Clock the Tower

Local community arts charity Same Sky has been busy preparing to 'dress the city' to celebrate Rugby in Brighton & Hove in September 2015. This week the Clock Tower in central Brighton was adorned with flags as the artistic creations start to make an appearance on the city’s streets. 

Same Sky artist Bec Britain explained: “Continuing our continents’ flag theme which can be seen dressing the city in a variety of forms, I chose the four most commonly used flag colours and produced them en masse for a bright swirling effect around the Clock Tower. In total there was 710 metres of webbing with over 2000 flags.”

The flags went up during days of heavy summer rain. Bec added: “Despite the deluge, we were incredibly lucky to escape with two dry nights to put it all up, much to the delight of clubbers on West Street. When the wind gets going the flags start to whistle, and when they are really flapping it sounds like a huge crowd bursting into applause. How very appropriate!”

Check out some of Bec’s other decorations in our previous blog entry:

http://brightonandhoverugby2015.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/dressing-city.html

Pitch Perfect

Celebrate with Pitch Perfect, a two day music & dance festival, taking place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, midday to 6pm.

Come along to New Road in Brighton to watch a free two day festival of music and dance taking place on the street in the heart of the city’s theatre district. 

The Pitch Perfect (music & dance festival) will see local bands, musicians, dancers and performers take to an outdoor stage to bring a mix of live entertainment to audiences and passers-by as we celebrate Rugby in the city. 

The show has a dance focus on Saturday and a music theme on Sunday. Look out for vibrant dance troop Maracatu Cruzeiro do sul and the 600 strong choir of the Brighton & Hove Youth Big Band.

The very colourful Maracatu Cruzeiro do sul
Photo credit: Sofia Barbas (sofiabarbas.com)

Here’s what’s happening!

Line up for Saturday 19 September

12pm Caiçara

A four piece band of indigenous people from Brazil who live by the sea, Caiçara perform roots music with a funky wave that’s gets everyone up and dancing. Crowd participation and involvement is a must you can’t help but have fun.

 Caiçara in Brighton
Photo credit: Rafael Ribeiro

12.45 Southern Knights
The Southern Knights perform precision marching and dance displays to music using flags, imitation rifles, imitation sabres and pom poms.

2pm Project Zulu

A choir of 26 children aged 10 to 15 years, performing with just their voices and Zulu drums. The performance is a mixture of Zulu folk songs, gospel songs, gumboot and traditional Zulu drums and dances. Project Zulu arranges for choirs from the Madadeni Township schools in South Africa to tour the UK and share their incredible Zulu musical talents. 

3pm Amazona Arts
Performers of Capoeira dance - fusing acrobatic moves from dance, music and the martial arts into a skillful display. 

4pm Maracatu Cruzeiro do Sul 

A Brighton-based drumming, singing and dancing group performing styles from the North East of Brazil, including Maracatu, Coco, Baiao, Ciranda and Afoxe. The vibrant costumes and dynamic movement the atmosphere and bass-heavy sound never fail to get people dancing!

5pm Savoy Kicks Dance Troup

Savoy Kicks is a group of six dancers who will perform two sets and lead a mini dance lesson with the audience. Savoy Kicks is the professional performance troupe for local dance company I Charleston Brighton.

Line up for Sunday 20 September

12.15pm Unified Rhythm          

Unified Rhythm is an integrated carnival arts music group based in Brighton.

           

12.45pm  Shannon Dixon                      

At just 15, Shannon is a rising talent. A passionate and uplifting vocalist, singing pop favourites form the heart.

           

1.15pm The Wildest Way        

Banjo led folk from the Appalachian mountains and beyond.

           

1.45pm Brighton & Hove Youth Percussion Ensemble          

An exciting young percussion ensemble playing everything from drums to dustbins.

Brighton & Hove Youth Percussion Ensemble

2.15pm  Alternate Function                  

Razor sharp alternative rock from local boys on the verge of making a real noise on bigger stages.

                       

2.45pm Shining Brighter: Brighton & Hove Schools’ Massed Choir            

Shining Brighter celebrates the strength and resilience of our Rugby superheroes. An ensemble of more than 300 singers from primary and secondary schools along with The Brighton & Hove Youth Big Band will be united in a rowdy and uplifting celebration. Lyrics and melodies created by young composers from local schools, and arranged by James Redwood, also incorporate body percussion taking inspiration from the world of Rugby. 

           

3.15pm  Drive Up Jazz

Drive Up Jazz is made up of students from Cardinal Newman Catholic School & Newman College.

           

4.15pm Daniel Wakeford        

Daniel is a singer and songwriter from Brighton, heartfelt songs from a true entertainer.

4.45pm  Shining Brighter: James Redwood's Massed Choirs           

A new song-cycle celebrating the strength and resilience of our rugby superheroes. Performance of massed primary school choirs and The Brighton & Hove Youth Big Band.

5.15pm Beat Express

For more than a decade this boogie rock band has been crafting and performing heart felt, honest, catchy tracks that never fail to get an audience moving. The boogie train is coming!         

           

5.45pm Brighton & Hove Youth Big Band      

The Brighton & Hove Youth Big Band has an exciting programme, including performance opportunities, projects and international tours. The band performs some of the most exciting repertoire written for this medium.  

(Please note: While every effort will be taken to ensure the performances go ahead as planned, all timings and performers are subject to change)

The Pack is getting ready!

By Bill Hadgkiss

Last month I went to Twickenham, where I joined 130 other members of the Pack for a full training session in the St George's Suite situated under the East Stand.

It was a very informative morning session, interactive, as we worked in both small and larger groups to learn about and discuss the various skills we would use to give the spectators a truly memorable experience when attending Rugby World Cup 2015 matches. These skills were based around being Personal, Engaging and Proactive.

In the afternoon I joined up with other members of the Spectator Services Team to gain more about my role at Brighton which will include such activities as directing fans to the match or Fanzone from a transport hub, or city centre, assisting at the stadium by helping to prepare fans for security screening and bag search areas and directing them to the appropriate entrances to the stadium.  

Bill at the Twickenham training session

Inside the stadium, fans will be welcomed by volunteers and assistance will be given in finding seats. We also learned how to react to lost property, missing children and such requests as refreshment and toilet facilities.

Being at Twickenham for the day was a memorable experience, and everyone involved in the training is 100 per cent committed to providing the best possible experience for the spectators. I am convinced myself and other Pack members are ready to do Brighton & Hove proud!

Almost Tournament time!

It is not long now until the first match of Rugby World Cup 2015 at Twickenham on Friday 18 September.

Brighton & Hove is gearing up for the first weekend of the Tournament when two matches will be played at the Brighton Community Stadium.

• Saturday 19 September: 4.45pm South Africa v Japan (Pool B)
• Sunday 20 September: 12 Noon Samoa v USA (Pool B)

Preparations are underway to celebrate Rugby in the city as we help kick off RWC 2015. Residents and visiting fans will soon be heading to the stadium to enjoy the matches or soak up the Tournament atmosphere at the official Fanzone on Brighton beach. Everyone will be able to enjoy the experience of the only seaside venue of the Tournament.

The visiting teams with bases in Brighton & Hove, Japan and Samoa, will be greeted with Welcome Ceremonies when they arrive in the city. At the 100 days to go milestone, we shared how Westdene Primary School, in Brighton, is going to be part of the Welcome Ceremony for the Japanese team exactly one month from today.

The boys have been practicing with their dedicated teacher and shared one of the rehearsals recently so we could see how they are getting on. The Welcome Ceremonies taking place in Brighton & Hove will happen one month from today, on September 11.

Find out more about how the boys are getting on and hear their rehearsals at https://youtu.be/gEhK-3JW3wE

Rugby’s greatest prize to visit Brighton & Hove

The Webb Ellis Cup is recognised around the world as the greatest prize in the sport of Rugby. On June 10, with 100 days to go until the start of Rugby World Cup 2015, the Webb Ellis Cup set out on a tour of the UK and Ireland.

The Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour reaches Brighton & Hove on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August. By the time the Trophy reaches our city, with under three weeks to go before the two matches taking place in Brighton & Hove, this will be a chance to experience the build-up of excitement as the Tournament gets closer.

The Webb Ellis Cup - Photo credit: www.snapitnow.co.uk

There are two opportunities to see the Webb Ellis Cup in the city.

11am to 1pm, Monday 31 August, at Brighton Museum, Pavilion Gardens

Visitors will be able to view and handle artefacts from the countries represented in Brighton’s Rugby World Cup 2015 matches. The morning offers a fascinating insight into the customs and history of Japan, Samoa, the USA and South Africa, with the Webb Ellis Cup providing an iconic link to the sport of Rugby.

Brighton Museum - Photo credit: www.visitbrighton.com

2pm to 5pm, Monday 31 August, at Yellowave Beach Sports Venue, Madeira Drive

The Webb Ellis Cup will be on display at the seafront sporting venue where local Rugby players will take part in a friendly game of beach Rugby.

Yellowave - Photo credit: www.visitbrighton.com

Keep an eye out around the city on Bank Holiday Monday - the Trophy may well stop off at some of Brighton & Hove’s iconic locations for a photo opportunity or two during the day.

The Webb Ellis Cup will stay in the city and visit the Team Bases of Brighton College and the University of Brighton on Tuesday 1 September; access to these private events is by invitation only. Bank Holiday Monday is the best time to look out for the Trophy.

Did you see the Webb Ellis Cup when it visited Brighton & Hove last year? The iconic Trophy was out and about in the city to celebrate One Year To Go until the start of the Tournament. Have a look at our previous blog to see where it went in 2014.

The Trophy on the seafront in 2014
Photo credit: www.snapitnow.co.uk

Our trip to the Brighton Community Stadium

By  Freya C, Balfour Primary School

We were invited to visit the Brighton Community Stadium to have a good look around and to get an idea of what it will be like during Rugby World Cup 2015 in September.

We saw the changing rooms, also the press conference room as well as getting a look at the actual pitch.

Balfour pupils in the changing room

We asked lots of questions about the build up to Rugby World Cup 2015.

We learnt lots of interesting facts during our trip, including;-

·        The pitch at Falmer uses 3G artificial grass

·        All four of the Rugby teams, USA, Japan, Samoa and South Africa, who are playing in Brighton, have already been to have a look round the stadium where they will be playing

·        There will be only three  days between Brighton football matches and the first Rugby match on September 19 so the staff will have very little time to sort out the pitch

·        They need to use a tractor to help lift the Rugby posts into place

100 days to go!

Today marks 100 days to go until the start of the Tournament on 18 September.

To celebrate Westdene Primary School’s Boys Choir shared their enthusiasm for Rugby World Cup 2015 in song! They also took time out at the start of the school day to throw about a couple of Rugby balls on the school field.

The school's boys’ choir is one of 20 from schools in England and Wales selected to be part of the ceremonies that will officially welcome the teams to Rugby World Cup 2015.

Westdene Primary School Boys Choir
(Photo credit: www.snapitnow.co.uk)

Emma Bright, Music Co-ordinator for Westdene Primary School in Brighton, said: “We are thrilled Westdene Boys Choir has been chosen to perform at the welcome ceremony for Japan for Rugby World Cup 2015. This is probably the most prestigious performance we have ever given & the boys are already working incredibly hard to be sure they give their best performance possible!”

Emma and the choir
(Photo credit: www.snapitnow.co.uk)

The Boys Choir is one of three choirs at the school. It has been running for just under six years and currently consists of 22 boys aged eight to ten years old. As part of the application process, Emma submitted a short clip of the boys performing at the school’s Spring Concert.

During the ceremonies, the successful choirs will sing the official Rugby World Cup anthem “World in Union”. The boys have so far learned one verse of the song. They will be working hard to be pitch and word perfect by the time the Japanese team arrive. 

The ceremonies will also include the formal presentation of official Tournament caps and Rugby World Cup 2015 participation medals.

100 days to go

Managing Director of England Rugby 2015, Stephen Brown, said: “Congratulations to Westdene Primary School on being selected to be involved in the Welcome Ceremonies for Rugby World Cup 2015. We were really pleased with the response that we got from schools wanting to be involved. The standard of the applications was very high and I would like to thank all schools that took the time to apply.”

Below is the test piece Emma sent as part of the application to be one of the choirs to perform at RWC2015 welcome ceremonies in September. The film was taken at the school's Spring concert.