Published in Ilford Recorder, 12th August 2010, and found at http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/redbridge/recorder/whatson/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=whatsontheatre&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=whatsonnewham&itemid=WeED13%20Aug%202010%2010%3A51%3A37%3A220.
AFTER a decade of busting professional dance moves on some of the biggest nights in music, stage star Micheal Downing is developing a new breed of promising young talent.
The 27-year-old, of Brookside, Hainault, is opening Stadium Theatre School at West Hatch High School, High Road, Chigwell, in September to train five to 18-year-olds.
Micheal has performed on stage with Take That and the Osmonds, as well as entertaining the crowds at the Brit Awards and having an acting pedigree after appearing in Holby City, The Bill and Oliver Twist.
His CV also boasts a teaching career at Pineapple Dance Studios and working with X Factor star Olly Murs.
Micheal hopes the school proves a "great opportunity for local dancers to shine".
He said: "To see talent emerge there would be incredible. Performing is a great way to express yourself, it is great for your confidence and it keeps you really fit too."
Micheal follows in the footsteps of Redbridge actors Tamzin Outhwaite, Sean Maguire and Dame Maggie Smith and cites Broadway superstar Fred Astaire as one of his biggest inspirations.
He said: "I've had a lot of funny jobs. I have been painted silver, been a duck, a cow and even part of an elephant's leg in the Take That tour.
"My mum has an inner-dancer that she will say she has passed on to me."
Gazing into the future, Micheal has an ambition to open more schools, but admits it will take time.
He said: "First of all I want to make sure the first one is successful and that people get what they want out of it."
He already knows one of the more important lessons he needs to teach.
He said: "Through the years you grow a thick skin - which is something you will need to survive in this industry.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Thursday, 5 August 2010
'Ilford jogger slams owner after dog bites her' - 05/08/10
Article published in Ilford Recorder 5th August issue and online at: http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/redbridge/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsIlford&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsilford&itemid=WeED05%20Aug%202010%2012%3A26%3A09%3A637
A JOGGER who was mauled by a dog while out running has urged owners to be more aware of the danger some untrained breeds can pose.
Jamiesha Majevadia, 22, was in South Park, Ilford, when she stopped to chat with the owner of a rottweiller by the entrance to Green Lane.
She said: "He assumed I wanted to play with the dog and said 'good luck'.
"He let it off its lead and it attacked me."
The dog leapt at the 5ft 2ins university graduate from Ilford and bit her arm twice.
She said: "The bite left deep puncture marks on my right arm and it still hurts. The dog needs to be muzzled.
"He [the owner] pulled the dog off me after the attack, but when I asked for a phone to call for help, he indicated he didn't have one and just walked off.
"You could tell he wanted a rough, dangerous dog and that's exactly what he had.
"He had no concern for other human beings."
Jamiesha called police and was taken to hospital, where she had a tetanus jab and antibiotics for the injury, which may take up to a month to heal.
The man was described as Asian, of medium build, around 5ft 5ins tall and in his late 20s. The rottweiler had a shortened tail.
Jamiesha said she blamed the owner rather than the dog, which if found and classed as dangerous could be put down.
She said: "One rule in 'dog law' is to have it on a lead in public. The problem is sometimes you can't tell if a dog's excited or aggressive until they pounce."
The incident happened at around 6.30pm on July 26.
Anyone with information about a dangerous dog, can call 020 8554 5000.
A JOGGER who was mauled by a dog while out running has urged owners to be more aware of the danger some untrained breeds can pose.
Jamiesha Majevadia, 22, was in South Park, Ilford, when she stopped to chat with the owner of a rottweiller by the entrance to Green Lane.
She said: "He assumed I wanted to play with the dog and said 'good luck'.
"He let it off its lead and it attacked me."
The dog leapt at the 5ft 2ins university graduate from Ilford and bit her arm twice.
She said: "The bite left deep puncture marks on my right arm and it still hurts. The dog needs to be muzzled.
"He [the owner] pulled the dog off me after the attack, but when I asked for a phone to call for help, he indicated he didn't have one and just walked off.
"You could tell he wanted a rough, dangerous dog and that's exactly what he had.
"He had no concern for other human beings."
Jamiesha called police and was taken to hospital, where she had a tetanus jab and antibiotics for the injury, which may take up to a month to heal.
The man was described as Asian, of medium build, around 5ft 5ins tall and in his late 20s. The rottweiler had a shortened tail.
Jamiesha said she blamed the owner rather than the dog, which if found and classed as dangerous could be put down.
She said: "One rule in 'dog law' is to have it on a lead in public. The problem is sometimes you can't tell if a dog's excited or aggressive until they pounce."
The incident happened at around 6.30pm on July 26.
Anyone with information about a dangerous dog, can call 020 8554 5000.
'Redbridge knife crime momument wins funding' - 05/08/10
Article published in 5th August Ilford Recorder newspaper and online at: http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/redbridge/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsIlford&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsilford&itemid=WeED05%20Aug%202010%2009%3A10%3A29%3A950
A PEACE monument dedicated to the borough's knife crime victims will finally be installed after a hard-fought funding campaign by activitists.
Organisers hope the memorial, which will cost £11,000, will spread a message of peace and intolerance to knives.
The names of three knife crime victims - Jack Large, 14, Kashif Mahmood, 16, and Charlotte Polius, 15 - will be inscribed on the structure, called Be the Change.
Each of the teens died after being stabbed.
The funding success is the result of donations from relatives, peace campaigners and residents.
It follows two unsuccessful applications for funding from the council's cabinet, as well as two more from area committees in the last two years.
Parvin Mahmood - mother of victim Kashif - donated £2,000 towards the memorial.
It also received a £5,000 donation from the East London Community Foundation as part of a government grant.
Anja Beinroth, acting director of the foundation, said: "The memorial will be extremely beneficial for the local community in raising awareness to reduce knife crime for young people."
Ann Oakes-Odger, chief executive officer of campaign website knifecrimes.org, donated a further £1,000.
More than 100 youths took part in two sponsored walks, and a £550 collection from the Redbridge Carnival also aided the cause.
The money was collected by the East Ilford Business Partnership, which will now put plans into action to install the memorial by the Riches Road subway, Ilford - the site where Kashif was killed in 2005.
Chairman Wilson Chowdhry said: "The walks show what an impact we're having with young people openly challenging knife crime, instilling into them that communities working together can achieve great things."
He added: "We hope to achieve a concept of years of legislative change in respect of reducing knife crime and schisms that we find in younger communities." The monument will be unveiled in September.
A PEACE monument dedicated to the borough's knife crime victims will finally be installed after a hard-fought funding campaign by activitists.
Organisers hope the memorial, which will cost £11,000, will spread a message of peace and intolerance to knives.
The names of three knife crime victims - Jack Large, 14, Kashif Mahmood, 16, and Charlotte Polius, 15 - will be inscribed on the structure, called Be the Change.
Each of the teens died after being stabbed.
The funding success is the result of donations from relatives, peace campaigners and residents.
It follows two unsuccessful applications for funding from the council's cabinet, as well as two more from area committees in the last two years.
Parvin Mahmood - mother of victim Kashif - donated £2,000 towards the memorial.
It also received a £5,000 donation from the East London Community Foundation as part of a government grant.
Anja Beinroth, acting director of the foundation, said: "The memorial will be extremely beneficial for the local community in raising awareness to reduce knife crime for young people."
Ann Oakes-Odger, chief executive officer of campaign website knifecrimes.org, donated a further £1,000.
More than 100 youths took part in two sponsored walks, and a £550 collection from the Redbridge Carnival also aided the cause.
The money was collected by the East Ilford Business Partnership, which will now put plans into action to install the memorial by the Riches Road subway, Ilford - the site where Kashif was killed in 2005.
Chairman Wilson Chowdhry said: "The walks show what an impact we're having with young people openly challenging knife crime, instilling into them that communities working together can achieve great things."
He added: "We hope to achieve a concept of years of legislative change in respect of reducing knife crime and schisms that we find in younger communities." The monument will be unveiled in September.
'Rocket Ronnie goes back to school' - 01/08/10
Article written for Ilford Recorder, and published in the 29th July 2010 edition of the newspaper.
Also published online (under chief reporter's account) at: http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/redbridge/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsIlford&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsilford&itemid=WeED30%20Jul%202010%2016%3A43%3A11%3A470
LUCKY schoolchildren were treated to a private coaching session by snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan.
The six 13 and 14-year-olds from Wanstead High School, Redbridge Lane West, Wanstead, met with "Rocket" Ronnie in a Rileys pool hall in London to hone their skills.
It was a huge surprise for Ronnie, who enjoyed coaching the youngsters from his former school - as well as his old PE teacher, Bryan Arkell.
Ronnie said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw they were from my old school. They were a credit."
The three-times world champion added: "As well as being fun, pool and snooker are great for helping youngsters with concentration and discipline."
Mr Arkell, who taught Ronnie geography and PE, said: "He represented the school in many sports, though I can't take any credit for his snooker.
"He was a good student, a sharp lad and popular with the rest of the class.
Also published online (under chief reporter's account) at: http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/redbridge/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsIlford&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsilford&itemid=WeED30%20Jul%202010%2016%3A43%3A11%3A470
LUCKY schoolchildren were treated to a private coaching session by snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan.
The six 13 and 14-year-olds from Wanstead High School, Redbridge Lane West, Wanstead, met with "Rocket" Ronnie in a Rileys pool hall in London to hone their skills.
It was a huge surprise for Ronnie, who enjoyed coaching the youngsters from his former school - as well as his old PE teacher, Bryan Arkell.
Ronnie said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw they were from my old school. They were a credit."
The three-times world champion added: "As well as being fun, pool and snooker are great for helping youngsters with concentration and discipline."
Mr Arkell, who taught Ronnie geography and PE, said: "He represented the school in many sports, though I can't take any credit for his snooker.
"He was a good student, a sharp lad and popular with the rest of the class.
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