The frenzy of parading started Saturday night and didn't end until dawn Monday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the annual Carnival. Dancers dressed as slaves push a huge float representing the ship that brought the Portuguese royal family to Brazil two centuries ago. Hundreds of drummers in golden conquistador outfits propelled the 4,500-member group from Mocidade de Independente down the parading lane of Rio's "Sambadrome," an 85,000-seat venue built for the annual samba "school" competition. ...more

February 5, 2008

It's heartache almost too incomprehensible to imagine. Susan Rizzo Vincent's only child, a beautiful young woman named Andrea, survives cancer, only to be killed at age 24 by a drunken driver. ...more

January 26, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Pierce Middle School will usher in FCAT season with meatballs, tomato sauce and pasta. ...more

January 16, 2008

In the classic holiday ballet "The Nutcracker," Clara's friends are overcome with jealousy when she receives a toy nutcracker as a Christmas present. Unlike the characters in the story, the four girls playing Clara in Dance Theatre of Tampa's "Nutcracker" production aren't the jealous type. ...more

December 19, 2007

In the classic holiday ballet "The Nutcracker," Clara's friends are overcome with jealousy when she receives a toy nutcracker as a Christmas present. Unlike the characters in the story, the four girls playing Clara in Dance Theatre of Tampa's "Nutcracker" production aren't the jealous type. ...more

December 15, 2007

NEW TAMPA - In the classic holiday ballet "The Nutcracker," Clara's friends are overcome with jealousy when she receives a toy nutcracker as a Christmas present. Unlike the characters in the story, the four girls playing Clara in Dance Theatre of Tampa's "Nutcracker" production aren't the jealous type. When director Dyane Elkins-IronWing cast Diamante Velez, Adriana Sinudom, Nicole Simpson and Jenny Dzuranin in the lead role, the girls didn't react by fighting for attention. They were all smiles, ready and willing to work together. ...more

December 11, 2007

A recent Time magazine takes a look at Americans by the numbers. I love these kinds of surveys because they help you realize there are a whole lot of people out there who need to get a life as much as you do. For example, after work and sleep, you know what consumes the largest portion of our day? Watching TV. And why wouldn't it? ...more

November 28, 2007

Julestarz Academy for the Performing Arts, 16132 Churchview Drive, has 27 dancers aged 6 to 16. ...more

October 17, 2007

Regarding 'Not Too Close, Bikini Dancers' (Metro, Oct. 5): Within three miles of my house the following has happened recently: ...more

October 8, 2007