the first notes to the final breath, West Side Story is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. The score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim —featuring well known classics including “Tonight,” “America,” “Maria,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere” — are widely regarded as among the best ever written.

So why not give it a shot? The auditions are designed to be fun and friendly and are open to everyone – no previous experience is necessary, all we ask is that you have a passion for performing! For more information on the auditions check out www.ductac.org or call 04 341 4777.
 

DIFF 2010 In Focus Shines Spotlight On Best Of Mexican Cinema

The seventh edition of the Dubai International Film Festival will showcase the best of Mexican cinema as a tribute to the nation’s bicentennial, DIFF announced today. The move marks the first large-scale debut of its kind for Latin American cinema in the region.

The Festival’s annual ’In Focus’ segment introduces regional audiences to the film, talent and narratives of nations with a history of excellence in cinema. With Mexico being responsible for some of Latin America ’s best and most popular contemporary films, DIFF 2010’s In Focus: Mexico segment is expected to resonate not only with the region’s burgeoning Spanish-speaking population but with everyone who loves cinema.

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director of the Dubai International Film Festival said: "From the 1940s through to the new wave, Mexican cinema has a celebrated history that is often overlooked today. We believe that the diversity, innovation and energy of Mexican cinema will inspire emerging and established filmmakers in the region, and we hope this special section will build a lasting bond between the region’s Spanish-speaking community and the Festival."

H.E. Francisco Alonso, Mexican Consul General in Dubai , stressed his government’s interest in strengthening cultural and economic ties between Mexico and Dubai , and urged the local community to get to know Mexico better through DIFF.

"We are firm believers in the Dubai International Film Festival’s credo of ’Bridging Cultures, Meeting Minds,’ and we are honoured that the leading film festival of the Arab world has chosen to focus on Mexico this year," Alonso said. "The Mexican community in the region will be active participants in DIFF this year, and we look forward to sharing our cultural values, stories, music and our talents with residents and visitors."

DIFF has screened a number of films by Mexican filmmakers in previous years, reiterating its commitment to bringing the best of world cinema to local audiences. Alejando González Iñárritu’s Babel and Carolina Rivas’ documentary El Color de Los Olivos (The Colour of Olives), for example, both screened at the Festival. A-list Mexican actress Salma Hayek has also participated in DIFF.

More recently, DIFF Chairman Abdulhamid Juma this month led a delegation to the eighth annual Morelia International Film Festival in the Mexican state of Michoacán. The festival, which ran from October 16 to 24, screened 55 Mexican and international film premieres and 86 documentaries, short films and features.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival 2010 will be held from December 12 to 19. DIFF 2010 is held in association with Dubai Studio City and supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Dubai Duty Free, Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai Pearl, Emirates Airline and Madinat Jumeirah are the principal sponsors of DIFF. Accreditation for DIFF 2010 is now open at www.dubaifilmfest.com .

Young Dubai Talents To Star In Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC’s Production Of Hairspray During Dubai Summer Surprises

Young talents from across Dubai are set to star in Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC’s production of the acclaimed London West End musical Hairspray when it begins on July 13. The show will go on till July 17 at the Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates. Show timings are 7:30pm with additional shows on July 16th and 17th at 2:30pm.

Olivier award winning actress Leanne Jones, who was part of the show’s Original London Cast and took on the critically acclaimed role of Tracy Turnblad, worked for weeks to help local Dubai students learn, prepare, rehearse and perform in the local production.

She was joined by fellow Hairspray Original London Cast member Terel Nugent who will reprise his role of Seaweed J Stubbs, Stephen Mcglynn (Burt in Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!) who will play Wilbur Turnblad and Antony Stuart-Hicks (Wizard of Oz) who will play Edna Turnblad.

Auditions for the show took place in May with the successful performers taking part in two weeks of intensive theatre workshops and rehearsals with some of the UK’s top creative talent.

Packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and bags of humour, Hairspray is a fun, feel good night out for all the family. Tickets are now available at the DUCTAC box office (04 341 4777) or through www.timeouttickets.com or www.boxofficeme.com

Performances run from Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 July at the Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates. See www.hairspraydubai.com or www.ductac.org for further details
 

Spotlight On Toddlers As Fun Sport Competitions Begin At Mirdif City Centre

A week of exciting competitions for toddlers and children was officially inaugurated on Sunday, July 25, at Mirdif City Centre as part of the ongoing Dubai Summer Surprises. The competitions were flagged off by Salem Al Dhamani, General Manager, Playnation, and Yousif Mubarak, Chief Operations Officer of the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment.

Yousif Mubarak said, “These fun contests bring together children and parents and more than the competition, this event brings alive the spirit of family and a sense of togetherness. This event reflects the variety of entertainment on offer for visitors to shopping malls throughout the summer.”

Spread across two locations of Mirdif City Centre, the competitions feature three arenas in the Central Galleria and four additional zones at Playnation.

“Mirdif City Centre is celebrating its first year of involvement in Dubai Summer Surprises this year, and it is with great pleasure that we have been working with DSS to bring such an amazing array of innovative, fun and exciting entertainment to our mall for visitors,” said Yousif Al Ali, Vice President, Mirdif City Centre.

“We have endeavoured to provide a variety of entertainment and activities that the whole family and all our guests from around the world can enjoy, and I think that such competitions have created a real festive spirit at the mall and have added to the overall enjoyment of DSS for all our customers,” he added.

Contests at zone 1 and zone 2 feature Baby Crawling, Basketball Race, Tricycle Race, One-Legged Race, Baby Walker, Baby Marathon, Toy Retrieving Race, Balloon Race, Bulls Eye, Spoon Race, Stacking Race, Birdie Feather Race, Frog Race, Flipper Race, Sack Race, and Bounce Ball Race. On-site registrations are still open for contests such as Baby Crawling, Baby Walker, Baby Marathon, and Toy Retrieving Race.

Additionally, zone 3 at the Central Galleria will host a table tennis contest. Open to children between the ages of eight and twelve, participants have to compete against themselves to achieve the maximum number of wall bounces in a minute.

Zone 4 at the Cite’ des Enfant, Playnation, will host a cube puzzle contest for children between three and seven years. Zone 5 at the Yalla! Bowling sees a bowling competition for children between seven and twelve years while zone 6 at the Soccer Circus Dubai will host a contest at the Training Academy. Zone 7 will host a contest for dance enthusiasts at Magic Planet for children between seven and twelve years. All these contests will take place daily throughout the week.

For more information on contest details, rules, and timings, log on to www.mydsf.ae or call Ahlan Dubai on +971 600 54 5555.
 

Spotlight On Toddlers As Kids Olympic Games Begin On July 25

Toddlers, children, and their parents are all set to star in a week of fun contests as the Kids Olympic Games begins July 25, at Mirdif City Centre ­ a key sponsor of this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises. Featuring toddlers as young as eight months and children up to twelve years, the competition is a signature event of DSS.

Into its eight consecutive year, Kids Olympic Games is the only such event for children to participate in exciting games and win spectacular prizes. Spread across two locations of Mirdif City Centre, the event features three arenas in the Central Galleria and four additional zones at Playnation.

Contests at zone 1 and zone 2 feature Baby Crawling, Basketball Race, Tricycle Race, One-Legged Race, Baby Walker, Baby Marathon, Toy Retrieving Race, Balloon Race, Bulls Eye, Spoon Race, Stacking Race, Birdie Feather Race, Frog Race, Flipper Race, Sack Race, and Bounce Ball Race. On-site registrations are still open for contests such as Baby Crawling, Baby Walker, Baby Marathon, and Toy Retrieving Race.

Additionally, zone 3 at the Central Galleria will host a table tennis contest. Open to children between the ages of eight and twelve, participants have to compete against themselves to achieve the maximum number of wall bounces in a minute.

Zone 4 at the Cite’ des Enfant, Playnation, will host a cube puzzle contest for children between three and seven years. Zone 5 at the Yalla! Bowling sees a bowling competition for children between seven and twelve years while zone 6 at the Soccer Circus Dubai will host a contest at the Training Academy. Zone 7 will host a contest for dance enthusiasts at Magic Planet for children between seven and twelve years. All these contests will take place daily throughout the week.

For more information on contest details, rules, and timings, log on to www.mydsf.ae or call Ahlan Dubai on +971 600 54 5555.
 

International Design Industry Places Spotlight On Dubai: Top Global Brands Set To Attend INDEX 2010

INDEX 2010, the definitive design event in the Middle East, is bringing top international designers and brands to Dubai from 8-11 November. Exhibitors from across the globe are already confirmed and will showcase a wide array of high-end and innovative design products.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, INDEX has firmly established itself as a leading player in the global design show calendar. Last year, more than 1,000 exhibitors participated from over 50 countries, showcasing the best the world has to offer in design.

The Middle East is still a buoyant market with great export potential for overseas businesses whose markets have been heavily impacted by the economic downturn. The total estimated value of interior design contracting projects from 2009 to 2010 in the GCC was US$22 billion, and the demand for interior design services in the UAE alone is expected to be worth some US$14.6 billion this year.

INDEX 2010 has already confirmed many high profile brands from within the GCC, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the US.

Exciting new exhibitors this year include Toshiro Alloy from Japan, who will showcase ‘Moonlight’ – hand cast, bespoke, pure tin surface panels. This very unique metal design concept creates a finished product resembling a natural material such as stone, wood, cloth, leather and antique. No two projects are the same with each piece being individually designed and hand-made.

HD Interiors from Russia are launching in the Middle East at INDEX 2010. HD specialise in unique and inspiring works using Swarovski crystals. Projects include stunning interior installations, a crystal embossed Rolls Royce and a crystal decorated helicopter.

From the USA, Robert Allen will showcase the finest fabrics including cottons, silks and outdoor fabrics. With the trends for 2010 being bold colour and varieties of textures, Robert Allen will showcase a wide range of fabrics to meet both these contemporary and the more classic requirements.

This year there will be a strong Spanish presence at INDEX. Spanish exhibitors include award winning Andreu World who is synonymous with modern form and functional design along with a range of contemporary finishes with strong character and great presence. Unique furniture designer Jordi Mila will be showcasing a collection of stunning furnishing designs including the Four Seasons lamp and the Hot Rider carbon fiber stool reminiscent of an English saddle. Other Spanish exhibitors include Muebles Canella, Grassoler, Lámparas Schuller, Vicente Zaragoza and Mariner.

Italy has always played a significant part at INDEX and this year is no exception. Exhibitors include world renowned glassmaker ‘Arte di Murano’ who will exhibit ornate and innovative uses of glass in lighting and decoration. Other Italian exhibitors include Casa Shamuzzi, Futura Leathers, Ceramicarte Deruta and IHBA Italian Home Building Automatic.

Participants from the GCC include Rivoli Silks, Baitek Palace representing Informit Italia, Beautiful House, Beacon Decor and Light and Brasslight International.

In addition to the thousands of exhibitors, there will be exciting, educational and inspirational features throughout the show. These will include informal seminars and panel debates, the second designer Contemporary Majlis competition, eclectic design pieces celebrating 20 years of design, the Al Habtoor ISG Student Challenge competition, eco sustainable design at its best and unparalleled industry networking events throughout the 4 days of the show.

Lu Buchanan, INDEX Event Director, said, “We are very excited about the 20th anniversary of INDEX. This year’s show will be truly a celebration of the best the world has to offer in design. We are incorporating many design features not just in the interior furnishing arena, but also looking at all aspects of design from stunning and useable eco sustainability solutions through to our new kitchens and bathrooms area. A first for this year will be the high end dedicated hall with the most beautiful and exclusive furnishings, art, sculpture and design from the top end leading Italian brands”.

INDEX 2010 will take place from 8-11 November, at Dubai World Trade Centre. For further information, visit www.indexexhibition.com. To book exhibition space, contact muhammedkazi@dmgevents.com or call +971 (0)4 438 0355.

Olivier Award Winning Actress Leanne Jones To Work With Young Dubai Talent In Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC’s Production Of Hairspray

Olivier award winning actress LEANNE JONES has joined Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC’s forthcoming production of Hairspray and will reprise her critically acclaimed role of Tracy Turnblad in the Tony and Olivier Award winning show.

Leanne, who won the prestigious Olivier Award in 2008 for Best Actress in a Musical for Hairspray, also received the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Newcomer and Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical as a member of the show’s Original London Cast at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London’s West End.

As part of the Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC team, she will work each day to help local Dubai students learn, prepare, rehearse and perform in Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC’s first production.

She is joined by fellow Hairspray Original London Cast member TEREL NUGENT who will reprise his role of Seaweed J Stubbs, STEPHEN McGLYNN (Burt in Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia!) who will play Wilbur Turnblad and ANTONY STUART-HICKS (Wizard of Oz) who will play Edna Turnblad.

Hairspray is the first production from SPOTLIGHT ACADEMY @ DUCTAC, which gives the very best local talent the chance to work, rehearse and perform alongside some of the UK’s leading theatrical stars. Auditions took place in May with the successful performers taking part in two weeks of intensive theatre workshops and rehearsals with some of the UK’s top creative talent, culminating in SEVEN performances of Hairspray in DUCTAC’s magnificent Centrepoint Theatre.

The show is produced on behalf of DUCTAC by JC Theatre Productions and The Shakespeare 4 Kidz Theatre Company. Producer and Director Julian Chenery, who has brought his acclaimed Shakespeare 4 Kidz shows to Dubai for the past 4 years, is delighted that Leanne has found time to squeeze the Spotlight Academy @ DUCTAC into her busy schedule.

“Leanne was a sensation when she burst onto the West End stage as Tracy Turnblad. She is one of the most talented musical theatre stars in the world and tremendous fun. I know that everyone who is lucky enough to be part of this exciting production will love her and learn so much from working with her.”

Leanne arrives in Dubai directly from the London production of Jonathan Larsson’s Tick, Tick, Boom! and prior to a UK tour of Dave Simpson’s play The Naked Truth.

Packed with great songs, amazing dance routines and bags of humour, Hairspray is a fun, feel good night out for all the family. So don’t miss your chance to see Leanne performing live on stage in Dubai alongside the stars of the future – book your tickets now at the DUCTAC box office (04 341 4777) or through www.timeouttickets.com or www.boxofficeme.com

Performances run from Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 July at the Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates.

See www.hairspraydubai.com or www.ductac.org for further details