A global festival
Twenty international artists will join 10 UAE-based artists as this year's special guests.
"We have promoted zouk in all the major salsa festivals in the region and major zouk events in Europe, so we expect it to be a major international festival in the region this year," says Nayan De Abrew, an art director for Zouk Dubai.
The line-up includes the world-famous Australian duo Kadu Pires and Larissa Thayane, renowned as two of the best zouk lambada performers and teachers in the world.
Other guests and attendees are expected from the GCC and Europe. From the UAE will come the salsa dancers and instructors James Castro and Alex de Smet, the Brazilian dancer Martina Cancio and the French choreographer Walid Tebarki.
"We promote our event not only as a dance festival but as a weekend getaway. Ras Al Khaimah is a beautiful city," says De Abrew.
Learning and fun
Visitors will be treated to workshops for beginners, a zouk dance competition, a live concert by Kadu Pires and Aminu Idris and a Latin dance party each night until the early hours. Students will also have a chance to show what they have learnt through a competition.
Zouk appeal
When Zouk Dubai was formed four years ago, the dancing was mainly to traditional zouk music. However, its recent growth in popularity means many DJs are remixing commercial songs with the zouk beat, including artists such as Ne-Yo and Rihanna, says Samantha Ho, also an art director with Zouk Dubai.
"The music now caters to a wider range of people. We also have an R&B singer, Aminu Idris, based in Dubai, who has written and composed songs that are now being played in zouk clubs around the world," she says.
"The fact that zouk is such a universal dance makes it attractive to people. You don't need to speak the same language to be able to have a good dance," she adds.
The Zouk and Latin Festival takes place tonight until Saturday at the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah. A shuttle bus will leave from The Dubai Mall. For ticket prices and timings visit www.zouk-me.com. Zouk Dubai offers classes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Visit www.zouk-dubai.com for details
melshoush@thenational.ae
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
New schools in Dubai
Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
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Stars: 3
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 8' (P), Bernardo Silva 19', Jesus 72', 75')
Fulham 0
Red cards: Tim Ream (Fulham)
Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
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