Once again Barmed was home to TV host and DJ Toby Anstis.
Toby was more than happy to have his picture taken with two lovely people
Shelley went along to speak to Toby and ask him about the famous people he had interviewed in the past.
Toby is always there for the public
Toby is back down at BarMed on the 17th December. Don’t miss it!
Where you at BarMed on this evening? You might see yourself on the footage 
On Friday 22nd July in the town centre of Crawley we were treated to a demonstration by the Crawley In Motion team.
Fired up by every-day adult non-dancers, with choreography by Shaun Angel, an enthusiastic camera man and editor Ben Murray and a great bunch of local young people, the Flash Mob demonstrated the essence of ‘Crawley in Motion’ – to mix art with sport, to inspire, volunteer, get involved and enhance activities planned, as we head towards the Olympic year, 2012!
Animating an open space, with dancers and non dancers alike, the intention was to film the event to promote events over the coming year, launching this year’s Open Weekend. Promoted through a Flash Mob website, word of mouth and email, group rehearsals took place at the Civic Hall, The Hawth Studio, HBG Ifield gym and K2 Crawley with practice video clips on YouTube to learn at home.
The group included non-dancers of all ages, from local authority, Freedom Leisure at K2 Crawley, HBG Fitness, Ginger Moo, local musicians and inspirational input from independent parkour enthusiasts and professional dancers from both Shaun Angel and Andy Moore’s dance troops.
Participants gathered from 4pm, shopped, walked and talked, drank a coffee… The Hawth technical team wheeled a mobile sound system to the bandstand at 4.20pm and on hearing the music, Drew Ratcliff and Jordan Nesbitt crossed the square with well rehearsed breath-taking gymnastic moves which signalled the group to join in. The impressive routine ended with everyone dispersing from the square to the sounds of cheers from spectators.
Everyone who took part volunteered their time. Shaun Angel commented “I was really pleased to be asked to help. My students loved being part of an exciting project like this – and I’m making links with other local dance troops to grow the project with the Crawley in Motion team!”
Video footage and photos will be shown on Go! Crawley’s facebook page promoting activities for young people – www.facebook.com/gocrawley and on CBC website promoting Crawley in Motion.
‘Crawley in Motion’ is led by Crawley Borough Council comprising committee members from sports, arts and community and business departments, Freedom Leisure at K2 Crawley, HBG Fitness, Crawley Schools Partnership, CVS. The committee aim is to ensure that Crawley residents are directly involved in celebration and activity surrounding London 2012 – and to encourage everyone to get involved!
For more information on Crawley in Motion – www.crawley.gov.uk/inmotion
For more information on Flash Mob – Sam Murray – creative.action@tiscali.co.uk
Crawley MP Supports Big Society Fund For Local Voluntary Sector
Henry Smith MP has welcomed the news that money from the Government’s Big Society Transition Fund will support the local voluntary sector. The funding, part of the third wave of payouts from the £107 million Transition Fund, is being paid out to Crawley Home-Start.
Although three quarters of charities receive no public funding, the Government is determined to protect those charities, such as Crawley Home-Start, which are most vulnerable to public spending cuts.
Henry said:
“I’m pleased that the Government is committed to supporting charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises across the South East despite the necessity of dealing with Labour’s disastrous economic legacy.
“It’s great to hear that Crawley Home-Start, which does important work to offer early intervention to families with children under 5 offering support services to those suffering from a variety of difficulties including isolation, depression, substance abuse and financial problems, will receive £34,602 in funding.”
The local Broadfield based Scheme Manager for Crawley Home-Start, Liz Roe, said:
“Like many other organizations, we have been adversely affected by the current economic situation and we have struggled to find the necessary funds to maintain our work.
“We were, therefore, very pleased to be awarded a grant from the Transition Fund. Although this cannot be used to fund our service to families directly it can be used to plan for a more sustainable future for the Scheme. We will, therefore, plan expenditure carefully with the aim of ensuring that the scheme is around for a long time to come and vulnerable families in our area can continue to receive the support they desperately need.”
The Cabinet Secretary responsible for the fund, Horsham MP Francis Maude, also chipped in to say:
“We all want a bigger, stronger society where people get involved and do their bit. This isn’t new – there are already loads of people right across Britain taking responsibility and making our communities better places to live. What is new is that this Government is making it easier for people to do more: giving people power to improve public service, putting communities in control, and supporting people to help others.”
The Transition Fund provides grants to these organisations to allow them to prepare for the future opportunities opened up by the Big Society. The money will fund the crucial changes that charities need to make to take advantage of the new opportunities available to them from opening up public sector contracts. So far more than 900 charities nationally have received support from the Transition Fund.
Follow Henry daily on Facebook by visiting: www.facebook.com/henrysmithmp
Be the best with one year to go …
Celebrate one year to go until the London 2012 Games by organising an event for Open Weekend 2011.
The theme for the fourth Open Weekend is ‘showcasing your best’. Sport, art, dance, film, music, and heritage events can all be part of the nationwide Open Weekend activities from Friday July 22 to Sunday July 24, 2011.
West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy Deborah Urquhart said: “Last year thousands of people across West Sussex enjoyed taking part in events put on by many organisations including leisure centres, libraries, museums and galleries.
“Blue Touch Paper Carnival weaved its way around Horsham’s Sparks in the Park event, sports taster sessions at K2 Crawley and East Grinstead Leisure Centre introduced new people to different activities, and Chichester’s Pallant House Gallery opened its doors for free.
“I’m certain this year will be even bigger and better as enthusiasm grows across West Sussex with one year to go.”
Organisations are encouraged to get involved. If you’re putting on an event you need to register it with the London2012.com website by the end of June. Also please email info@westsussex-aheadofthegame.com so it can be added to the list of events that will be promoted across the county.
Supported by BP and launched in 2008 with the start of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, more than a million people from around the UK have taken part in Open Weekend activities in the past three years.
On Saturday the unexpected shoppers in the County Mall, Crawley were treated to a ‘flashmob’ style Zumba spree.
We went along to catch this moment for the people who were unable to get down.
On Saturday 16th April the Zumba girls of Crawley decided to ‘flashmob’ the unsuspecting petrol station at Three Bridges Tesco’s in Crawley.
Later that day the County Mall also saw a huge ‘flashmob’ of Zumba dancing by around 100 people. Video and more to follow…..
The Hawth has three treats in store for families looking for some half term fun, there’s crazy clowning, mad hatters and even a cat who saves the day.
On Thursday 24th February at 6.30pm those crazy Ukrainians from Paperworld are back! Mimirichi return to The Hawth with a completely new show, Plastic Fantastic. Fast-paced physical comedy, hilarious slapstick and buckets of mayhem, nothing compares to the pure joy that is Mimirichi. Plastic Fantastic includes mind-blowingly original origami that can turn a pile of coloured cellophane into almost anything, physical horseplay, quick-fire mime and downright silliness. These clowns are Ukrainian, unique, utterly bonkers and guaranteed to thrill the whole family.
The next day (Friday 25th February) at 4pm The Hawth Studio plays host to Oxfordshire Theatre Company’s brand new musical version of Alice In Wonderland for children aged 6 plus. Inquisitive Alice leads audiences down the rabbit hole into a mysterious wonderland of the imagination to discover curious creatures, puzzling people and unravel marvellous mathematical mysteries. The show combines puppetry, song and dance to create a world where nothing is quite as it seems and you never know who’ll pop up next!
Finally children aged 4 plus can look forward to The Mousehole Cat in The Studio on Saturday 26 February, 11am. Inspired by an old folk legend of the Cornish village of Mousehole, where a brave cat and an old fisherman battle a storm that has been raging for weeks this delightful show is based on the award-winning book by Antonia Barber and Nicola Bayley. The tale is brought to life by carved wooden puppets, coloured shadows, live music, song and a beautiful set.
Tickets -
Plastic Fantastic: £10.50, child: £7.50, Family of four or more/groups: £8.50 each
Alice In Wonderland: £8. Child: £6.50. Family of four: £26
The Mousehole Cat: £6.50. Family of four: £24
To book call The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or visit www.hawth.co.uk.
On Thursday 28th October Jo & Sarah celebrated Halloween in style!
With songs like Michael Jackson’s Thriller and many more, and most ladies dressed up to thrill the evening was frightfully fun filled.
We took some pictures for you to enjoy.
You can see all details on when and where Jo & Sarah’s Zumba is held here.
CRAWLEY BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Every year Crawley Black History Month gets bigger and better and this year is no exception with sixteen events across the town, many of which are free so there are plenty of reasons to celebrate.
The fun gets started in Queen Square on Saturday 2 October between 11am and 4pm with Crawley Black History Month Kick Off, a day of music, dance, fashion and food for everyone to enjoy. On Saturday 16 October Crawley Library will be holding Word From Africa, full of events based around some of the 2000 African languages, a number of which are spoken in Crawley.
The month of events is rounded off with one big celebration at The Hawth. On Saturday 30 October The Grand Finale will hit the stage at 7.30pm with professional acts alongside community performers. The fabulous band Baraka will have audiences up and dancing as they combine dance African highlife, South African Township, Calypso and Reggae music to create a sound your feet won’t be able to resist.
To really get into the spirit of the evening you can come along and sample delicious African dishes at the Arts Café at The Hawth and why not come along in traditional dress? Whatever you wear make sure you come ready to party!
These are just some of the highlights of the month, other events at The Hawth include Island Life, an evening of Diego Garcian Culture (13 Oct) offering an uplifting night of song and Sega dancing in The Studio, Wild Dog (14 Oct) a new dance show from Tavaziva Dance combining African dance and music with Western theatre and
The Day The Waters Came (19 Oct) a drama exploring the effects of Hurricane Katrina on thousands of black American citizens in New Orleans.
Little ones have plenty to enjoy too with Handa’s Surprise (16 Oct) returning to The Hawth Studio to transport them on a magical journey to Kenya, The Jingle Dress
(30 Oct) will enthral ages 3-5 with it’s dance narrative and colourful costumes and for 9 to 14 year olds who love sport why not sign up for the 6-a-side Football Tournament at the 3G pitch at Broadfield Stadium (30 Oct).
This year also sees the launch of the Crawley Black History website with full details of the programme, great pictures from last year and the opportunity for you give us feedback and contribute any of your own images.
If you would like to find out more about how you can get involved with any of the events above please visit www.crawleyblackhistory.co.uk or call The Hawth on 01293 553636 and ask for a flyer.
On Sunday 29th August the 15th annual Irish Festival kicked off in style.
Attended by many including the Mayor Lee Burke and Mayoress Ali Burke, the event was well organised and continued without a hitch…..oh except the downpour! Ok, so it rained for about an hour, but let us tell you, this did not stop the party. In fact, the ‘after rain’ show was probably more eventful than the morning when the skies were dark. The sun shone and blue skies covered us like a warm blanket. The wet dried up and the air filled with the smell of a summers day. We had our tent (until the wind blew it away of course) where the CHT cam was well received. You can view all the videos on CHT.TV
Crawley Happy Times was privileged to be a part of this great event including the launch night at the Emerald Club. We took some pictures which we hope will tell the story on our behalf, and of course video of some of the performers.
We would like to say a big well done to all involved and to all who performed and danced, and of course to those who attended.
Pictures:
Videos:
Your chance to dance with West Sussex Youth Company
Calling all 14 to 21 year olds in West Sussex who are serious about dance.
You’re invited to audition for the West Sussex Youth Dance Company, which is looking for 15 male or female dancers to be part of two exciting projects the company has planned for the autumn term.
The first project is to perform a piece at The Hawth Theatre, Crawley. The second is an intensive project involving a live orchestra.
Auditions will take place on Sunday September 12, at the University of Chichester, which starts at 10.30am.
They will be judged by company Artistic Director Justine Reeve and will consist of a contemporary technique class and a creative workshop.
Successful applicants will join the company, where they will develop their dance techniques, work with professional choreographers and take part in high profile performances.
Mike Hall, West Sussex County Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Being a member of the company will give dancers the chance to experience being part of a professional group and see what it’s like to put on high quality performances and have regular training.
“It is a great opportunity for people who want a future career in dance.”
Hester Gill, 15, a member of the West Sussex Youth Dance Company, said: “I have had a wonderful year with the company and learnt so many new skills, made new friends and had fun.”
An application form must be filled in and sent prior to the audition. It can be found at www.wsydc.co.uk or by telephoning Jason Bradberry on 01243 753839 or email jason.bradberry@westsussex.gov.uk
The company has been running since 2003 rehearsing at the University of Chichester during term-time.
You can find out more by viewing a film at West Sussex Video. Go to the County Council website at www.westsussex.gov.uk, click on ‘West Sussex Video’ and then ‘Your Chance to Dance’.
Turn over a new leaf this autumn at K2 Crawley with a new fitness class timetable.
‘Back to School’ means more new fitness classes at K2 Crawley this autumn. The new term is an ideal time to shake up your routine and have fun trying something new. K2 Crawley, run by the leading not-for-profit leisure trust Freedom Leisure, is investing in a new autumn timetable of activities starting from 30th August.
For junior members, aged between 11-18 years old, the already popular Monday evening Junior Spin class is being complemented by a new energetic Junior Circuit Class on Wednesday evenings. Both classes are a great way to boost energy, stay fit and also relieve some of those term time stresses.
Brand new to K2 Crawley on Sundays and Fridays is Zumba. This latest fitness craze, is a hip swivelling combination of African, Caribbean and Latin dance moves and aerobics. It is fun, easy to do and helps to tone and sculpt the body through fast and slow routines. No dancing experience is needed, just lots of energy!
Whether training for a charity run next year or just running for the pure enjoyment, K2 Crawley has a Beginners Run Club which will take place every Tuesday evening at 5:30pm on the athletics track until 31 October.
Now there is a great excuse to get out of the office at lunchtime. Due to customer demand, you can now take a Body Balance class on Friday lunchtimes. This class is incorporates Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi and is a fantastic way to start the weekend.
For more information on the new autumn timetable please
visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk or call 01293 585 300.
Cherry Lane Summer Fun
Kids are set for a fun-filled summer day at Cherry Lane Adventure Playground next week.
The Langley Green based playground is holding its annual fun day on Thursday 19th August between 11am and 4pm.
The day will host a range of activities for kids including inflatable fun, face painting, tombola, coconut shy, dance, skateboarding and football competitions.
And to top it all off belly dancing and street dance will take place on the stage.
Entry to the fun day is free although a £3 wrist band will offer unlimited inflatable fun.
For more information contact the playground on 01293 516163
On Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August the annual Mela was held at the Hawth.
Consisting of information stands, such as the ‘Stop West Sussex going to waste’ campaign and the ‘Give Blood’ stand there was food galore of all types, a fun fair and music and dance from varying cultures.
Attended by the Mayor Lee Burke and Mayoress Ali Burke, the day was full of colour and sounds. We took alot of pictures and video which we hope will tell the story of this great event on their own. We would like to congratulate the Hawth and their staff for once again making it a safe and enjoyable event for all to enjoy.
Perfomers included the Diego Garcian/Reggae/Seggae Band, Filipino Dancers, Tanvee and Tiyana, Tariq and Reis, Monica Patel, Grizzly South feat. If-E, Maxwell, KK, Amy Othieno, Billy Delaney and friends and many more!
Did you attend the Mela? If you have any feedback, please feel free to comment below
On Saturday 31st July, the official launch of the Irish & Celtic Cultural Society festivities was kicked off with good food, excellent dancing, fine music and great company.
Attended by Councillors Bob and Brenda Burgess, Bob Lanzer, His Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Lee Burke and Mayoress Councillor Ali Burke, and many more. The guinness flowed, the band played and the food went down a treat.
2010 sees the 15th Annual Irish Festival on the 29th August. Last year was a huge success, even though the weather was not too bright. This year, we are hoping the sun will smile down on this brilliant event hosting music, stands, dancing and of course the beer tent.
The Launch Party was hosted by the Celtic and Irish Cultural Society in the presence of the Mayor of Crawley Cllr Lee Burke together and Mr Michael Keavney of the Irish Embassy and some invited guests including the sponsors, supporters, volunteers and helpers that made last years festival the success it has become.
A light buffet was served to a backdrop of live music – by one of the bands ‘Dun the Vail’ who will be playing at the Festival. A special dance display was also a treat of the evening. We were also treated to a performance from ‘Just Kelly’ who just happened to be passing by. Thank you Kelly!
The centre piece of the night was the ‘toasting’ to the success of the festival including the cutting of the 15th Anniversary cake with the Mayor saying a few words about the festival and the CICS and asking all in attendance to drink to the festival’s success and the cutting of the 15th Anniversary cake.
The Festival attracts up to seven thousand visitors to the town from throughout Crawley, Sussex and the Southeast of England and has built a reputation as a great family day out over the August weekend. The event showcases some of the best musical talent from Britain and Ireland on three live entertainment stages, showing modern, traditional Irish music and open dance competitions. This year it featuring heavily on the younger element of the community with a special children’s entertainment marquee involving games, song and story with particular emphasis on Irish traditions and folklore. In addition, sport and cultural identity are each featured prominently with Ceili and Set dancing, GAA sports, tug-o-war, a funfair, various food and craft stalls and displays with the added attraction of a licensed beer tent.
The event is run by The Celtic and Irish Cultural Society, which was formed to promote a greater understanding of Celtic and Irish traditions to Crawley and the surrounding areas. With support from Crawley Borough Council and West Sussex County Council it is featured heavily in regional printed and radio media as well as the local weekly and Irish themed publications. Further details about the society and previous events can be found online at www.celtic-irish.co.uk
Crawley Happy Times were invited down to experience the evening. We took some pictures and video for you to enjoy.
Crawley Happy Times were invited down to meet the Topaz Baton Twirling Team at St Johns Church in Crawley to see what they are all about.
Jenny Johnson, Corps Director and Jodie O’Shaughnessy, Trainer, were there to greet us and introduce us to the team of baton twirlers. Jenny started baton twirling when she was just ten years old. Jenny went on to introduce her daughter to baton twirling when she was just three.
What is baton twirling?
Baton twirling is an international sport involving the movement of a metal rod while performing a rhythmic routine. The sport is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels and is thought to have evolved from the practice of rifle twirling at army parades. Governed by two recognized organizations, the World Baton Twirling Federation and the World Twirling Association, twirlers can compete in various events at the World Championships and International Cup. Baton twirling is a recognized sport involving the balance and movement of a baton while performing a rhythmic, gymnastic-like routine.
SOURCE:
Who can attend the Topaz Baton Twirling Team classes?
Jenny told Crawley Happy Times “the class is open to everyone. There are no age restrictions. It is left down to the discretion of the parents, which also goes for any children with disabilities. We would like to get more boys involved to be honest. Our best twirler is a boy. We used to have about twenty five members but have diminished in members since Christmas. We would welcome anyone to come and try the class for free”. Jodie went on to say “Topaz Baton Twirling Team have represented England in the National for the last ten years. We are very proud of the standard of our baton twirlers and have members who travel to the classes from quite far afield”.
Laura Lambert let CHT finger puppet have a go at baton twirling
We spoke to the girls present. They were helping the younger ones with their practise and told us they enjoy the classess and love going to competitions. Laura Lambert told us “it has been a real boost for my confidence and I have made some great friends to”.
When and where are the classes held?
Classes are currently held at St Johns Church in Crawley’s town centre.
Mondays – Beginners Class 18.00 – 20.00
Sundays – Advanced Class 18.00 – 20.00
NOTE: The organisers are currently searching for a new venue with high ceilings (which is affordable). As much as they appreciate St John’s hospitality, they need a higher area. If you have any interest in helping please contact us directly and we will put you in touch with the organisers.
We would like to thank everyone for their hospitality, we were made most welcome.
We took some footage of the members practising and interviewed Jodie and Jenny. Thank you to the Laura Johnson, Rebecca Potterton and Laura Lambert for speaking to us.
Over the past years, Crawley has been deprived of so many events involving the community, so when the Celtic & Irish Cultural Society put on the St. Patrick’s Parade in the town centre, the community donned vibrant outfits, the dancers jigged, making it a wonderful day!
John Nolan and the committee members worked tirelessly to put this amazing parade together, which was no mean feat. But they made it look easy. It all went very smoothly and everyone who took part thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The parade was lead by the Mayor of Crawley, Cllr Brenda Burgess with representative from the Irish embassy together with invited guests local dignitaries and personalities.
The parade was the last event in a string of well organised events. On the 6th March we had the launch of the Fleadh with a celebratory evening at The Emerald Club in Southgate. On Saturday 20th March we were entertained at The Hawth Theatre by an Irish Variety Concert. Compared by Gerry Molumby with Jimmy Cricket heading the bill and made up of music, song, dance, seanachi and a few special surprises. A Piece of Irish Theatre and some poetry is also included together with a special performance of the Emerald Pipe and Drum band which is made up of the Irish guys and girls serving in the Metropolitan Police as well as some excellent dancing by the Andromeda Edmunds School of Dance and O’Briens Irish School of Dance.
Before the weekend kicked off John Nolan told us “The CICS want to make the whole day a success and give the people of Crawley and the surrounding areas a parade to remember. It’s not just an Irish only St Patrick’s Parade, it’s a parade for the community. One for everyone to enjoy, for the residents and the business fraternity to come on board and work on together. There is also a special section called the ‘nations of the world’ where the participants can walk in the parade carrying the flag of their country or geographical region. The more banners the merrier. This always adds fantastic colour to the event. Check out http://www.celtic-irish.co.uk/stpats for more info” We think you will agree, they certainly managed to pull this off in style. If you want to be part of this next year, email us editor@crawleyhappytimes.co.uk and we will pass your details on.
A special thanks goes to Currys and especially Jay Nai, who without their help the bandstand would not have had a sound system. Another special thanks goes to Tracey Herald of Herald Photography for donating some amazing pictures of the parade to Crawley Happy Times xx
Thank you to Jay Nai from Currys for the sound system they supplied on Sunday
We took some pictures and video for you to experience the day! We would also like to thank the good people from The Cloth Store who made us a giant CHT finger puppet but we were unable to use this on the day. We will be speaking more about Victoria and the ladies from The Cloth Store in the near future.
Crawley Happy Times have been invited to the launch of the new Zumba dance class, so decided to take a look at what we were letting ourselves in for.
What is Zumba?
Zumba is a latin inspired dance fitness class.
The Zumba program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba Fanatics achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life.
The routines feature interval training sessions where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat. Add some Latin flavor and international zest into the mix and you’ve got a Zumba class.
In the past years, the Zumba program has become nothing short of a revolution, spreading like wildfire, and positioning itself as the single most influential movement in the industry of fitness.
As of July 2009, the Zumba program is being taught at over 50,000 locations in 75 countries, has sold millions of DVDs, and has changed the lives of Zumba fanatics worldwide with an astonishing six million participants taking Zumba classes every week.
Participants pump there legs, windmill there arms, gyrate their hips, clap their hands,dip,slide and spin – all to a frenzied beat.
Who will be teaching us?
Joanne Cooper and Sarah Cubitt are old friends who share the passion for dance and fitness. Sarah teaches Body Pump, Body Jam with qualifications in lots of other areas (aerobics, aqua etc). Sarah works as a primary school teacher in Horley during the day. Sarah has a two children. Her daughter attends classes and wishes to gain her Zumba qualification like her mum. Joanne also works during the day and looks after two children but feels running the Zumba classes fits nicely around her lifestyle. Joanne and Sarah have never taught together but felt this would be a perfect opportunity to do so.
What should we wear?
Wear your trainers and bring plenty of water. You will need it to drink, but more importantly to throw over your feet when they are set on fire!
Where and when are the classes being held?
The launch is at Maidenbower Community Centre on Tuesday 2nd March 7.45pm ’till 8:30pm and is FREE to all who attend. The usual cost is £5.00 per session. The classes will run on a weekly basis.
Bring some friends and join the party!
Come for a fab cardio workout to infectious music!
Be apart of the biggest fitness craze!
You will find the enthusiasm contagious the moves simple and fun and become addicted to Zumba as we both are!
This is an adult class designed for EVERYONE! Participants of any fitness level, any background can start to Zumba straight away!
You can see more about this latest dance craze here.
You can also join their Facebook group here.
On Saturday 13th February Shelley & Sharon from Crawley Happy Times were invited to the Hawth to see some amazing talent perform for a crowded arena.
Organised by the team of youngsters who make up ViYC (Vision in Youth Collective) and headed up by Ben Freer, Chairman of ViYC, the evening was a massive success.
What is ViYC?
Vision in Youth Collective (ViYC) is a group of young people aged 14 to 25 years old who advise Crawley Borough Council’s Arts Service on events for young people. ViYC play a vital role in selecting artists for gigs like Urban Sensations and open-mic sessions Unsigned.
ViYC members have recently worked alongside Crawley International Mela Association promoting and organising a Sukshinder Shinda gig as part of the Mela festival. Over 400 young people attended the event.
ViYC are always looking for new members. For more details contact liz.hart@crawley.gov.uk or phone 01293 438156.
Urban Senations 6
Ben told us this is the 6th event in three years. They have also been involved with Mela UK last year and will be more involved with this years event. Ben, who is the longest member of ViYC and still only sixteen told us “I really want to do this type of work for a living so am really enjoying the opportunities ViYC has given me. Everyone works very hard so we hope it is a successful evening and enjoyed by all. We can not thank the Hawth and the staff enough for allowing us this great opportunity.” The staff were wonderful including Liz Hart and Dave Watmore who were quietly watching over the evening in the wings. Liz told us “the members of ViYC have once again done an amazing job of putting this together and have arranged some great headliners too. We are very proud of their achievements”.
Performers
On arrival back stage, we bumped into our young friend Rishi Sharma aka KK. We first met KK at Connect ’09 where he stole the show with his rapping. Only fourteen, KK has ambition, drive and oodles of talent. Last year we suggested keeping an eye on KK, we would like to reiterate that! KK told us he was performing with his good friend Nathan Maxwell aka Bandit. It was our first encounter with Bandit but we are sure we will see him again. Also present was Tom Jordon, KK’s manager. Tom told us he has his own set up for producing and writing music which included his own studio. Although very young Tom seems to have a good head on his shoulders, telling us he also helps out Amy and Billy Delaney. Tom went on to say he is always looking for new local talent.
Next we had a quick chat with Billy Delaney and his friends Jason Hazel aka Souljh and Callum Hopkins aka Flash. Billy told us they were performing together for tonights event. Billy has just been signed and is on his way to great things. We are very happy for Billy who has worked extremely hard over the last couple of years.
In the next room we met Lady C and the Sillouettes who gave a wonderful performance of modern day chart music. They came from all over the place except for the drummer, Lisa, who is from Crawley. We really liked their sound and hope to see them again some day.
Next we met the truly delightful gentlemen who made up Goodfoot Boy Band. These four young individuals from London came to perform their very dramatic dance moves. Bringing theatre, music and dance together, they raised the roof. We really hope to meet these amazing performers again.
In the next room we spoke to our Amy Othieno and her team comprising of Zeth Hockenden, David Simon, Jamie McGraw aka Jzida and for one night only Chelsea Mandizha was the dancer for the evenings performance. Amy has just released her second album and is now looking for a good record label to sign to. Amy is very big in New Zealand with her songs being played on a regular basis on the radio. We feel Amy would make a great addition to any recording company and we would like to wish her luck.
Oli Davis aka Phantom performed with Bandit, KK, Brutz and Alex for one night only making up a group they named Versitile. We spoke to Oli about this special performance. Please see the video for further infomation.
Last of the local performers came in the very tall gentlemanly form of Jerrone Daley aka Snooze. On stage Snooze held the audience in the palm of his hand. A very talented rap artist who we also advise keeping an eye on.
Later that evening the headliners arrived amongst a flurry of young fans. We were privileged enough to speak to all three who were very happy to give a quick interview. First we spoke toDaniel Gomez aka Saint. Saint told us he is curerently the UK battle champion (like Eminem in 8 Mile). Saint has just released a song featuring with Ndubz which you can listen to here. We were very impressed at the amount of time Saint spent out the back with some young lads, listening to them rap in turn. We wish Saint all the best for a successful future.
Saint is the UK battle champion
Next on our hit list for an interview was Jermaine Scott aka Wretch 32, who was adorable. As you will see in the interview, Shelley and Wretch hit it off straight away. It was a pleasure to speak to Wretch 32 and we wish him all the success. You can see some of Wretch 32′s music here.
Wretch 32 was a pleasure to meet
Last but not least we spoke to Tayo Jarrett aka Scorcher. Poor Scorcher had a terrible headache so we didn’t hold him up for long. Scorcher and Wretch 32 mingle in the same circles and are both grime, rap artists. Scorcher told us “I lived in a house with a big family and there was always different types of music coming from each room, so you get a good knowledge of music and rhythms which has helped me in my musical career”.
Scorcher listened to all sorts of music when he was young
Enigma Security were on hand, donating their services. Ifti Haq, Director, told us they are always happy to donate their services where the young people of Crawley are involved. They also donate their time and services for the Mela event and have done so year on year since it started.
(L-R) Jamal, Vitor and Ifti from Enigma Security
All in all, it was a wonderful evening full of great music, great organisation and great people. Well done to all who were involved. We look forward to attending Urban Sensations 7!
You can view previous Urban Sensation performances here,
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