Muhammad Ali Pasha

Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, (Turkish: paşa^[1]) was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in pre-republican Egypt. There were three ranks of pashas: the first, or highest class, had the privilege of bearing a standard of three horse-tails, the second of two, and the third of one.^[2]

Linguistics[link]

The word pasha entered English from Turkish paşa.^[1] Etymologists variously derive the word paşa from the Turkish baş or baş ağa, "head, chief".^[3] Old Turkish had no fixed distinction between /b/ and /p/, and the word was spelled başa still in the 15th century.^[4] As first used in western Europe, the title appeared in writing with the initial "b". The English forms bashaw, bassaw, bucha etc., general in the 16th and 17th century, derive through the medieval Latin and Italian word bassa. Due to the Ottoman presence in the Arab World, the title became used frequently in Arabic, though pronounced as basha due to the absence of the letter "p" in Arabic.

Role in Ottoman, and Egyptian political systems[link]

Mustafa Kemal Pasha

Within the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman Sultan had the right to bestow the title of Pasha. It was through this custom that the title (Egyptian Arabic pronunciation: [ˈbæːʃæ]) came to be used in Egypt, which was conquered by the Ottomans in 1517. The rise to power in Egypt in 1805 by Muhammad Ali, an Albanian military commander, effectively established Egypt as a de facto independent state, however, it still owed technical fealty to the Ottoman Sultan. Moreover, Muhammad Ali harboured ambitions of supplanting the Osman Dynasty in Constantinople, and sought to style his Egyptian realm as a successor sultanate to the Ottoman Empire. As such, he bore the title of Pasha, in addition to the official title of Wāli, and the self-declared title of Khedive. His successors to the Egyptian and Sudanese throne, Ibrahim, Abbas, Sa'id, and Isma'il also inherited these titles, with Pasha, and Wāli ceasing to be used in 1867, when the Ottoman Sultan, Abdülaziz officially recognised Isma'il as Khedive.

The title Pasha appears originally to have applied exclusively to military commanders, but subsequently it could distinguish any high official, and also unofficial persons whom the court desired to honour.

A pasha's Tui with two horse tails

It was also part of the official style of the Alpina Kursuncu Pasha (Great Admiral of the entire Ottoman fleet). Pashas ranked above Beys and Aghas, but below Khedives and Viziers.

Three grades of Pasha existed, distinguished by the number of yak- or horse-tails (three, two and one respectively; a symbol of Turco-Mongol tradition) or peacock tails, which the bearers were entitled to display on their standard as a symbol of military authority when on campaign* Only the Sultan himself was entitled to four tails, as sovereign commander in chief.

The following military ranks entitled the holder to the style Pasha (lower ranks were styled Bey or merely Effendi):

• The Vizier-i-Azam (Grand Vizier, the prime minister, but also often taking the field as Generalissimo instead of the Sultan)
• Mushir (Field marshal)
• Ferik (army Lieutenant-general or navy Vice-admiral)
• Liva (major general or Rear-admiral)
• The Kizlar Agha (chief black eunuch, the highest officer in the Topkapı Palace; three tails, as commander of the baltacı corps of the halberdiers in the imperial army
• Istanbul's Shaikh ul-Islam, the highest Muslim clergyman, of cabinet rank.

If a Pasha governed a provincial territory, it could be called a pashaluk after his military title, besides the administrative term for the type of jurisdiction, e.g. eyalet, vilayet/walayah. Both Beylerbeys (governors-general) and valis/wālis (the most common type of Governor) were entitled to the style of Pasha (typically with two tails). The word pashalik designated any province or other jurisdiction of a Pasha.

Ottoman, and Egyptian authorities conferred the title upon both Muslims and Christians without distinction. They also frequently gave it to foreigners in the service of the Ottoman Empire, or of the Egyptian Khedivate (later Sultanate, and Kingdom in turn), e.g. Hobart Pasha.

Honorific[link]

The title Pasha was an aristocratic title and could be hereditary or non-hereditary, stipulated in the "Firman" (patent of nobility) issued by the Sultan carrying the imperial seal "Tughra". The title did not bestow rank or title to the wife nor was any religious leader elevated to the title. In contrast to western nobility titles, where the title normally is added before the given name, Ottoman titles followed the given name. In contacts with foreign emissaries and representatives, holders of the title Pasha were often referred to as "Your Excellency".

The sons of a Pasha were styled Pashazada or Pasha-zade, which means just that.

In modern Egyptian and (to a lesser extent) Levantine Arabic, it is used as an honorific closer to "Sir" than "Lord," especially by older people. Among Egyptians born since the Revolution of 1952 and the abolition of aristocratic titles, it is considered a highly informal way of addressing one's male peers.

Although not used as an official title, today, general officers of the Turkish Armed Forces are referred as pashas by the public and media in Turkey.

List of notable pashas[link]

Gordon Pasha

Stone Pasha

• Abaza Family – Egyptian Pashas and Beys
• Abbas I of Egypt
• Abbas II of Egypt
• Ahmad Shuja Pasha (Lieutenant-General) Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's premier intelligence Agency.
• Ahmed Pasha (Claude Alexandre de Bonneval)
• Ahmet Fevzi Paşa – Turkish-Egyptian Admiral
• Ali Pasha — statesman
• Alpina Kursuncu Pasha
• Barbarossa Khair ad-Din Pasha
• Cigalazade Yusuf Sinan Pasha
• Emin Pasha
• Enver Pasha
• Essad Pasha
• Fakhri Pasha
• Fuad Pasha
• Glubb Pasha (John Bagot Glubb)
• Gordon Pasha
• Hagop Kazazian Pasha
• Hobart Pasha
• Hussein Refki Pasha
• Ibrahim Pasha
• İsmet Pasha (İsmet İnönü)
• Jafar al-Askari
• Jamal Pasha
• Józef Bem – a Polish general and a national hero of Poland and Hungary, who served in the Ottoman Empire. Also known as Yusuf Murad Paşa
• Judar Pasha – Moroccan general
• Kara Mustafa Pasha
• Kazazian Pasha
• Kilic Ali Pasha
• Multiple members of the Köprülü family, especially Kara Mustafa Pasha
• Lala Kara Mustafa Pasha
• Liman von Sanders Pasha
• Mahmud Dramali Pasha — Ottoman general
• Mehmed Pasha Sokolović
• Melling Pasha
• Midhat Pasha
• Müezzinzade Ali Pasha — Ottoman admiral
• Muhammad Ali Pasha — viceroy of Egypt
• Mustafa Kemal Pasha, subsequently known as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the post-Ottoman Turkish republic
• Mustafa Reshid Pasha
• Nubar Pasha
• Osman Pasha
• Piyale Pasha
• Riyad Pasha — Egyptian statesman
• Said Pasha^{[disambiguation needed ]}
• Sinan Pasha
• Stone Pasha
• Sufiyan Pasha
• Sulejman Pasha
• Sultan al-Atrash
• Talat Pasha
• Tewfik Pasha
• Turhan Pasha Përmeti
• Tusun Pasha
• Urabi Pasha
• Valentine Baker
• Wehib Pasha
• Woods Pasha
• Radu cel Frumos — Brother of Vlad III Tepes; also known as Radu Bey, convert to Islam, appointed Pasha of Wallachia by Fatih Sultan Mehmet from 1462–1473, representing the only period of direct Islamic rule in Wallachia. (See Radu cel Frumos)
• Youssef Wahba Pasha — Egyptian Prime Minister
• Sir William Williams Canadian/British General
• Yusuf Karamanli Pasha of Tripoli
• Tawfiq Bay (Tevfik Pasha), Arab pan islamist

See also[link]

• Ottoman Empire
• Ottoman titles

Notes[link]

References[link]

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
• AllAboutTurkey.com - The Ottoman harem

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. Its references may not meet Wikipedia's guidelines for reliable sources. Tagged since November 2009. It has no lead section. Tagged since September 2009. It may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may only interest a specific audience. Tagged since October 2011.

Jimmy Arguello[link]

Jimmy "Jimmers" Alexander Arguello is a contemporary and lyrical dancer from Miami, Florida, who was trained in jazz, ballet, hip-hop and tap at the Dance Gallery. He began to dance at age 12 and aspires to be a professional dancer on tour with a dance company. He considers Brian Friedman his favorite professional dancer. Outside of dance, his hobbies include swimming and track and field.^[1] He feels his being eliminated from the show instead of Cedric Gardner was unfair, since he remembers the first two seasons stressing all-around dance ability rather than uniqueness. Arguello was also afraid that Gardner would put his partner, Shauna Noland, into the bottom 3 couples and in danger of elimination as a result of his not being able to learn choreography quickly.^[2] He was eliminated on 2007-06-21.

Kameron Bink[link]

Kameron David Bink is a hip-hop and contemporary dancer from Coral Springs, Florida with training in jazz, tap, ballet and acrobatics. He has been dancing since he was 6 years old and auditioned for the show in Atlanta, Georgia. Bink has performed in the Latin Grammy Awards, and feels he has too many favorite professional dancers to list. Outside of dance, he enjoys motorcycles and skydiving.^[3] He was eliminated on July 26, 2007, and went on tour with the show.

Cedric Gardner[link]

Cedric Pernell Gardner, Jr. is a freestyle dancer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with limited formal training from The Peck School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Millennium Dance Complex, EDGE Performing Arts Center, Monsters of HipHop, and Dance2XS. He began to dance at age 7, but did not take it seriously until he was 19, and lists Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo, JesseLee Santos, Brian Friedman, Misha Gabriel, Tony Testa, Nick Bass, Gil Duldulao, Shane Sparks, Patrick Chen, Andye Jamieson, Marty Kudelka, Popin Pete, Kevin Maher, Jayson Rhapsody, Shirley Gilbert, Louis Hurd, Danny Kuepper, Sarah Wilbur, Andre Tyson, Simone Ferro, Mia Michaels, Roberto and Edwin Olvera, John Abakah, Michael Jackson and James Brown as his favorite dancers, with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire as his all time favorites. Gardner aspires to dance professionally, eventually owning a dance studio and production company, as well as a toy company. Outside of dance, he likes to play the drums, golf, chess, and video games, as well as inline skate, fly kites and bowl.^[4] As a result of the show, Debbie Allen has offered him a full scholarship to the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, which he has accepted.^[5][6] He was eliminated on July 12, 2007.

Anya Garnis[link]

Anya Garnis (born 1982) is a Russian-born Latin dancer from New York City, with eight years of formal training in Russia. She started dancing at the age of 10 and has reached the finals at the 2004 U.S. Open Ballroom Championship. She lists Mikhail Baryshnikov as her favorite professional dancer.^[7] Garnis has lived in the United States since 2001 and has been dancing with partner and fellow finalist Pasha Kovalev for nine years.^[8] Although she has her ballroom costumes sewn by a dressmaker in New York City, Garnis designs them herself.^[9] She was eliminated on 19 July 2007 and went on tour as a special guest.

Garnis was the first contestant on Mary Murphy's Hot Tamale Train which is now a recurring theme on the show.

In 2005 she and Pasha Kovalev came in fifth in the American Ballroom Challenge finals. She and Pasha Kovalev appeared on the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars in a results show performance, dancing to "Come On Over" by Jessica Simpson. She also performed with him on the international dance show "Superstars of Dance", representing Russia in the duet category. She is also returning as an All-Star in Season 7.^{[citation needed]}

Jaimie Goodwin[link]

Jaimie Goodwin is a contemporary, lyrical, and jazz dancer with training in contemporary, pointe, and musical theatre and 12 years of training in tap, ballet, and jazz. She started dancing at 7 years of age and trains with Denise Wall, mother to season 3 runner up Danny Tidwell and season 2 runner up Travis Wall, who has been her dance partner for 5 years and whom she lists as her favorite professional dancer, along with her older sister. Outside of dance, Goodwin likes to write, and wants to author a book about her mother's life and struggle with cancer to benefit a breast cancer fund set up in her name. In the future, she would like to keep dancing professionally, get into the film industry and act, as well as get married and have a child and maltipoo puppy.^[10][11] She was eliminated on 2007-07-26 and toured with the top 10. In 2008, she secured a dancing role in the Disney film High School Musical 3. On July 23, 2009, Goodwin reunited with fellow Season 3 contestant and partner, Hokuto "Hok" Konishi, to perform their Emmy award winning piece The Hummingbird and the Flower on the 100th episode of So You Think You Can Dance choreographed by Wade Robson.

Lauren Gottlieb[link]

Lauren Gottlieb is a contemporary, jazz funk, and hip-hop dancer from Scottsdale, Arizona, studio trained in jazz, ballet, hip-hop, lyrical and tap. She started dancing at the age of 7 and moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to pursue her dance career. She was eliminated on 2007-08-13 from the show So You Think You Can Dance. Since she had worked for a previous season with a choreographer of the final 20, Nigel expressed concerns during her selection for the Season 3 top 20, that they may be accused of showing favoritism towards her and hence that they should be careful concerning that. Lauren is most remembered for sharing a kiss with Dominic in their top 8 Rumba. She was a featured dancer on the tv series, Glee in the "Pilot" during the Rehab dance routine as well as in "Acafellas," during the Mercy dance routine. She later did choreography in the auditions for season 5. She was also featured in Bring It On: Fight to the Finish as one of the Jaguars, and in a spoof film as a cheerleader in an obligatory mass multi-player ensemble number.

She appeared in the films "Disaster Movie", "Bring It On: Fight To The Finish" and "Hannah Montana: The Movie" as a background dancer. She has also appeared in Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked as a dancer.

It has been announced Lauren will be an "all-star" for the seventh season of SYTYCD US, representing Hip Hop/Jazz/Contemporary.

She's appeared in the upcoming films ABCD - AnyBody Can Dance with Prabhu Deva, Ganesh Acharya, Dharmesh Yelande,Salman Khan,Bhavna,Prince etc.

Neil Haskell[link]

Sabra Johnson[link]

Hokuto "Hok" Konishi[link]

Hokuto "Hok" Konishi (born July 11, 1984, in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese bboy and hip-hop dancer, who grew up in England. He trained for two years in hip-hop and locking. He began to dance at age 15. Konishi was formerly a member of the dance troupe SickStep. In season two of So You Think You Can Dance, Konishi nearly made it to the final twenty, but had only a student visa and was unable to be legally employed in the United States, which resulted in his dismissal from the program. Subsequently, he obtained a work permit and became eligible to participate in the competition in season three. His Season 3- Week 3 Jazz performance - Hummingbird and Flower with Jaimie Goodwin, set to "Chairman's Waltz" from Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack, choreographed by Wade Robson won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography in 2008.^[12] As of 2007, he is a member of a hip-hop dance crew (most of them are b-boying) called Quest Crew, which competes and performs in various venues throughout the country. Konishi is also friends with So You Think You Can Dance season one contestant Ryan Conferido and season three's Dominic Sandoval; Hok, Dominic, and Ryan are all now members of Quest Crew.^[13] Andre Fuentez, B-boy Casper, Aja, and Tetris are his favorite professional dancers and he has performed in VIBE, All VC, Kollaboration, and the Sai-Gai Carnival. Outside of dance, he likes to draw, paint, design, and play the violin.^[14] He is currently in the United States as a student in graphic design at Santa Monica College.^[15] He was eliminated on 2007-07-19 and went on tour as an alternate. Hok and his dance crew, Quest Crew, which includes fellow "So You Think You Can Dance" stars Ryan Conferido and Dominic Sandoval, were named America's Best Dance Crew for season three on March 5, 2009. On July 23, 2009, Konishi returned for the 100th episode of So You Think You Can Dance to perform his Emmy Award Winning routine, Hummingbird and Flower with fellow Season 3 contestant Jaimie Goodwin. Hok also was seen in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel as a hip-hop dancer participating in a music competition. He is the choreographer of LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" music video which Quest Crew was featured.

Pasha Kovalev[link]

Pavel "Pasha" Kovalev is a Latin and ballroom dancer who auditioned for the show in New York City with longtime partner and fellow finalist Anya Garnis. A Russian native, he began dancing at the age of 8, and received formal training in ballet and jazz as he grew older. His favorite professional dancers are Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Before So You Think You Can Dance, Kovalev appeared in the production Lois and Lois.^[16] He was eliminated from the competition on 2007-08-13 but eventually went on tour with the show. During season 4 he assisted Mia Michaels on a contemporary routine. On season four he and his partner Anya Garnis choreographed a cha-cha routine performed by Courtney Galiano and Gev Manoukian. During season 5, Kovalev and Garnis choreographed a samba for Evan Kasprzak and Randi Evans. He and Garnis also appeared on the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars in a results show performance, dancing to "Come On Over" by Jessica Simpson. He also performed with her on the international dance show Superstars of Dance, representing Russia in the duet category, but was then replaced by an unnamed dancer in the January 19th episode. He and Garnis returned to SYTYCD in season 6 to lead the choreography rounds during the auditions, and later that season choreographed a jive for Russell Ferguson and Mollee Gray.

Both Garnis and Kovalev have also recently guest-choreographed for the third season of SYTYCD Australia, and are currently involved in Jason Gilkinson's production Burn the Floor. Kovalev was an "All-Star" for the seventh and eighth seasons of SYTYCD America.

As of September 2011 he is performing in the ninth season of the UK's Strictly Come Dancing (the original BBC show that spawned Dancing With the Stars) as a professional dancer in partnership with actress Chelsee Healey.

Ashlee Langas[link]

Ashlee Caroline Langas is a contemporary dancer from Tyler, Texas who auditioned in Chicago, Illinois. She began to dance at the age of 2 and has many years of formal training in numerous styles with Gotta Dance (8), Candy Crocker School of Dance (6), Contemporary Dance Techniques (5), Danceworks (1), Fox Troupe (1), and the Kilgore College Rangerettes] (2005–2007), as well as drill team experience through high school as a member of the Southern Belle Drill Team at Robert E. Lee and college as a Rangerette.^[17] Langas' favorite dancer is Mia Michaels. She aspires to become a dance teacher and choreographer, and would like the opportunity to travel abroad. Outside of dance, she likes to read and exercise.^[18] She was eliminated on 2007-06-14.

Ricky Palomino[link]

Richard "Ricky" Marcelino Palomino II is a contemporary dancer from Phoenix, Arizona,^[19] who began dancing in his public school's physical education course at 14 and auditioned on a whim^[20] in Atlanta, Georgia. Although he has no formal training, he was mentored by Michelle Ceballos of the Royal Ballet, Jeremy Miller, and, following a move to New York City, Lucy "Jen" Ballard of Cedar Lake Dance. Palomino describes his instruction as "[soaking] up as much as possible in the little time [he] had." He has performed three times for the Dancers Responding to AIDS benefit, and lists Sylvie Guillem and Jose Manuel Carreño as his favorite professional dancers. In the future, Palomino hopes to be involved in the music and film industry as a recording artist and actor, as well as create his own line of designer apparel, "Marcelino," and move fashion shows in the direction of full theatre productions. He also would like to open dance instruction facilities across the country and increase students' exposure to dance in public education. Currently, he employs music production software such as Logic Pro to create his own tracks, and has just finished his second album. He released his first, Amateurly Honest, on iTunes in 2005 under the name Marcelino. Palomino also designs and creates the cover art for his albums using Adobe Photoshop and experiments with visual effects and video software to make music videos. Outside of his career, he likes to exercise, wash his car, and attend museum exhibits.^[21] He was eliminated 2007-06-14.

Jessi Peralta[link]

Jessica "Jessi" Peralta is a lyrical and pop dancer trained at the Holly Rocks Dance Factory, as well as other studios in Florida, New York City, and Los Angeles. She began dancing when she was 3 years old, and aspires to be a professional performer and star in a dance film. She likes to crochet, paint mythical characters in underwater settings, and watch Sex and the City.^[22] On the day of taping the third performance show, Peralta was sent to the hospital for shortness of breath, chest pain, and dehydration, and was not able to perform. Viewers were not shown the fact that she had been hospitalized the previous week for dehydration as well. She felt that she did not need medical attention the second time, and discharged herself to not let her partner, Pasha Kovalev, down. However, the show's legal team considered it too great of a liability to allow her to dance in her condition.^[23] Since Peralta was not able to dance in the performance show, she was automatically placed in the bottom 3 couples, and— in danger of elimination by the judges on 2007-06-28, (see show format)— she was eliminated.^[24] Subsequently, fans began a petition to reinstate her, arguing that since she was not put in the bottom 3 by viewer vote, she should be allowed to remain on the program. Nigel Lythgoe addressed the issue the following week, noting that some action had to be taken on the part of the show's organizers to account for the fact that Peralta did not perform.^[25]

Shauna Noland[link]

Shauna Noland is a contemporary dancer from Santa Monica, California formally trained in jazz, modern, ballet, tap and hip-hop at the Dance Company of San Francisco and No Limits Dance and Performing Arts of Soquel, California. She began dancing when she was 2 years old. Her mother, Sue Noland, is a ballerina who owns the Pacific Wave Surf Shop in Santa Cruz with her husband, Todd Noland. Noland graduated from Santa Monica High School in 2006 and soon after moved to North Hollywood to pursue her career. In 2007, a solo routine she choreographed earned her a prize at the Hall of Fame Dance Challenge of Alameda County. Noland has also performed for the Hollywood Fame and CBS television show "Dance Revolution."^[26] In the future, she hopes to be an inspiration and share her passion for dance. Outside of dance, she likes to sing and has a keen interest in techno music.^[27] She was eliminated 2007-07-12 and went on the tour as a special guest.

Dominic Sandoval[link]

Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval (born October 15, 1985 in Roseville, CA) is a freestyle Urban dancer from Roseville, California,^[28] with little formal training. He is half Filipino And half Latino. He began breakdancing at age 13 and has performed at NBA and WNBA games, as well as won the 2005 "Evolution 2" competition held in Orlando, Florida with his breaking crew, Flexible Flav. Three months before the Los Angeles auditions, in order to prepare, Dominic took hip-hop and choreography classes.^[29] He lists Ivan "The Urban Action Figure"—who has appeared on America's Got Talent—as his favorite professional dancer. Sandoval aspires to learn all styles and genres of dance and to be known as a dancer, rather than just a breaker.^[30] On the dance show "So You Think You Can Dance," he was known for having a crush on host Cat Deeley, his humor and seemingly constantly dropping his partner, Sabra Johnson in Hairspray group routine, where she was accidentally dropped on her head.^[31] He was eliminated on 2007-08-02 and went on tour with the show. He was an All-Star in Season 7. Dominic was a member of Quest Crew and Stepboys (Sacramento, Roseville). With the Quest Crew, Dominic, along with fellow "So You Think You Can Dance" star Hokuto "Hok" Konishi and Ryanimay Conferido, were the champions of the third season of America's Best Dance Crew. Dominic later announced that he would join America's Best Dance Crew's judging panel for its sixth season.^[32] Dominic also has a YouTube Channel, theDOMINICshow, which has approximately more than 663,000 subscribers. Additionally, he has appeared in several Nigahiga youtube episodes.

Faina Savich[link]

Faina Savich is a Latin ballroom dancer. She was born in Vitebsk, Belarus, and grew up in Moscow. She now resides in New York with her brother Stanislav who was a top 20 contender in season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance. She was eliminated on 21 June 2007.

Lacey Schwimmer[link]

Jesús Solorio[link]

Jesús "Chuy" Solorio is a dancer from Paso Robles, California, whose style is classified as contemporary, but combines techniques from hip-hop, tap, salsa, ballet, jazz, and lyrical. He began dancing when he was ten years old, and he trained at a Russian school for eight years.^{[citation needed]} Early in his dance career, Solorio performed in Doriana Sanchez's "Circo Fantastico," an all-Hispanic circus production.^{[citation needed]} He also performed in a production of The Music Man, and lists his time spent dancing on a cruise ship as one of his most memorable dance experiences.^{[citation needed]} Prior to the third season of So You Think You Can Dance, Solorio made it to the top 40 on season 2. His other interests include cooking and singing.

On the show, Solorio was noted mostly for his smile that "lit up the stage" as noted by host Cat Deeley. He was partnered with Sara Von Gillern, and performed three routines, including pop jazz, paso doble, and krump. He was eliminated on 28 June 2007. Upon his elimination, the producers invited him to be a special guest on the nationwide tour that would include the top 10 finalists from the show.

Solorio recently wrapped performances of his show entitled Dreamcatcher, a performance which he conceptualized and choreographed.^{[citation needed]} Currently, he is working on recording his first album. He is also currently a professional dancer on the weight loss competition Dance Your Ass Off, dancing with Trice.

Danny Tidwell[link]

Sara Von Gillern[link]

Sara Kei Von Gillern, also known as Mis' Von, is a 23 year old breakdancer originally from Rock Island, Illinois and currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado. She auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance at the Chicago, Illinois auditions, making it through to Las Vegas auditions and the top 20 dancers without having to "dance for her life" at all. Von Gillern made it to the Top 8 and was eliminated on August 2, 2007. She returned for the finale on August 16, 2007, where three of her partner dances were chosen as season favorites, including her disco during top 10 week with Neil Haskell to "Knock on Wood", her West Coast Swing routine during top 14 week with Pasha Kovalev to "the Rockafeller Skank", and her pop jazz routine during top 20 week with Jesus Solorio to "Cabaret Hoover".

Von Gillern started dancing at age 4, studying basic styles such as tap, ballet, jazz, and modern. She became interested in breakdancing at age 19. She has trained with Red Bull Beat Riders 2006, an elite hip hop training session that accepted only 30 dancers worldwide to attend.^{[citation needed]} In addition, she has also trained with the Colorado State University Dance Program, the Gruv Factory, Motion Underground, and the Academy of the Performing Arts, as well as at the Broadway Dance Center as an intern.^[33] Sara has danced for the Denver Nuggets NBA team as a member of their hip hop dance team, the Mob Squad, and for the AFL Colorado Crush as a Crush City Dancer.^[33]

Von Gillern previously danced with the crews Elements of Motion and Females En Motion, and currently is a member of two crews: the GetWithThis Crew and the Ladies First Crew.^{[citation needed]} She is also a member of the traveling show "Monster Shop Bump'n," which focuses on hip hop dancing with costumes that portray a positive message.^{[citation needed]} As a member of the So You Think You Can Dance top 10, Von Gillern went on the national tour.

She is currently on tour with Avril Lavigne as a back up dancer for her "Best Damn Tour".^{[citation needed]}

Sara also performs with an all female dance group known as 'The Syrenz'.

Sara was seen in a 2010 commercial for the Cooking Channel saying, "Stay Hungry" near the end of the commercial.

References[link]

Kimberley Walsh
Background information
Birth name	Kimberley Jane Walsh
Born	(1981-11-20) 20 November 1981 (age 30)[1]
Origin	Bradford, West Yorkshire, England[1]
Genres	Pop, R&B
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, actress, model, television presenter, dancer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Polydor, Fascination
Associated acts	Girls Aloud
Website	www.twitter.com/KimberleyJWalsh

Kimberley Jane Walsh (born 20 November 1981) is an English singer-songwriter, dancer,^[2] model, television presenter and actress. She is best known for being a member of girl group Girls Aloud, formed through ITV's reality television programme Popstars: The Rivals.^[3] The group has achieved twenty consecutive top ten singles (including four number ones) in the UK, five studio albums have all been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), two of which went to number one in the UK, and accumulating a total of five BRIT Award nominations.

Walsh fronts the 2009 Autumn/Winter collection for the fashion chain New Look. In July 2010, Walsh became a presenter on music talk-show, Suck My Pop. Walsh's net worth was estimated at £6 million in April 2012.^[4]

Early life[link]

Walsh was born in Bradford^[5] to Diane and John Walsh. She grew up with elder sister Sally, younger brother Adam and younger sister Amy in the suburb of Allerton.^[1] Sally appeared on the soap opera, Emmerdale, between 1997 and 2000, playing the role of Lyn Hutchinson.^[1]

Walsh attended Sandy Lane First School, Stoney Lee Middle School and near Bingley at Beckfoot Grammar School, and had her first taste of fame appearing in an advert as a child along with sister Sally in a George for ASDA advert. She starred as Young Cosette in a regional production of Les Misérables and starred in ITV's The Book Tower.^[6] Walsh also attended the Bradford based theatre school Stage 84 for many years and was also, briefly, a teacher there.

Music career[link]

2002-2009: Girls Aloud[link]

Walsh auditioned for the reality television show Popstars The Rivals in 2002 with the song "Where Do Broken Hearts Go".^[7] Several thousand applicants attended auditions across the UK in hope of being selected. Ten girls and ten boys were chosen as finalists by judges Pete Waterman, Louis Walsh and Geri Halliwell. Walsh did not initially make it into the group of ten female contestants who were to appear on the show. However, when another contestant was disqualified on a technicality, she found herself on the show. These finalists then took to the stage participating in weekly Saturday night live performances which alternated weekly between the girls and boys. Each week, the contestant polling the fewest phone votes was eliminated, until the final line-ups of the groups emerged. Walsh joined Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts, and Cheryl Cole to comprise the new girl group Girls Aloud, formed through the show by a public vote on 30 November 2002.

The group's debut single "Sound of the Underground" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 2002 Christmas number one.^[8] Girls Aloud hold the record for the shortest time between formation and reaching number one.^[9] The group released their debut album Sound of the Underground in May 2003,^[10] which entered the charts at number two and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) later the same year.^[11] Since 2003, Girls Aloud have released twenty additional singles, with all but one charting within the top ten, and fifteen reaching top five positions. Their singles "I'll Stand by You", "Walk This Way", and "The Promise" have charted at number one. Two of their albums have reached the top of the UK Albums Chart: their greatest hits album The Sound of Girls Aloud and 2008's Out of Control, both of which entered the chart at number one, with over one million copies of the former being sold.^[12] All five of their studio albums have been certified platinum by the BPI.^{[citation needed]} They have been nominated for five Brit Awards, and in 2009 won "Best British Single" at that year's Brit Awards for "The Promise".^[13] The group has sold ten million records worldwide.^[14] Girls Aloud have become one of the few UK reality television acts to achieve continued success, and had amassed a fortune of £25 million by May 2009.^[15] The 2007 edition of Guinness World Records listed them as "Most Successful Reality TV Group",^{[citation needed]} while they also hold the record for "Most Consecutive Top Ten Entries in the UK by a Female Group" in the 2008 edition.^{[citation needed]}

In July 2009, Girls Aloud announced they would take a year-long hiatus to pursue of solo projects, but would reunite for a new studio album in 2010.^[16] In August 2010, bandmate Nicola Roberts revealed that she wasn't anticipating a reunion of the band until 2012.^[17] Kimberley Walsh has revealed that she does not think it is possible Girls Aloud will ever "officially break up". She explained that they are planning to tour again and will probably take breaks from time to time, doing solo projects but they will never permanently go their separate ways.^[18]

2010-present: Solo Projects[link]

It was first rumoured that Walsh was about to make a record deal with her band's record label, Fascination Records,^[19] although nothing has been confirmed. Soon after the rumour, Walsh confirmed on Suck My Pop, a programme that she co-hosts on the digital TV station Viva, that she will feature on English rapper Aggro Santos' upcoming single, "Like U Like". The track will be her first step away from Girls Aloud as a singer. Walsh was asked for OK! Magazine: "Kimberley, there are rumours, that you will be releasing a solo album..." and Walsh said: "Gosh! I haven't got any plan to do that. Gary Barlow signed Aggro Santos and he asked me to sing Like U Like, and I've done a song for the Horrid Henry film that I'm in. I'm not sure about doing anything big on my own just yet." In 2012 Walsh teamed up with Alfie Boe to record a version of Queen's "One Vision" as the Official Olympic Team Great Britain Single.

Television[link]

Walsh appeared in her own documentary for Sky 1 named Kimberley Walsh: Blue Jean Girl which aired on Wednesday, 17 June 2010. On the same day, Kimberley appeared on This Morning to promote the show. Walsh became a presenter of new music talk-show, titled Suck My Pop, on Viva. Walsh also starred as a judge for ITV's Entertainment show Born To Shine during week 1.

Acting[link]

Before Walsh became a member of Girls Aloud, she had worked in theatre and acting.^[20] In 2000 Walsh appeared in the television series This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper as Gillian Oldfield, and starred in a BBC Educational Schools programme called Focus. In the same year, Walsh applied for the role of Maria Sutherland in Coronation Street. However, she lost out to Samia Smith.^[21] In 2001, Walsh played Tracy in Dream Back. In 2007, alongside her bandmates she appeared in St. Trinian's playing a school band member. In 2008 she and bandmate Nicola Roberts had small parts in Britannia High, in which they played themselves. Walsh has recently stated that she would like to star in a musical in the future, playing a stage role.^[22] In late 2010, Walsh landed a role in the live-action 3D family comedy film Horrid Henry: The Movie as the titular character's overactive cousin Prissy Polly, with the film being released on 29 July 2011.

On 5 October 2011 through 21 May 2012 she made her West End theatre debut, playing Princess Fiona in the London production of Shrek the Musical. The announcement came after Amanda Holden announced her pregnancy in August 2011.^[23][24] Originally signed on until 27 February 2012, she extended her run to 21 May 2012. Carley Stenson took over after her departure.

Presenting[link]

Walsh appeared in Let's Dance for Sport Relief as a panelist and also fronted coverage of the BAFTA Awards for MTV on her own programme Kimberley Walsh At The BAFTAS in 2010 and in the summer of 2010 hosted sky 1 documentary "Girl In The Blue Jeans". She also presented coverage for The X Factor live from South Shields on the day of the final in 2009 for Joe McElderry.^{[clarification needed]} On June 17 – 18 2010, Kimberley hosted Channel 4's The 5 O'Clock Show with Stephen Mulhern. On 9 July, it was revealed that Walsh will be presenting Suck my pop, a music program on Viva, with Will Best.

Other work[link]

Walsh climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Comic Relief in March 2009.^[25] The climb, organised by Gary Barlow, was also undertaken by fellow Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole, Alesha Dixon, Fearne Cotton, Denise Van Outen, Chris Moyles, Ben Shephard, Ronan Keating and Barlow himself. Between 3 February and 23 March 2009, Walsh, Tweedy, Barlow, Moyles and Cotton also raised money for Comic Relief by providing the voice for the BT Speaking Clock.^[25] As of 26 August 2009, Walsh is modeling for the clothing line New Look following in the footsteps of Lily Allen and Alexa Chung.^[26] Kimberley became OK! magazine's new weekly columnist in August 2010. The column is called "Kimberley Calls The Shots".^[27] Kimberley Walsh was also named as the new face and hair of Schwarzkopf for a reported 6 figure deal.^[28] In March 2011, Walsh teamed up with Tess Daley and Joanna Page to work with Maltesers to promote Red Nose Day 2011.^[29] In January 2011, Walsh was revealed as the new face of Puma AG BodyTrain fitness toner wear.^[30] In May 2011, Kimberley Walsh was named as the face of Right Guard's Xtreme Dry Range.^[31]

Discography[link]

Singles as Featuring artist[link]

Filmography[link]

Television & Film[link]

Awards[link]

She placed number 37 in FHM’s annual list of "100 Sexiest Woman in the World"in 2009 ahead of bandmates Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Sarah Harding who were placed at 57, 58 and 87 respectively.^[34] Walsh also won the Yorkshire Woman of the Year award 2009 in recognition not only for her professional success but also for her role as celebrity ambassador for the Breast Cancer Haven charity, which has a branch in Leeds. She was too awarded with the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Woman's award in 2009. Walsh has also who Yorkshire Women of the year in 2009.

Personal life[link]

On 8 June 2006, Walsh publicly apologised for smoking cannabis after being caught on camera smoking a spliff. She immediately owned up to it when questioned about the photo, which was taken on 31 December 2005, whilst she was attending a friend's party. She told The Sun newspaper that she had got caught up in the moment and was deeply sorry, and that she realised what she did was wrong, especially since she is in a position where young fans look up to her.^[35]

However, it was reported on 9 June 2006 that Walsh's father, John, denied that she had ever smoked cannabis, and that she was just holding a rolled up cigarette that was not even lit. He also claimed that Victoria Newton at The Sun pressured Walsh into apologising for something that she had not done, threatening that if she did not then Newton would make the story worse.^[36]

Despite this, Walsh admitted in an interview with The Times, on 20 October 2006, that she had taken a couple of puffs on the spliff, but claimed that "it hardly makes me Pete Doherty".^[37]

References[link]

External links[link]

Girls Aloud portal

• Kimberley Walsh at the Internet Movie Database
• Kimberley Walsh on Twitter

Juliana Pasha
Background information
Born	(1980-05-20) 20 May 1980 (age 32) Burrel, Albania
Origin	Burrel, Albania
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer

Juliana Pasha (born 20 May 1980, Burrel, Albania) is an Albanian singer. In 2010 she won Honorary Citizen Award of Burrel from the mayor of the city. After she went into Eurovision in 2010 she won the first prize in the festival "Kenga Magjike" with the song called "Sa e shite zemren".

Eurovision 2010[link]

Juliana Pasha performing "It's All About You" at Bærum

On 27 December 2009, Pasha won the national final to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. She had previously taken part in the 2007 and 2008 festivals, placing 3rd and 2nd respectively with "Qielli i ri" and "Një jetë", the latter a duet with Luiz Ejlli. In the contest, she qualified to the final, where she performed fifteenth, following the Turkish representants MaNga and preceding Iceland's Hera Björk, and placed 16th out of 25 contestants, receiving 62 points, which included a 12-point set from FYR Macedonia.

Personal life[link]

Pasha announced she will release a Christian CD in Albanian and English soon. When the media asked her how important religion is for her – she said it is very important because she believes in God and that she is here because of his help.^[1] She has also been involved in a project called Hanna (PH), who are fighting to remove the blood vengeance tradition in Albania.^[2]

References[link]

v t e Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest   Participation 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013   Artists 2000s Anjeza Shahini Ledina Çelo Luiz Ejlli Frederik Ndoci Olta Boka Kejsi Tola 2010s Juliana Pasha Aurela Gaçe Rona Nishliu   Songs 2000s "The Image of You" "Tomorrow I Go" "Zjarr e ftohtë" "Hear My Plea" "Zemrën e lamë peng" "Carry Me in Your Dreams" 2010s "It's All About You" "Feel the Passion" "Suus" (Note: Entries scored out are when Albania did not compete)