Latest news with #ZaraSmith
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Dance Fest delivers spectacular performances in Ayrshire
Dance Fest, Ayrshire's biggest celebration of dance, enjoyed two sell-out shows at the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr. The spectacular event showcased the very best of dance from local schools, community groups, private dance schools and stage schools plus a performance from East Ayrshire Youth Dance Company. Performances included Fenwick Primary who presented a dance entitled Dancing through the decades – 150 years of Fenwick Primary while S1 from Stewarton Academy performed an extremely high energy hip-hop routine to 'It's Okay I'm Okay and Work It'. Logan Primary wowed with a dance using various styles entitled Around the World; East Ayrshire's Youth Dance Company performed an incredible hip-hop routine to Lady Gaga's 'Abracadabra'; while St Andrews Primary gave a fantastic performance to Flor Rida's classic 'Club can't handle me'. Dance Fest was produced by Zara Smith, Cultural Co-ordinator, Dance and Movement from East Ayrshire Council's Creative Minds team, and featured a range of different dance styles and musical tastes, including musical theatre, street, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop. The young people put on an incredible show and the East Ayrshire Teacher Performance group impressed the crowd with Bye Bye Bye – a hip-hop routine choreographed by Carrie Craggs, to the NSync song and a jazz routine choreographed by Louise Chudleigh to Get Happy. The tantalising and totally toe-tapping two-night event saw further highlights from Jam Street, i-Dance, Karen E Moir Dance, Dynamite Dance Studio, Icon Dance Company Ayrshire and CentreStage. Zara said: "Dance Fest represents the culmination of weeks and months of practice by pupils and their teachers in schools across East Ayrshire who come together to share their love of dance on stage. It is a spectacular celebration and showcase, which everyone finds really uplifting. The show also reflects the ongoing and much-appreciated support and encouragement from parents, family members and carers." Provost Claire Leitch attended Dance Fest with the Council's Chief Executive, Eddie Fraser, and Dr Julie Carrie, Music Services Manager. She said: "What an incredible evening we spent at Dance Fest. It was a real celebration of dance and was so joyous. All the dancers gave heart and soul to their performances, and I found it very moving – the talent, the commitment and just the opportunity to express themselves through dance. It was wonderful. "Congratulations to Zara Smith for producing a fantastic event and to all the performers."
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Man's 10 word statement to aunt before 'repeatedly stabbing her' in home
Adrian Smith, 28, told jurors at Manchester Crown Court he heard a "demonic voice" telling him "you need to kill Zara or I'm going to kill you" A man told his aunt "sorry, but you are going to have to die tonight" before repeatedly stabbing her, a court has heard. Adrian Smith, 28, is on trial at Manchester Crown Court accused of attempting to murder his mum's sister, Zara Smith, after he claims he heard a "demonic voice" telling him "you need to kill Zara or I'm going to kill you." He denies the offence. The court heard how Mr Smith's mental health had deteriorated over the past few years. His aunt described to jurors Mr Smith had suffered from a 'spiral of deterioration' as he found it hard to live independently and ultimately became homeless after struggling to hold down a job. 'The defendant's mental health deteriorated to the extent that earlier in 2024 he was detained under section 2 of the Mental Health Act. In February 2024, he was detained after he attended at his family's home with a can of petrol making threats to burn the house down,' prosecutor Mark Kellet said. 'In April 2024, he was detained again after he had been apprehended by the police on the M60, following calls about a man walking in the third lane of the motorway.' Other members of his family, including his sister, also voiced their concerns about him, stating he was 'failed by mental health services'. 'After each occasion that he was detained, he was discharged without any accommodation,' said Mr Kellet. On June 27, the day before, he went to visit his aunt. He talked about settling down and starting a family, before reporting hearing voices, saying: 'People on the streets of Manchester telling me to do things.' He also said the voices were telling him to 'kill his mum and dad', with his aunt describing that he 'did not appear normal', prosecutors allege. 'She was also concerned that the defendant had been using illegal drugs. In the past he had told her that he had used cannabis, cocaine and crack cocaine. Obviously, she was concerned about him using harmful drugs,' Mr Kellet added. Zara Smith contacted the doctor to report her concerns and was told that her nephew would have to see the doctor in person. But Mr Smith had already left her home and she didn't see him until the following night, the court heard. The court heard that on June 28, at around 9.30pm, Mr Smith's mum and her partner returned home to find her son there, reporting her as 'missing' to the police and in a distressed state. At one stage, when he was on his way out of the house to smoke a cigarette, he got close to her and moved towards her as if he was going to 'bite her', it was said. His mum then rang her sister, Zara Smith, to ask for her help, who in turn told her to call the police. When she arrived at Grosvenor Road in Hyde, she went into the house with the police, and asked Mr Smith about biting his mother, jurors heard. He told her: 'I was cold and my teeth were chattering, that's all.' Zara Smith told officers that her nephew needed to be sectioned, at which they said an ambulance was on its way but would take some time, the court was told. 'The two officers said that they were of the view that because the defendant had not committed an arrestable offence, they had no power to detain him,' the prosecutor said. ' Zara explained about the defendant's behaviour the previous day. The police asked if Zara was 'okay' waiting with the defendant, and Zara agreed that she would.' Jurors were told that Mr Smith then got up from the sofa, closed the curtains and said: 'I'm just making it a bit cosier so no one can see in.' He then said: 'I'm going for a smoke and then you're done.' His aunt made an excuse to leave the house, but as she moved he returned and appeared to be holding a knife. He told her: 'Sorry, but you are going to have to die tonight,' the court heard. Mr Smith then 'lunged' at her, stabbing her to the left shoulder. She screamed for help which he told her: 'Shut the f*** up, you're going to die tonight' and 'Just f***ing lie there and bleed out.' Zara Smith told jurors in evidence that it was like something out of a horror movie and he looked 'pure evil'. During the attack he stabbed her to the chest, and attempted to 'slice her throat' as she went for the front door, it was said. Mr Kellet continued: 'She grabbed the knife which fell to the floor. She says that Adrian backed away from her, saying 'Just be quiet. Just lie there and die. Let yourself bleed out.' He added that the defendant allegedly claimed he was going to tell the police that she was trying to kill him instead. Police arrived moments later and Mr Smith was arrested. Zara Smith was left with numerous injuries including a stab wound to her sternum, a stab wound to each breast and two stab wounds to her left arm. The court heard that Mr Smith, of no fixed abode, accepts stabbing his aunt and has previously pleaded guilty to causing wounding with intent. He denies attempted murder.
