DUBAI // Weeks of practice, a festive theme and fun costumes paid off for Jay Bauzon and Lea Encabo, winners of the first Yan Ang Indak (That's the Move) dance competition at the weekend.
The pair were among five couples who competed on Friday night in the finals of the competition, which was modelled on the American TV programme So You Think You Can Dance and wrapped up after a month.
The winning pair impressed the judging panel after donning red-and-white costumes to do the jive to All I Want for Christmas is You. "Their choreography was great," said Xernes Martinez, the panel's chairman. "They worked hard on their techniques, their expressions were fun to watch, and they made quite an effort with their Christmas costumes. They really came prepared."
Ms Encabo, 30, works as an administrative assistant while Mr Bauzon, 30, is an accountant. "We wanted the audience to enjoy our dance," he said. "Our weeks of practice paid off."
The pair split Dh3,000 for first prize, and an extra Dh1,000 for being chosen as crowd favourite.
In second place were Erwin Lladoc Jr, 27, and Sunshine Gerodias, 26, who won Dh1,000 for their contemporary rumba.
The event featured two teams of male dancers who travelled from Abu Dhabi to thrill the audience with hip-hop and street dancing.
Auditions for the competition were held in October and plans are already in the works to hold it again next year. The organisers - University of the Philippines alumni asociation in the UAE (UPAA-UAE) - will use proceeds for its scholarship endowment fund.
"Tonight's not only a night of dancing and partying," said Oliver Conti Ramos, 29, the creative head behind Yan ang Indak. "We're giving one scholar in the Philippines a chance to study at UP."
rruiz@thenational.ae
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Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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Disclaimer
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Can NRIs vote in the election?
Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad
Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency
There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas
Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas
A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians
Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.
This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India
A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians
However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed
The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas
Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online
The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online
The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
