Nothing tells a story better than song and dance, and few can tell it as well as the people behind this inspired production. Presented by a culture rooted in a tradition of visual storytelling, Umoja, which is the Swahili word that means the spirit of togetherness, is a spectacular ride through the musical history of South Africa beginning with its early tribal origins, progressing through gumboot stomp, 70′s gospel, the apartheid years and the sights and sounds of the country’s present day urban scene.

The creators, two women from the township of Soweto, are stars in their own right. Todd Twala and Thembi Nyandeni are renowned in South Africa for their talents. But in the late 1990′s, the childhood friends decided they wanted to reach beyond their own stardom and began to open up opportunities for disadvantaged youth by offering them an avenue of expression and a place of refuge in an attempt to steer them towards a better path in life. These promising young dancers, singers and musicians now make up the bulk of the 40-member family that is Umoja and since hitting the stage in London’s west end, they’ve performed to standing ovations and sold-out houses in 26 countries.

I can’t think of a more positive and culturally rewarding experience than this. Even after three hours of performing that began at 7 AM, this troupe danced and sang for our camera with as much exuberance as they would a number on opening night. I know that the show will leave you with nothing short of elation, so round up the youngens and spend an evening in the spirit of togetherness!

UMOJA

October 17 – December 30 , 2007 (extended due to popular demand!)
Vogue Theatre at 918 Granville St, Vancouver

Previews October 17 – 21 at 8 PM
Opening Night: Tuesday, October 23rd at 8 PM

Tuesdays – Saturdays 8 PM Tickets: $75 & $55; Seniors $55; Students $35
Wednesdays at 12 noon and Saturdays at 2 PM All Tickets: $50; Students $35
Sundays at 3 PM All Tickets: $75 & $55

SPECIAL TICKET PRICES:
All performances from October 17 – 21 are $45 (tickets subject to applicable taxes and service charges)
All seats for shows from November 13 – 25 are only $40 and $50
New block of tickets on sale: Wednesday, November 7 at 10 AM

Tickets can be purchased in person at all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone 604.280.4444, or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. Tickets will also be available at the Vogue Theatre box office 90 minutes prior to show time.

We can’t very well show you how to escape a Front Hair Grab Release without also showing you the moves that will get you out of a Rear Hair Grab Release, so here it is! It’s incredibly simple and easy to follow, just as you’ve come to expect from Sensei Anthony Britton.

Remember, when you grab your attacker’s hand, whichever side you find his/her thumb, you want to turn in the other direction because that’s the side of the elbow you want (turn the other way, and you’ll end up bringing your assailant closer to you because you’ll be naturally bending the elbow instead). More likely than not, your hair will be grabbed by someone’s dominant hand, which is also probably the right hand, so grab it with your left hand and you’ll be poised to strike appropriately. Hyper-extending someone’s joint like this is unbelievably painful, even in slowmo, so you can imagine the kind of pain that it can inflict so please exercise caution when practicing this move. I would say friends should not be recruited for such a task!

As always, once you’ve released yourself from a restraint, you can always apply the principles of Vital Point Striking.

IMPORTANT: Please use extreme caution when practicing these moves. Remember that with the right amount of force, you can severely hurt somebody. These techniques are to be used for self-defense purposes only. All self-defense moves and tips are to be used at the risk of the user.

Keep your requests coming everyone! We love to respond to your inquiries through our video tutorials.

DABBLER GIVEAWAY BELOW!

From: Libations of Life: A Girl’s Guide to Life: One Cocktail at a Time

When life gives you lemons – slice, squeeze into a dry martini and drink!

With a hilariously irreverent take on life’s ups and downs, Libations of Life makes the perfect companion for the bittersweet dramas and disasters of the dating world. Bartender extraordinaire Dee Brun doles out a charismatic blend of cheeky and insightful relationship advice while guiding you on how to whip up the perfect drink for any situation:

Worried about your judgment? Make a don’t let me go home with him DAIQUIRI
Had to dump your man? This calls for a he had his SHOT
Next up? A plenty of fish in the sea SLING
Trying to cut back on calories? Try a control top COSMOPOLITAN

With special expert tips on what to do in the event of emergencies like encountering man boobs, mullets, or kankles, this book will leave you shaking, mixing and stirring like a pro.

For your chance to win a copy of Dee Brun’s Libations of Life, email me with the correct answer to this question:

In the video above, Dee lists three cocktails that can be found in the book. Name one of them.

Deadline for submissions is Friday October 19th, 2007.

Do you ever find yourself at your wit’s end trying to come up with a different outfit for work every day? For those of you who hate to shop, or don’t have the means to do so as much as you’d like, you need to replace the mismatched clutter in your closet with wardrobe capsules. As our image consultant Kimberly Law explains, all you need is six basic pieces to get a capsule started and this combination alone will save you an incredible amount of time and money while giving you more versatility with fewer pieces of clothing. Click on the video above to find out more!

To learn more about Kimberly Law, click here.

Everyone’s always rushing about these days, so the world of fashion and beauty has evolved to meet the needs of the modern woman. If you flip on a fashion makeover show like What Not To Wear, you’ll always see Stacy and Clinton showing fashion train wrecks how to buy clothing pieces that can be quickly modified to transform a daytime look into an evening one.

Makeup is just as versatile these days. Without having to remove all of the makeup that Sherri Hubner applied on our model last week, she is very easily able to do a couple of specific touch-ups that quickly turn a sophisticated daytime look into a glamorous evening one.

As Sherri explains, the use of metallics/shimmers isn’t reserved for the teens and 20 somethings. Anyone can look great using them at any age. The key is to know what shades to use, how to use them, and in what amounts.

For more info on the products used, visit www.bobbibrown.com or drop by their cosmetics counter at Holt Renfrew.

Had a little too much gravy with too many extra helpings of turkey stuffing this past weekend? If you’re looking to shed those unwanted pounds that you just put on, try Donna Hutchinson‘s easy Ten Minute Workout with that fitness ball that you have lying around your house or office. They make great chairs but they make even greater exercising tools!

Mixologist Magally Franco is back for one last lesson on Tequila cocktails. This time it’s the Paloma, which uses grapefruit soda to give it a nice fresh kick.

As Magally wraps up our Tequila series, she also offers a sneak peek into the making of this Mexican favourite. Click on the above video to find out what blue agave is and how it is used in the production of Tequila Cazadores.

Until Mad Morten came along, I actually wasn’t aware that there was such a thing as a “resting position,” and a “finish position” for cutlery when dining. I’ve found such etiquette fascinating ever since and realized that these customs aren’t necessarily of use only in high society. As our personal image consultant Kimberly Law shows, no matter what kind of dinner party you hold, it helps you to be a better host when you know your guests are finished with their dishes and ready to move on without having to ask. I’ve found in my travels to Europe that they’re in regular practice and not reserved for fine dining. If you make it a habit of eating over the kitchen sink (I’m definitely guilty of that now and again), then these practices may seem a bit on the superfluous side, but give it a try; you may find that you enjoy this touch of sophistication and start eating this way instead. I did!

To learn more about Kimberly Law, click here.

You don’t have to be in your 20′s to be able to pull off a metallic eye shadow. As Sherri Hubner from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics demonstrates, it’s all in the shades you choose and how you apply them. Whether you’re 20 or just shy of 50 these suggestions and techniques will help you look your best.

For more information on the products used, visit www.bobbibrown.com or drop by their cosmetics counter at Holt Renfrew.

Next week, we’ll show you how to take that day look and apply a couple of simple techniques to transform it into an evening look!

If you’ve ever been grabbed by the hair, you know how effective it is as a submission tool. Your attention would likely be so focused on the pain being afflicted that you will reflexively push your attacker’s hand against your skull to try and relieve it, all the while being dragged around like a puppet.

This week, Sensei Anthony Britton demonstrates a way that not only releases you from this dominating grab, but also allows you to perform a counterstrike to throw off your aggressor long enough for you to make your escape.

Remember that you can always apply the principles of Vital Point Striking, especially if you have your hands free. Don’t let panic take over. Take a deep breath and clear your head so you can focus on the situation at hand (from The 8 Steps of Conflict Avoidance).

IMPORTANT: Please use extreme caution when practicing these moves. Remember that with the right amount of force, you can severely hurt somebody. These techniques are to be used for self-defense purposes only. All self-defense moves and tips are to be used at the risk of the user.

Keep your requests coming everyone! We love to respond to your inquiries through our video tutorials.