PLANET LONDON JOINS PRIDE IN LONDON AS COMMUNITY MEDIA PARTNER FOR 2014

Pride in London 2013 was a huge success and it was delivered by amazing volunteers from across the LGBT+ community alongside fabulous straight allies.

Pride’s organisers want 2014 to be an even bigger success. That’s why Pride is partnering with community groups across the capital.

Planet London is delighted to announce that we will be working in partnership with Pride in London in 2014 as an official community media partner. This means we will be bringing all the latest news about Pride direct to the lesbian, bi and queer (LBQ) women's community.

All the updates will be published in the features section of the Planet London website which feeds directly into our comprehensive app 'My Pocket Planet'.

The full events programme will be made available on an exclusive events calendar within the app throughout the Pride festival week and on the parade day.

Katie Bennett-Hall, Co-Founder of Planet London, said "We are very pleased to be working with Pride in London to help ensure as many women know about, and attend the whole festival of events as well as the parade day. Pride in London attracts over a million people each year and we want to encourage as many women as possible to be part of that celebration. This year's theme 'Freedom to...' Offers women many opportunities and possibilities to express themselves and their personality - come and join us and be Out and Proud."

Naomi Bennett-Hall, Co-Founder of Planet London said “we are also supporting the volunteer recruitment so that as many women as possible can get involved and be part of Pride in London in a big way! Through our extensive knowledge of the LBQ community and links with event organisers, we are in a unique position to connect the dots and help create an amazing experience for any woman who wants to participate in making 2014’s Pride the best yet.”

Alison Hand, Director of Pride in London said: “Partnering with Planet London and similar organisations is so important because we want to reach out to every part of the LGBT+ community and ensure that everyone has the chance to be part of the great celebration and campaigning opportunity that is Pride in London.”

All About 'She' - the next women's venue in Soho opens

The highly anticipated opening of new Ku venue 'She' happens tonight. The queue is already round the corner. 

It's the first women's venue with an entrance on the iconic (and infamous?) Old Compton Street.

Yes, it is another basement venue for women, and no it most definitely isn't 'Candy 2'.

The owners and managers have done a very successful and elegant job of shedding the basement feel, the former decor, and the Candy feel to create a new welcoming and relaxed bar space.

A complete renovation including a new layout, complete with DJ booth, a separated quiet space ideal for "talking", and a mature take on interior design gives something new to offer for women who perhaps have felt in recent years there wasn't a venue for them.


Some of the successful events from Candy's final 6 month incarnation, under the helm of events Promoter DJ Amy B, who is staying on at the new venue, are transitioning over including Boi Box, Laughing Labia and Chick Habit. New events include femme for femme speed dating hosted by Pink Lobster (begins on Valentines night!) and an over 25s night on the last Friday of each month. 
  
Listings will always be available on the Planet London events calendar, and you will be the first to know about special events and headline acts.



A range of new DJs including DJ Hazel and DJ Gem Precious will take to the decks on regular nights.

She Soho is open every day from 4pm. 
Full details about the venue are here.


By Katie

Pride Before the Fall - What's on offer for women in this summer's Pride events?

***UPDATED***
We take a look at what's specifically aimed at women at this year's Pride events. This article will be updated as we get more information from each local Pride event.

Brighton Pride - the Women's Performance Tent - 3 August
Date: Saturday 3rd August
Details: www.wptbrighton.com, @WPTbrighton
Tickets: from £9 http://www.wptbrighton.com/tickets.cfm
Line up: Lucy Spraggan, Horse, Paloma Faith DJ set
Plus: Alison Moyet, Stooshe, Miss Dynamite on the main stage

An amazing line up for the WPT which is part of the bigger party in Preston Park following the Brighton Pride parade.

What the WPT team have to say:

“Lucy Spraggan and Horse McDonald are both out and proud lesbians who are not only exceptional successful musicians, but fantastic role models for the LGBTQ community. We couldn’t more proud to be hosting them on our stage this year and can’t wait to announce the rest of our top class live acts!”

Brighton Pride - official women's weekender 2-4 August

http://www.brightonpridelesbianparties.com/#!events/c1g0x 

Official women's party opener - Free Terrace Party - Friday 2 August

Details: at Above Audio, 9.30pm - 3am

Enjoy a dance among the palm trees specially installed lighting system on the terrace, or head into the elegant retro grandeur of the bar itself, while our professionally-trained mixologists serve up award winning drinks, and Brighton's favourite lesbian DJs treat your ears with a vast range of top tunes.

Official post pride all-nighter - 3 August in association with Candy Bar and Gaydar Girls

Details: at Concorde 2, 10.00pm - 6.30am. £5 early bird.

In the main room we will be playing pop, commercial dance right through to some harder stuff in the later hours of the night. The event features a full female DJ line up including
Sandra Davenport, Amy B / Missy B / Becky Perry / Cheeks Du Rhythm / Caz Coronel / Izzy Trixx plus more to be announced

The BPGGW Secret Garden Event - Sunday 4 August - free entry

Details: St James Street; 3pm - 11pm

Closing Party - Sunday 4 August

Details: at 9.30pm - 3.00am. Tickets from £3

One fantastic blowout at the fabulous seafront venue Wah Kiki where we have put together an awesome line up of lesbian DJs to rock you in to the early hours of Monday morning.

Brighton Pride - OPP v One Love - Sat 3 August

Details: Life, 160 Kings Road Arches, Brighton BN1 1NB

8pm-5am £7 in advance, £10 on door
http://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/9680/chk/a57f

For one night only OPP The baddest London lez party is teaming up with One Love and bringing its bass heavy riddims down to Brighton Pride for the biggest girl gathering by the sea!

One Love famous for sell-out super club parties in London will take one room and fill it with house, dance & pop whilst the mother of the East End club scene OPP will be banging Old-Skool RnB, Hip Hop & electro-techno-disco.

 Lined up on the decks is the crème de la crème on the DJ circuit with DJ Lady Lola, Michelle Manetti, Lil Jo & Piccadilly Boy who are set to tear the roof off the huge seafront venue LIFE.

With the best production, the coolest club brands, supercharged sound system & state of the art lighting, 2 dance rooms, three bars and a huge outside terrace on the seafront you will know you have arrived at the best girls after party this pride.

With support from our mates at Smirnoff it will undoubtedly be the place to be this Pride.

London Community Pride 23 - 29 June

Events aimed specifically at women:

23 June: An Audience with Martina Navratilova (hosted by Claire Balding) - Tickets from £65 http://londoncommunitypride.org/festival/whats-on/2013/audience-martina-navratilova/

29 June 2pm -  8pm: Women's Area post-Pride March: Carlisle Street (by Candy Bar)

Line up:

2-3pm - DJ Caz Coronel
 -------Lara A King-------
 3.05-3.30pm - Rita Payne
 -------Lara A King-------
 3.25-3.40pm - Woman E
 --------Jonny Wilde-------
 3.50-4.10pm - Psycho Delia
 ----------Lara A King---------
 4.15-4.30pm - N’Chyx
 ---------Lara A King--------
 4.35- 4.50pm - Lyrically Challenged
 4.50-5.00pm - Rosie Wilby
 ----------Adam All---------
 5.10-5.30pm - The Cut Outs
 -------Adam All & Jonny Wilde------
 5.30-6.15pm - DJ AMYb
 6.15- 7.00pm - DJ Alpha
 7.00-8.00pm - DJ Lady Lola

29 June: Big Gay Bash Official after party

DJs: Popstarz: Tommy Turntables, El Conchitas. Sink the Pink. Joshyou Are. James Phillips and One Love. DJ Lady Lola, Lil' Jo and MDMX.

29 June: Pride Party fundraiser for ELOP

Lost Girl UK and The Glass Bar are hosting a Pride Party raising money for ELOP charity Tickets will be £10.

29 June 6pm - 4am (The Green Carnation): The ultimate girls party this Pride in Soho  Tickets from £7. http://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/8969/chk/923c

Three of London's biggest brands on the UK lesbian scene (Code, Girls Club Together and Girl Action) have come together for one almighty dance off at the Green Carnation as the girls take over the whole building. With 3 floors. Basement down and dirty with Sipz-C Dj and Denise the Menace with RnB and Hip Hop, main floor sees Izzy Trixx, DJ Alpha and DJ Kacey, or take a walk upstairs and hear 80's90's mash up. 

29 June 7pm - 11pm (The Whippet, Holborn): Bitter Women (real ale lovers) 

 

New Workshop - Art as a vehicle of energy

What:         Acting workshop
Who:           Directed by Ana Baldaia - for women- all levels of experience
Where:        East London (Venue to be confirmed)
When:        Sunday 3pm-5pm (10 sessions starting 29 January)
Why:          To unleash the creative self in each individual, boost inner confidence and find a safe place of expression
How much: Donation base towards space rental

About

Ana Baldaia is a traveller, a qualified teacher and a theatre practitioner. She studied acting in a 4 years conservatoire course completed in Portugal and directing at Michael Howard Studios in New York. She created Roof Theatre Project in NY, and CLIT in Lisbon, both laboratories for theatre research. Has directed workshops in the USA, Brazil, Spain, India, and in England and through these has developed her research towards the fundamental technical principles that engender the performer’s presence in scenic life, as an analogy to the fundamental principles of living better, more fulfilled and successful lives. As an actor, has participated in different shows, the most recent one being ‘Beauty’ in ‘Vixens in the Hoods’, at the RVT, directed by Didi Hopkins.

The method

An ongoing laboratory where theatre is a research for the self, an experience where the method is searching for the method. Each performer learns therefore to create their own inner laboratory working with their own craft: body, mind, emotions, dreams, memories, and voice.

The process

1. Finding the way into a black journey - formation of the group - games, body, voice, emotions, improvisation
2. Finding the vehicle for the journey - formation of the self - body in space, breathing, relaxation, sensitivity, concentration
3. Being present in the journey - formation of the performer - character, material, outcome

The outcome

This will vary according to what each participant will bring to the workshop, their level of experience, interests and preferred creative outlets. We could be looking at a collective local showcase, performance or just a group of people who met and grew together.

Roof theatre current research topic: women’s presence beyond gender

Contact email: anabaldas2002@yahoo.com

Ana Baldaia's blog: http://anabaldaia.blogspot.com/

Dance theatre workshop blog: http://dancetheatreworkshop.blogspot.com/