Lane Bryant Set to Debut “This Body” Campaign in 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition

The Brand’s Appearance Will Mark the Start of a Groundbreaking Partnership Between Lane Bryant and Sports Illustrated

In a bold move, Lane Bryant, the nation’s billion dollar 750+ store retailer specializing in fashion for women sizes 14 to 28, is launching their national advertising campaign, This Body. The spirited campaign, fueled by her voice is aimed at their current customer, women who love the skin they’re in and are confident with the bodies they have. The provocative This Body campaign centers around a series of photographs shot by famed photographer Cass Bird. Starring top industry models Ashley Graham, Precious Lee, Tara Lynn, Denise Bidot, and Georgia Pratt, the campaign images embrace the angles and curves of today’s modern woman and challenges the idea that sexy comes in one small form. The campaign will roll out across Lane Bryant’s stores and social media channels, as well as on billboards, television, and in magazines.

Linda Heasley, Lane Bryant CEO and President had this to say, “We want to shift conventional perception and we’ve only just begun with This Body. Lane Bryant will continue to be her platform for celebrating her as she is. She is beautiful, she is strong. The world is ready for more curves and we are leading the charge.“

“We see the same stereotype of the plus size woman in the media: she is unhappy, projecting sort of a low self-esteem, not well dressed, and seemingly spends her nights at home dreaming of another life. This Body aims to celebrate who she really is. She craves the latest fashion trends. She’s the buyer of coveted brands. She should be in the pages of today’s fashion magazines and she’s the next broadway star. She’s competing in the boxing ring. She is the voice of women everywhere,” said Brian Beitler, Lane Bryant CMO.

Lane Bryant has also been named an Official Marketing Partner of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2016, and will make its first-ever appearance in the issue by debuting the This Body campaign.

The opportunity for Lane Bryant, as a women’s retailer, to partner with Sports Illustrated is an industry-first, and celebrates both the brand and the franchise’s message of body empowerment and inclusivity in the media and in the world. The announcement follows this week’s news that model Ashley Graham will make her editorial debut in SI Swimsuit. Graham is a renowned advocate for body positivity and healthy curves. Miss Graham is one of the three cover models—yes, three– a first for the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Ashley Graham–Photo Credit: James Macari/Sports Illustrated (PRNewsFoto/Sports Illustrated)

A cornerstone of the campaign will be a This Body image of model Precious Lee shot by famed photographer Cass Bird which will grace the beginning pages of SI’s 2016 Swimsuit Edition.

The message of This Body is clear: Lane Bryant is calling for ALL women to embrace what makes HER feel most beautiful – every curve, every roll, every inch. The campaign serves as celebration of the women who say “watch me” to those who doubt her and what her body can do.

“We’re thrilled that Sports Illustrated has embraced the message of body positivity and inclusivity that is the mantra of our This Body campaign,” said Lane Bryant CEO and President Linda Heasley. “Not only will our brand have major visibility among some of the top consumer brands in retail, our beautiful campaign models will be seen in the pages of the magazine right alongside the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit models, showing yet again that sexy isn’t limited to size or shape.”

“Lane Bryant is breaking boundaries and leading the important conversation about today’s definition of sexy. Having them on –board as Official Marketing Partner for SI Swimsuit is a no-brainer,” said Damian Slattery, Sports Illustrated Group CMO. “Their campaign and models are a natural complement to the ideals of SI Swimsuit.”

The brand’s appearance in the issue will mark the start of a comprehensive print and digital partnership with the magazine. Not only will Lane Bryant’s newest campaign be seen amongst the pages of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition 2016, the brand will also be highlighted with a strong digital presence on www.SI.com/Swimsuit and at two Fan Festivals celebrating the 2016 launch in New York City and Miami.

For more information on Lane Bryant, please visit www.lanebryant.com.

PBS KIDS Announces New Series SPLASH (w.t.) Will Premiere in Fall 2016

New Multiplatform Media Property Produced by The Jim Henson Company and Herschend Enterprises Encourages Kids to Explore Marine Biology and Ocean Science and Builds Social-Emotional Skills

In fall 2016, PBS KIDS will premiere SPLASH (w.t.), a new animated series that dives into marine biology and ocean science. Created by John Tartaglia (“Imaginocean,” “Johnny and the Sprites”) and produced by The Jim Henson Company (Dinosaur Train, Sid The Science Kid) and Herschend Enterprises (Dollywood, Harlem Globetrotters), SPLASH (w.t.) is designed to encourage kids ages 4-7 to explore the diversity and spectacle of our natural undersea world. The multiplatform media property will debut on PBS stations nationwide, along with integrated digital content.

“PBS KIDS offers high-quality media content to meet the needs of today’s kids, sparking their curiosity and excitement about learning,” said Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Media, PBS. “While oceans cover the majority of the Earth’s surface, there is a profound lack of educational media for young children that explores the science of the fascinating world under the sea.SPLASH (w.t.) will introduce kids to the wonders of marine biology, building science skills and fostering an appreciation for the biodiversity that lives in our oceans.”

SPLASH (w.t.) follows the adventures of its title character, a yellow fusilier fish who has migrated all over the oceans before settling down with his family in Reeftown, where he befriends three inquisitive fellow sea creatures. Until Splash came along, Bubbles, Dunk, Ripple and most of the other Reeftown residents had no idea what lay beyond the cozy confines of their coral walls. Together, Splash and his friends explore the world’s oceans, where they meet wildly diverse marine animals and discover otherworldly undersea habitats, bringing back what they’ve learned to share with their neighbors.

Forty episodes of SPLASH (w.t.) will be produced, each including two 11-minute stories full of comedy and adventure. A production of The Jim Henson Company and Herschend Enterprises, the series is created by John Tartaglia and executive produced by Lisa Henson and Halle Stanford of The Jim Henson Company, Julie Phillips and Merrill Puckett-Miller of Herschend Enterprises, as well as John Tartaglia, Michael Shawn Lewis and Jill Shinderman. Tom Keniston is producer and David Skelly is supervising director. The Jim Henson Company oversees all distribution and merchandising for the property and Herschend Enterprises administers all themed entertainment rights.

“We are so proud to bring our newest show to PBS KIDS and introduce young audiences to meaningful ‘first friends’ we know they will love,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “Reeftown is a bustling ocean neighborhood, welcoming kids to get to know the incredible citizens of the sea.  Through the adventures of Splash and his friends, we hope to inspire environmentalism by helping young children build confidence in their ability to make a difference. We also hope they develop empathy for all the creatures that share this planet with us.”

The characters, storylines and settings in SPLASH (w.t.) are grounded in a marine biology curriculum that focuses on themes of diversity, individuality, interconnectedness and the celebration of learning and discovery. Created in partnership with an advisory panel of top marine biologists, digital media innovators and preschool educators, the series will cover a variety of foundational concepts in biology that are relatable to the everyday lives of young children, such as home and habitat, as well as physical and behavioral traits and differences. SPLASH (w.t.) also introduces the concepts of ecological balance and the importance of taking care of our oceans.

The series will emphasize important social and emotional skills, as Splash and his friends learn about getting along in a community on the reef. SPLASH (w.t.) aims to help children discover the interconnectivity among all living creatures, the planet and the relationships human beings share with them. The series will help children and their families build an understanding of the diversity of life that exists under the sea and build compassion for that life. Viewers will also discover and celebrate the value of diversity overall, as Splash and his friends explore new habitats, make new friends and learn about all the different ways life looks and lives in the ocean. As Splash and his friends play and explore such topics as habitats and symbiotic relationships, viewers will discover these connections and appreciate their importance.

“The ocean is a fascinating and essential part of our world, yet most kids have a very limited understanding of what it is, what lives there and why it is so important to all of us,” said John Tartaglia, the series creator and the performer of the show’s title character. “SPLASH (w.t.) will engage and educate young viewers by presenting the novelty of the ‘strange-but-true’ world of the ocean with humor and music. Funny, character-driven songs will reinforce the show’s learning goals, helping kids build key skills as they sing along with their underwater friends.”

The San Francisco International Arts Festival Announces 2016 Program

Multiple Artists from 13 Countries and the Bay Area to Feature in Over 100 Performances, Installations and Exhibitions.

Who: Multiple Artists

What: San Francisco International Arts Festival

Where: Fort Mason Center for Art and Culture

When: May 19 – June 5, 2016

Tickets: $12 – $35 (Website Live and Early Bird Tickets on-sale Tuesday March 1, 2016) Box Office: 415.345.7575 www.sfiaf.org

Info: 415-399-9554 info@sfiaf.org

The SF International Arts Festival has announced the detailed program for the 2016 Festival, which will take place from May 19 to June 5 as a co- presentation with the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture. More than 50 performance ensembles will participate in the 2016 Festival including some of the Bay Area’s finest as well as companies travelling from as far afield as Canada, Colombia, England, France, Japan, Lithuania, Morocco, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Serbia, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan.

SFIAF 2016 – HinduSwing

Director, Andrew Wood said, “We are happy to unveil the 2016 San Francisco International Arts Festival and are positively ecstatic to be continuing to build on our relationship with the Fort Mason Center. Working together we have been able to create what we think has become the largest annual international gathering of performance artists in the western United States. It’s going to be an exciting program and lot of fun.”

San Francisco International Arts Festival Announces 2016 Program

The participants schedules for 2016 San Francisco International Arts Festival include performances by (a–z): Adrian Arias, AguaClara Flamenco with Trio Garufo, Alma del Tango, Anthony Brown’s Asian American Jazz Orchestra, Ava Roy of We Players, Avotjca and Modupue, Bandelion, Borromeo String Quartet with William Winant, Brenda Wong Aoki with Mark Izu, CALI & CO in collaboration with OngDance Company and Matt EL, the Caravan Band, Charlie Levin, Chus Alonso and Potaje with Fandangueros, Cascada de Flores and Charmaine Clamor, Cimarrón, Dana Lawton Dance Company, David Kleinberg, David Molina and Idris Ackamoor, Del Sol String Quartet, Eliana Lopez, Embark Gallery, Genny Lim with Marshall Trammell, Hassan El Jai, HATCH Performance Collective, Hiroshi Koike’s Bridge Project, Impuritan with Anna Geyer, Loachfillet, Flower Pattern and Edna Mira Raia, Inferno Theatre, Jon Jang Quintet, Kate Perry, Kinetech Arts, Lora Juodkaite, Musette, Musical Arts Quintet, Nancy Wang of Eth Noh Tec, Pan Pan Theatre, Peter Whitehead, Rob Melrose of Cutting Ball Theatre, Rotimi Agbabiaka of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, Russell Blackwood of Thrill Peddlers, Sara Porter, Shang-Chi Sun, Shinichi Iova-Koga of inkBoat, Steamroller, Surya Berthomieux, T42 Dance Project, Tony Kelly, Theatre Movement International, Touretteshero, Trio Balkan Strings, ViBO Simfani, Wooden Fish Ensemble and Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos.

SFIAF 2016 Programs Listed Chronologically by Discipline:

Dance, Music, Performance Art, Theatre, Visual Art

Note: ** – Some programs featuring more than one discipline (e.g. dance with live music) are listed in both categories.

* RELAXED PERFORMANCES welcome people with neurological conditions such as Tourettes syndrome to enjoy the show along with other audience members. This means the audience will not be expected to remain conventionally quiet on these occasions. If wherever possible the media could share this information with the general public that would be greatly appreciated.

SFIAF relaxed performances to date are as follows: White Rabbit, Red Rabbit May 20, 28 and June 5. HATCH Performance Collective May 28. Shang Chi Sun and STEAMROLLER May 28. Bandelion May 29 4:00pm and 9:00pm. Touretteshero June 2, June 4 and June 5.

San Francisco International Arts Festival 2016 Dance Program

Hiroshi Koike Bridge Project (Japan), Restaurant of Many Orders

Cowell Theater, Thursday May 19 8:00pm, and Friday May 20 9:30pm. Tickets: general admission $20 advance, $25 door.

Duration 85 minutes, no intermission.

Japan will be represented by Hiroshi Koike’s Bridge Project with the US premiere of their acclaimed dance theatre performance Restaurant of Many Orders based on Miyazawa Kenji’s story for children where the hunters make a fundamental mistake and become the hunted. This will be Koike’s first visit to San Francisco since changing the name of the company, previously named Pappa Tarahumara.

SFIAF 2016 – Lora Juodkaite

Lora Juodkaite (Lithuania), Atmintis (Memory)

Firehouse Thursday May 19 8:00pm, Saturday May 21 9:30pm, Sunday May 22 8:00pm. Tickets: general admission $20 advance, $25 door.

Duration 55 minutes, no intermission.

Making her US debut in a dance performance titled Memory Lithuanian choreographer Lora Juodkaitė dives into the depths of human memory revealing forms and layer after layer meaning in a search for one’s true self. The choreography unfolds in a geometric square that represents four points of human memory: memorization, storage of memory, reminiscence and forgetting.

Alma del Tango with Trio Garufa (USA), Tango Night**

Gallery 308, Friday May 21 8:00pm, Tickets: general admission $20 advance, $25 door. Reserved seating $25 advance $30 door. Front row reserved seating $30 advance $35 door.

Duration 60 minutes, no intermission.

Tango Night, an intimate evening by Alma del Tango, explores the rich diversity of the dance, from the close embrace of the social dance floor to the fast flying legs of the fantasia stage. Bay Area’s top professional tango dancers express their unique styles to the live music of the virtuosic international tango ensemble, Trio Garufa. Romantic, passionate, even quirky, these dancers dazzle the eye and capture the heart. Now in its 30th year, San Francisco’s Argentine Tango community is one of the largest outside of Buenos Aires and is embraced by a multitude of nationalities and ages.

CALI & CO dance/Matt EL with Ong Dance Company and Sooyeon Lyuh (USA and South Korea), HERE

Cowell Theater Friday May 20 7:00pm, Saturday May 21 9:30pm, Sunday May 22 2:30pm. Tickets: general admission $20 advance, $25 door. A shared bill with Dana Lawton Dance

Duration: Friday 60 minutes no intermission. Saturday and Sunday 85 minutes with a pause.

Welcome to HERE a live dance and music/Korean and American collaboration about the places you’ve been, are now and will continue to reside, regardless of the human need for distraction. HERE captures the rapture of existence through a new piece de resistance by CALI & CO dance/Matt EL music with guest collaborators Kyoungil Ong/Ong Dance Company and Sooyeon Lyuh. HERE is a rare, creative amalgamation of identity and culture through traditional Korean dance and music with American modern dance and rock music. Coursing shadow and light through its structure, HERE seeks to highlight the beauty and soften the pain of existence.

SFIAF 2016 – Dana Lawton Dance Company

Dana Lawton Dances (USA), An Evening of Repertory

Cowell Theater Friday May 20 7:00pm, Saturday May 21 9:30pm, Sunday May 22 2:30pm. Tickets: general admission $20 advance, $25 door. A shared bill with CALI & CO

Duration: Friday 60 minutes no intermission. Saturday and Sunday 85 minutes with a pause.

Showcasing music by contemporary composers, Dana Lawton Dances will present three dance works: Silence Of… by Bay Area composer, Stephanie Webster; Wax and Wire by nationally acclaimed composer, Viet Cuong and Dream of the Cherry Blossoms by Japanese composer Keiko Abe.

Sara Porter (Canada), Sara Does a Solo

Southside Theater, Friday May 20, 8:00pm, Sunday May 22 7:00pm. Tickets: general admission $20 advance, $25 door.

Duration 60 minutes, no intermission.

Celebrated Canadian dancer Sara Porter gives a fearless interplay of fact and fiction, memoir and fantasy, confession and caricature. With a penchant for humor and sharp eye to visual design, Porter presents her world with intimacy and pathos, hilarity and beauty in physical stories about life as an artist and parent. Part memoir, dance performance, and stand-up comedy, Sara does a Solo is a fearless account of the body and the reflective mind unlike anything else. “A bold and beautiful account of mid-life.”

Caravan Band (USA), Jump on the Caravan**

Gallery 308, Saturday May 21 and Sunday May 22 3:00pm. Tickets: general admission $20 advance, $25 door. Reserved seating $25 advance $30 door. Front row reserved seating $30 advance $35 door.

Duration 80-90 minutes with intermission.

The Caravan Band and Dancers perform traditionally inspired dances of the Middle Eastern world showing the diversity of the music, dance and costuming from the silk and spice roads from the Near East, Middle East and North Africa. A rich and vibrant performance in the intimate cabaret setting of Fort Mason Center’s Gallery 308.

Potaje /Fandangueros/Cascada de Flores (USA), Fandango-Pandanggo**

Cowell Theater, Saturday May 21 6:00pm. Tickets: general admission $20 advance, $25 door. Duration 70 minutes, no intermission

The “fandango” represents an extensive family of musical styles and dances that span three continents with relatives such as the “Pandanggo” from Philippines, the “Fandanguillo” from Mexico, and the “Fandangos de Huelva” from Spain. FANDANGO-PANDANGGO is a music, dance and multimedia performance exploring historical musical interactions between the Philippines, Mexico, Cuba and Spain. Spanish and Filipino composers, Chus Alonso and Florante Aguilar, respectively, examine the music that connects them and present new works supported by a team of collaborators that include the ensembles Potaje, Fandangueros and Cascada de Flores; singer Charmaine Clamor, flamenco dancer Melissa Cruz and multimedia artists Alleluia Panis and Wilfred Galila.

Shang-Chi Sun (Taiwan), Traverse

Firehouse, Thursday May 26 8:00pm, Friday May 27 9:30pm, Saturday May 28 5:00pm. Tickets: general admission $20 advance, $25 door. A shared bill with STEAMROLLER.

Duration: 60 minutes with intermission

Audience Notification: The performance on May 28 is Relaxed*

A solo performance by Berlin based Taiwanese choreographer Shang-Chi Sun, Traverse hits you first with its multiplicity, the pace and the layers of the body and its environment, sometimes complementary, sometimes opposing. It is a transcription in movement of a presence whose strength, desires, impulses are emancipating and going through its temporal memories. Traverse is first of all a very personal piece with the signature of an exceptional dancer. The speed, fluidity and multiplicity of his choreographic language is completed by an amazing precision and sense of rhythm. A direct, pure, straight forward dance.

The 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Makes History: Three Covers, Three Cover Models with One Featuring the First Full-Figured Model to Ever Grace the Cover

Hailey Clauson, Ashley Graham and Ronda Rousey Unveiled on TNT Special as the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Models.

SI Swimsuit 2016 Available February 15 Across Print, Digital and All New SI Swimsuit iOS and Android App Featuring Virtual Reality

Amazing cast of 24 Swimsuit Models including Nina Agdal, Lily Aldridge, Hannah Davis, Gigi Hadid, Irina Shayk, Chrissy Teigen and Lindsey Vonn.

Hailey Clauson, Ashley Graham and Ronda Rousey are the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover models; each gracing their own individual cover which were unveiled during a first of its kind broadcast special on TNT earlier this evening. The 2016 SI Swimsuit multiplatform launch across print, digital (www.si.com/swimsuit), mobile and NYC Fan Festivals are set for Monday, February 15.

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT 2016 (PRNewsFoto/Sports Illustrated)

This is the first time SI Swimsuit has produced multiple covers of its Swimsuit edition. On the decision to go with an unprecedented three individual covers, SI Swimsuit Editor MJ Day said: “What defines beauty today? The truth is, times have changed and one size does not fit all. Our position on beauty is well known–healthy, curvy, vivacious and bold. It’s not a size. The three cover models–Hailey Clauson, Ronda Rousey and Ashley Graham–demonstrate that…. So we don’t have just one cover, because beauty doesn’t take just one form.”

All three are making their first cover appearance and each commented on the honor moments after finding out together earlier this evening:

Hailey Clauson on one of the three Covers of the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Photo Credit: James Macari/Sports Illustrated (PRNewsFoto/Sports Illustrated)

Hailey Clauson said, “I’m shaking and crying. I love it so much because it represents three different strong and beautiful women.”

Ashley Graham on one of the three covers of the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Photo Credit: James Macari/Sports Illustrated (PRNewsFoto/Sports Illustrated)

Ashley Graham said, “I’m insanely speechless. I cannot comprehend how I feel right now. This will go down in the books forever. It is a historic moment. Not only is this the first time that I’m in the issue, but I’m on the cover and sharing this honor with two of the most stunning women. This is for all the women who didn’t think they were beautiful because of their size. This is for them.“

Ronda Rousey on one of the the three covers of the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Photo Credit: Frederic Pinet/Sports Illustrated (PRNewsFoto/Sports Illustrated)

Ronda Rousey said, “It’s a real honor being part of such a historic issue that really pays homage to different body types of women and not promoting just one cookie cutter image for every woman, but showing that the healthiest version of every body type is the sexiest version out there. And I couldn’t be happier…I think I was just as honored to get it as to be there in person to watch Ashley’s reaction (laughs).”

Clauson, Graham and Rousey join the ranks of fashion, entertainment and business titans Kathy Ireland, Elle Macpherson, Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Kate Upton, Chrissy Teigen, and Christie Brinkley who have appeared on the SI Swimsuit cover. This is the 52^nd edition of SI Swimsuit (www.SI.com/Swimsuit) which now reaches 70MM U.S. adults – more 18-34 year old men than the Super Bowl via print, digital, mobile products and consumer events.