Pupils and instructors at Edinburgh Dance Academy (EDA) have taken top honours at a prestigious British Isles dance competition staged in Blackpool over the weekend.
The highly-regarded dance school – whose past pupils include the 2019 winner of BBC’s The Greatest Dancer, Ellie Fergusson – was named as the Highest Ranked Dance Studio in the UK and Ireland for the second year running at the Dance Inspirations event.
EDA’s Jenni Inglis (above) also won the Most Inspirational Choreography award for the second year in a row and EDA dancer Kiera Anderson received top prize in the Most Dedication, Passion and Talent award category.
The Dance Inspirations competition featured over a total of 3000 acts from over 100 dance schools from across the UK and Ireland in their regional heats ahead of the final in Blackpool, where a total of 317 acts competed for the top prize.
Several EDA dancers also picked up accolades for their performances including being named Overall Winner and taking 1st place for their contemporary piece “Shout” by Empara Mi.
The winning group secured £1000 prize money for their award-winning routine with the proceeds going towards funding their trip to represent Scotland in the Dance World Cup competition being staged in Portugal in June.
Julie Mitchell, Principal and Founder at EDA, said: “I’m so proud of Jenni and our fantastic dancers who all performed incredibly in this highly competitive event.
“Achieving this success across so many categories for the second year really underlines the commitment and dedication of both our pupils and our team.
“We now look forward to taking part in June’s Dance World Cup in Portugal where EDA competitors will proudly fly the flag for Scotland.”
Edinburgh coach tour operator officially adds Europe tours to its portfolio
Small group tour operator Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) has ramped up its operations with the official launch of its coach tours in Europe.
Today, the first tours have departed on the continent marking the momentous occasion for the Scottish company. The first tours to set off are the six-day South of Spain & Treasures of Andalucía from Madrid and the six-day Cinque Terre, Florence & the Flavours of Tuscany from Milan.
Rabbie’s will operate 20 new itineraries in Europe this year, each six or 13 days in duration, taking guests across Italy, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland.
Similar to the company’s popular UK trips, guests travelling on Rabbie’s European tours will travel in comfortable mini-coaches, with a maximum group size of just 16, allowing them to reach less-touristed destinations.
Each tour includes the expert services of a driver and English-speaking guide, providing insider local knowledge and entertainment along the way.
Tours available include:
South of Spain & the Treasures of Andalucía
This six-day tour travels from Madrid to Lisbon, taking in Spain’s former capital Toledo, Córdoba, Granada including Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada National Park, dramatic Ronda, Seville and the charming Algarve town of Tavira en route.
Travellers will visit a Spanish olive oil production site for a lesson in olive oil-making, be entranced by the ornamentation of the Alhambra Palace and delve into the rugged landscapes of the Cumbres Verdes mountains on the forefront of the Sierra Nevada. Stroll the city walls and picturesque plazas of cliff-top Ronda and join a half-day tour to Jerez de la Frontera – the heartland of sherry and Spanish brandy. Prices start from €1,185 per person based on 4 July 2022 departure.
Cinque Terre, Florence & the Flavours of Tuscany
Over six-days, this tour takes guests on a journey exploring renaissance art, quaint coastal villages and world-famous wines.
Holidaymakers will travel from Milan to Rome by way of Parma, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence, Siena and Montepulciano. Uncover the terraced cliffs and clear deep blue water of the Cinque Terre, admire the famed leaning tower in Pisa before wandering the cobbled streets and picturesque piazzas of Lucca.
Marvel at the finest collection of Italian Renaissance art and architecture in Florence before journeying to the stunning hill town of San Gimignano and the Tuscan hills of Va d’Orcia. Prices start from €1,519 per person based on 1 August 2022 departure.
Rabbie’s European tour prices include transport in an air conditioned mini-coach with a local driver, the stories and services of an English-speaking guide, accommodation in 3-4 star hotels with continental breakfast and selected excursions.
For more information and to book, please visit www.rabbies.com
The first update to the UK government’s traffic light list for international travel took place yesterday, with Portugal moved to the amber list to safeguard public health against variants of concern and protect our vaccine rollout.
Seven countries – including Sri Lanka and Egypt – have also been added to the red list. All changes to the lists will come into effect at 4am on Tuesday 8 June.
The decision to move Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores) to the amber list follows increased concern in the spread of variants of coronavirus, including a mutation of the Delta variant, and the risk that is posed of bringing these back to the UK if people are not required to quarantine.
The situation in Portugal has required swift action to protect the gains made with the vaccine rollout – there has been an almost doubling in the COVID-19 test positivity rate in Portugal since the first review for traffic light allocations, far exceeding the ONS estimated national positivity rate in the UK. More significantly, according to data published on GISAID, 68 cases of the Delta variant of concern have been identified in Portugal, including cases of the Delta variant with an additional, potentially detrimental, mutation.
Public Health England is investigating this variant and mutation, to better understand whether it could be more transmissible and less effectively tackled by vaccines, potentially putting our progress with the roadmap at risk.
The government’s priority is to protect public health, and it has therefore decided to act quickly to make this change. All classification changes have been decided by ministers, informed by the latest data and analysis by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC) and wider public health factors, to help people understand the risks to public health here from travellers returning from different destinations.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: The public has always known travel will be different this year and we must continue to take a cautious approach to reopening international travel in a way that protects public health and the vaccine rollout.
“While we are making great progress in the UK with the vaccine rollout, we continue to say that the public should not travel to destinations outside the green list.”
The full list of additional countries added to the ‘red list’ includes Afghanistan, Bahrain, Costa Rica, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago. For countries going on the red list today, COVID-19 prevalence is assessed to be high and there is evidence to suggest community transmission of variants of concern.
While the number of ‘green list’ destinations remains low, the government is urging the public not to travel to amber classified destinations to play their role in protecting public health. This is due to the prevalence of variants of concern and general rates of coronavirus being greater in amber destinations, meaning the risk to public health is also greater.
UK Health Security Agency chief executive Dr Jenny Harries said: “Increases in case rates in the UK serve as a reminder that this pandemic is not over yet and we need to take a cautious approach.
“Everyone should observe the travel guidance, continue to follow hands, face, space and fresh air, and have both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine when offered.
“Testing will help to break chains of transmission and allow us to see which variants are circulating so make sure you get tested when you return to the UK in line with the guidance.”
There are no additions to the green list at this time. People should not travel to amber or red countries other than for essential reasons.
Scotland’s Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “Portugal is a popular destination for Scottish holiday makers and this change will clearly cause disruption to people’s travel plans.
“However we have been forthright from the outset that the traffic light system is designed to protect the safety of the people of Scotland and the continued progress we are making as we come out of lockdown.
“Using the stringent methodology of the Joint Biosecurity Centre it is clear the risk this new variant poses is now too great to allow unrestricted travel to Portugal, an approach that has been agreed by all four nations.
“International travel for holidaying purposes remains risky and subject to sudden change. We have said before people should think very carefully about travelling – and this latest development serves to underpin that advice – especially so given the prevalence and unpredictable nature of variants of concern.”
The UK government has always stated that international travel will be different this year, both in terms of passenger experience and with regards to what countries the public could visit to protect the hard-fought gains of the vaccine programme rollout. However, passengers should be aware that while COVID-19 travel restrictions are in place, queue waiting times may be longer than usual.
The UK government is also announcing that as part of a limited trial, from 8 June, direct flights will be permitted to England from countries on the ‘red list’ that were previously subject to flight bans, so long as they arrive at dedicated terminals at Heathrow and Birmingham airports.
The requirement for these direct flights to arrive at dedicated facilities will help keep more red list passengers separate from others, helping to ensure they are processed as safely and efficiently as possible and then travel straight to their managed quarantine hotel and reduce queues at the border.
As international travel reopens safely, the government will maintain 100% health checks at the border. Our top priority is protecting the health of the public and our enhanced borders regime, including mandatory hotel quarantine for arrivals from red list countries, is helping minimise the risk of new variants being imported into the UK.
However, many ‘green list’ countries will continue to place restrictions on travellers from the UK, including quarantine measures, so passengers are strongly encouraged to check all entry requirements and FCDO travel advice before they book any foreign travel.
If travelling abroad, you need to take steps to keep safe and prepare in case things change while you are there. Check and subscribe to FCDO travel advice updates to understand the latest entry requirements and COVID-19 rules.
Concerns over new variant of coronavirus in Brazil
Following identification of a new variant of coronavirus in Brazil, the Scottish Government has imposed additional restrictions on all arrivals from South America, as well as several countries with strong travel links to affected countries.
In addition to the South American nations of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela, this will also apply to Portugal, including Azores and Madeira, Panama and Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) and British Overseas Territory of the Falkland Islands.
These travel restrictions will replicate the measures that were put in place for Denmark and South Africa and came into force at 04:00am this morning (Friday 15 January).
Travellers who have been in any of these countries or territories in the 10 days prior to their arrival in Scotland must isolate, along with all members of their household. No exemptions from isolation will apply.
Qatar and the Caribbean islands of Aruba and Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are also removed from the country exemption list at the same time.
The UK Government has confirmed that implementation of pre-departure testing for arrivals into England is delayed until Monday morning, to allow carriers and passengers additional time to prepare.
The Scottish Government intended to introduce this additional measure on Friday 15 January, but it is necessary to also delay implementation to allow for coordination between the UK Government’s regulations and the relevant Scottish regulations.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “It is important that everyone follows the regulations that mean any travel must be for an essential purpose. Very few people should be travelling internationally, and then only for a genuinely essential reason.
“The emergence of concerning variants identified in Brazil, as well as South Africa and Denmark in recent months, means we must think carefully about restrictions on international travel.
“At this early stage of vaccine rollout, and with case rates at high levels across the UK, it is important we take the right steps to prevent importing new strains that can increase transmission or undermine the vaccine in Scotland.
“We are in close discussion with other administrations about additional measures we can put in place, including the timing of the introduction of pre-departure testing.”
Travellers from Portugal and French Polynesia will be required to self-isolate at home, or another specified address, for 14 days on arrival in Scotland from 4am Saturday morning (5 September).
This is due to a significant rise in cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in these places, and in Portugal’s case the level of test positivity, which means that the risk of importation into Scotland by people who have visited is too high to ignore.
The Scottish Government has carefully examined the scope of applying measures, such as regional targeting, but consider a whole country approach for Portugal is required. While regional variations in the pattern of cases and level of risk can often be identified in different countries, the Scottish Government is not confident there is strong evidence of clear controls in place limiting travel between different areas. A regional approach will be explored for future application but in the interests of safeguarding public health a whole country approach will be applied at this time.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “We are in the midst of a global pandemic and the situation in many countries can change suddenly. Therefore, people should think very hard before committing to non-essential travel abroad.
“With Scotland’s relatively low infection rate, importation of new cases is a significant risk to public health. I would also encourage people who have returned to Scotland from Portugal or French Polynesia in the last few days to be particularly careful in their social contacts and to ensure they stick to the FACTS. I am also concerned by the level of infections in Gibraltar and we will be monitoring the situation there very carefully.
“Regular discussions continue with the other three governments in the UK. We continue to closely monitor the situation in all parts of the world and base the decisions we make on the scientific evidence available.
“It is a legal requirement to complete a Passenger Locator Form and provide it to Border Force, whether you have travelled from an exempt or non-exempt country. The requirement for travellers to quarantine for 14 days on arrival from a non-exempt country is vital to help prevent transmission of the virus and to suppress it – not doing so poses a significant risk to wider public health across Scotland.”
