Institute of Directors (IoD) recognise MEI International Ltd

The IoD (Institute of Directors) have invited MEI International Ltd to visit them on 6 April, after MEI was recently recognised yet again for its business acumen and service delivery.  

I entered the ‘Enterprising Young Brits Awards 2010’, supported by the ‘Daily Mail’ and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.  The judges let me know today that MEI have made to the long-list stage of the competition (top 20 in our category), which is a tremendous achievement in itself. 

MEI have been invited to attend the ‘Enterprising Young Brits Awards’ reception on Tuesday, 6th April at the Institute of Directors, London.  It will be attended by other young entrepreneurs, government figures and members of the media.   Now, that’s a business event with some real power and kick!

A big thank you to Enterprise UK  for their continued support of MEI International Ltd.

MEI greatly look forward to visiting the Institute of Directors.

SOPHIE MEI SCHOOLS 

Come learn the drills and frills of bellydance with international bellydance star - Sophie Mei. 

Bellydance is a powerful Middle Eastern art form that is one of the fastest growing forms of dance and is older than ballet! 

It started as a women's fertiity dance and then progressed as a style of dance women did at female-only celebrations. 

Day                                    Location                                      Time                          Price

Sundays  (every)                       Polish Club, Ecclesall RD           14.30-16.30            £7/£6

Tuesday (first of the month)    The Showroom Cafe,                   18.30-19.30    £4/£3          

Saturdays (Every)                      Greens Gym                                   9.00-10.00                   Greens Members only                                     

For more information: sophiemei.net/schools    

Contact: schools@sophiemei.net 

COMING SOON... BellyBar - bespoke bellydance parties 

Sophie Mei Schools: 

Become part of the world’s fastest growing dance community – Bellydance - at a Sophie Mei School. 

Bellydance derives from Middle-Eastern folkloric dance and has rapidly grown from the East and is becoming increasingly popular amongst men and women in the West. 

Bellydance is a fun way to keep fit, strengthen your core muscles and celebrate being a woman (of any shape, size or age). 

Sophie Mei, Founder of Sophie Mei Schools, has been learning the art of Bellydance for over 8 years. She has trained extensively and quite literally ‘From Pitsmoor to the Pyramids.’ 

She is an established bellydance performer and has performed across the world and most famously reached the Live Semi-finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent 2008 where Simon Cowell remarked that Sophie has “absolute star quality.” 

Sophie has an extensive history as a teacher and trainer as she regularly teaches English, Drama and Dance in Italy as well as working as a Peer Educator for the NHS in the UK. 

She also has a Foundation Certificate in Teaching Arabic Dance (JWAAD). 

Sophie Mei Schools was launched in 2010 and aims to create a nationwide school of dance in order to spread the art of Bellydance and in turn help boost women’s self-esteem, fitness levels and social activity. 

Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Director for her film The Hurt Locker. She along with Sandra Bullock, another strong female figure who won her first Oscar for best actress, demonstrated true girl power, skill and glamour at this year's Oscars. 

Most of all, the day it was announced March 8th, marks International Women's Day which this year's theme is 'Women in Action' of which Sandra and Kathryn showed in true Hollywood style. 

What did you do, if anything, to mark the day? Were you even aware? 

I never used to know or even celebrate it as I've always shied away from feminism as I used to believe that feminists were men-hating, doc Martin wearing, anti-make-up and angry women. Where as I have always been happy-go-lucky, loved make up and dresses, loved men and heels even more. However, I too have argued strongly for equal rights for women, men and transgender alike. 

I now realize that i am a feminist just not as extreme as others. Personally, I feel it's important to celebrate International Women's Day as women are still not treated equally across the world. There are varying levels of inequality depending on the country but I am yet to go anywhere for a period of time and feel that women are treated equally. 

In the UK today we still don't batter an eyelid as we glance at a topless woman on Page 3 or strip clubs opening across the country. Even in Italy, known for it's devout religious values still broadcast women in sexily cut short skirts dumbly reading the news next to a more 'intelligent-looking' man. 

So from Germaine Greer to Jordan - from fake nailed WAG wannabees to men-hating doc Martin wearers - we seem to be a society of extremes, however, whatever turns you on, the one thing that we as women should do is join together in the fight for universal equality for women. 

Trash the Dress: The most colourful day of your life

The sun shines, the bride and groom are smiling and family members are gathered around the newly wed couple – having their photo’s taken. Suddenly, the envious bridesmaid in demure black, starts to squirt paint all over the bride’s new designer dress.  Reds, blues, yellows and even green all over the dress and veil until the bride… starts to squirt back.

Family members look on in amusement and decide to join in.  

Not your normal wedding day photo but colourful all the same and that’s why this weird and wonderful craze has swept America… and now Sheffield.

Serendipity Photography, who specialise in Kid’s and wedding photography, and Little White Book Wedding, who are a company of wedding planners, contacted me to see if I wanted to be acting bride and paint victim. Naturally, I declined modelling as a bride and having a paint fight… yeah right, it was definitely up my street and my second fake wedding as a singleton! Best of all, my model/make up artist stunning friend – Katy Padam worked on the shoot with me.

Our chosen venue/paint dungeon was a derelict area on the outskirts of Sheffield City Centre where there was lots of stunning graffiti art and disused factories.

So there we were shivering in white wedding dresses fighting with bottles of paint and smashing our bouquets on one another.

Hah all in a day’s work… the only slightly embarrassing moment came when Katy and I had to journey home covered in paint and dressed wedding dresses…

Watch out for part 11: Trash the Costume where I get covered in paint in my bellydance outfit… and finally I wonder if it’s a trend we could spread to funerals… I’d like that … trash the coffin.

Last week marked National Eating Disorder Awareness Week and I was glad to see it had been picked up in ‘The Star’ with Sarah Dunn’s article on Sheffield’s Eating Disorder Service.

B-EAT is the national eating disorders charity and it is one of the charities that I support, in addition to Mind, and for which I regularly campaign.  

There are a lot of myths surrounding with eating disorders; such as, they only affect ‘vain girls’ who want to become excessively thin or ‘girls going through a tough time’.  However, we must remember that eating disorders are like any other ILLNESS and that it isn’t a choice.  

There is a whole a spectrum of severity to different eating disorders and it is not disingenuous to suggest that these days, most people in today’s society could be labelled as having some form of eating disorder!   Who hasn’t over-stuffed their face on hearing some bad news and wished they hadn’t?  Who hasn’t had that extra pint or glass of wine in the evening when they know how bad it is for the waistline and heart?  Who hasn’t eaten more chocolate than they should have and then gone on a crash diet to squeeze into that summer swimming costume, bridesmaid dress or even wedding dress? 

Personally, I believe that once a habit with your usual food/eating/diet/exercise becomes obsessive and frequently affects and interferes with your everyday life, I think this is when help needs to be sought.  It is not purely a weight change but a change of ‘normal’ habits that are not part of a usual routine.

Sadly, this generation is seeing an epidemic of men, women, girls and boys with eating disorders and body dysmorphia. But what has caused this dramatic increase?  This is the question we should be asking – not overly concentrating on shock tactics.  

Today’s society is obsessed with diets, physique and celebrity status - however, eating disorders are much more than a matter of vanity.  They are a mental health illness and can control the sufferer’s lives.  We must start to move on with narrow definitions and judgements, and start to ask what is the true cause of these eating disorder epidemics – and we must look less to blame the sufferer which is the easiest route to take.  

We will each have our own ideas about the cause – and they may very well be multifaceted.  Personally, I think they are caused by a lack of opportunity for people to fulfil their potential and have control over the basic things that make all our lives happy ones (flexible time to spend with loved ones, reasonable  workloads, decent salaries, etc). This lack of control is increasingly something in all our lives – especially when we are in the middle of a economic recession or other things that bring undue stress to us all.  Eating disorders are only ONE manifestation of that frustration and stress.  Others may turn to drink, alcohol, domestic violence and other more obvious outlets.  The thing about eating disorders, is the first victim is the sufferer, and it is such a deceptively quiet illness that it is easier to ignore and easier to blame the individual and easier not to fund the support needed. Rather than attract sympathy and empathy, it seems to incite dismissive judgement.  Perhaps it is because it seems so linked to ‘looks’ and ‘looks’ have become an obsessive focus of today’s society.  And society divides itself constantly over the topic of whether ‘looks’ do or do not matter.  But that is a whole other debate, for a whole new blog...

We must stay away from the ‘shock-factor’ and our obsession with the size zero trend.  Personally, I was horrified to watch Louise’s Redknapp’s show last year, which showed Louise following a diet/exercise programme to become a ‘size zero’ in order to expose how difficult and damaging it can be. However, such issues need more analysis than a light-hearted factual entertainment show which, to the vulnerable viewer actually taught trick on how to lose weight, and I felt it made eating disorders look like a trivial issue.

Yes, eating disorders are about weight loss/gain and how we view ourselves physically but most of all internally.

If we see that overly skeletal girl or that morbidly obese guy we must not jump to conclusions but begin to learn more about an illness that affects so many people, from anorexia to obesity and binge-eating disorder – they are all physically harmful in there own rights (of varying severity) but most of all, mentally damaging and upsetting for the sufferers and their family/carers/friends.

Finally, on a more optimistic note eating disorders can be prevented, managed and even ‘cured’ with the right treatment and understanding but first we must rid society of the stigma surrounding them. The best known treatment for eating disorders is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and it is essential that if you or someone you know has or is on the road to an eating disorder to put tem in touch with professional help.

For further information, please see: http://www.b-eat.co.uk

Good question in today’s Star Poll.

We must remember that ‘bellydance’ is the Western name for this art form and the word belly is believed to come from ‘beledi’ a style of Arabic dance meaning ‘from the heart.’

The style of dance that is associated with harems and ‘dance of the seven veils’ is not true bellydance  and therefore, I would not associate it with family fun or the art of bellydance for that matter.

However, traditional Bellydance is a soulful dance form that is traditionally done in a galibeya (a long dress) with a hip scarf or now a cabaret outfit (bra top and skirt), is a style of dance which empowers women and is a form of expression – it is not to titilate men and in fact originates from a ‘fertility dance’ and women celebrating together – there are even male bellydancers now.

SO why, do people question bellydance and not Cirque du Soleil? Why is Peter Andre dancing topless acceptable to families but women dancing in cabaret outfits aren't? 

We are in a society today that seems obsessed with sexualizing women, children and even men but why should we go along with society's stereotypes? 

Bellydance is not sexual, it is an art form and it is sensual as it is powerful. Are we really becoming that crude where we believe that any flesh on show is too much, or women portraying confidence is intimidating and something that should be hidden? 

For me, bellydance helped me escape society's 'norms' that to be a dancer or to be beautiful I should be stick thin. It also helped me to see how often action is more powerful than words. When I dance I don't do it to pleasure men, I do it to liberate myself and most of all to connect with an audience with this emotional dance style. These emotions can include happy songs, sad songs and even cheeky and fun songs.

Bellydance is a positive celebration, a theatrical event, a musical show and most of all a bridge between cultures. 

Bellydance performances are not the same as the writhing or booty moves that are done by some popstars who seem to use bellydance movements in their music videos.  That is an entirely different thing, often an adulteration of the dance form.  Nor are bellydancers the same as: exotic dancers, lapdancers or burlesque. 

Anyone who hasn't been locked away in a room this week, knows that there has been a ranging controversy linked to risque music videos and apparent over-sexualising of children through them.  But please don't bring the art of bellydance into this - it could not be more different. 

I am proud to let you know that the international Bellydance Superstars (BDSS), who were founded by Miles Copeland (former manager of Sting and the Police) Miles Copeland, are bringing Europe’s biggest bellydance festival to Sheffield. Part of their festival, I am delighted to say as a Sheffielder, will be compered by me and the legendary Miles Copeland. 

This not-to-be-missed festival involves 3 days of spectacular workshops lead by the Bellydance stars themselves, a huge souk (large market of bellydance wear and products), live bands and DJs, Middle Eastern Buffets, Superstar Auditions and the all new Bellydance Superstars Show: The Art of Bellydance. 

This major theatrical dance extravaganza, whose show The Art of Bellydance in my opinion rivals those by Riverdance and Cirque du Soleil with its spectacular visual feast and it will appeal to both families and a wide spectrum of dance enthusiasts! It is for everyone and everyone is welcome - so please join us.  

Family-friendly - yes, family-friendly! - show features bold new choreography, exquisite costumes and new production elements that the Bellydance Superstars are looking forward to bringing to you!   

The Bellydance Superstars (BDSS) are at the forefront of a worldwide explosion in prestige and popularity in the art of Bellydance, taking this once largely solo performance, and ancient art of Middle Eastern culture, into the 21^st Century mainstream. Their Saturday night show The Art of Bellydance builds on the BDSS troupe’s renowned reputation in highlighting a variety of bellydance styles and unique fusions in a way the world's major stages have never played host to before - and now here they are in Sheffield!

So, please let's make them as welcome as Tokyo and LA do! Let's show them that big Yorkshire welcome for which we are renowned!