Artists take the centre stage in breathtaking performance at launch

Commemorative painting handed to Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation

Abu Dhabi, March 14, 2007: VLCC - one of the world's leading health, beauty and fitness brands - unveiled its new Weight Management Clinic in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday at an impressive ceremony. The clinic, offering specialised slimming, skin, hair and beauty services, is the fourth VLCC outlet in the UAE and is expected to herald a totally new health and beauty experience in the capital.

The clinic, strategically located at Khalidiya, was officially inaugurated on Monday by His Excellency Dr Abdul Ghaffar Mohammed Abdul Ghafoor, Undersecretary, UAE Minister of Health.

The unveiling ceremony on the evening of March 13th, 2007, was also a platform for a unique presentation in different art forms. As a company, VLCC has worked extensively in the field of health and wellness and has taken every opportunity to convey the message and create as much awareness as possible about the ills of obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle.

VLCC Founder and Mentor Mrs Vandana Luthra has also been associated with promoting art & culture through a charitable organisation Khushii (happiness), that she so passionately endorses. The company, Indian by origin that came to UAE in December 2005, has not only embraced the local culture has now also become a very active participant in the development of the nation, specifically in the field of health. The performance aimed to convey that art sees no boundaries and when the best of two cultures come together, it creates something of its own.

In an effort to further showcase VLCC's love for art, the evening presented a specially-composed performance, which was an interpretation of different artists in the field of music and art from both India as well as UAE.

It was a breathtaking performance, which was an interpretation of the vision of a healthy and progressive UAE foreseen by Mrs Luthra. In her words: when HEALTH is absent, WISDOM cannot reveal itself, ART cannot manifest, STRENGTH cannot fight, WEALTH becomes useless and INTELLIGENCE cannot be applied.

Among the artists who performed at the spectacular show were Rakesh Chaurasia on the flute. Rakesh is the nephew and child prodigy of flute maestro of the world renowned Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia from India. The most accomplished of disciples of his uncle, he shows all the promise to carry the Chaurasia legacy to greater heights.

Accompanying Rakesh was Vijay Ghate on the tabla. Originally from Jabalpur, India, Vijay has been recognised by all musicians and dancers alike as the most versatile among tabla players of the present generation, adept and comfortable accompanying all the three streams of Vocal, Instrumental and Dance.

With them were Sameh Sandid on the Oudh, and Ahmed Sherif on the Arabic percussion. Both Sameh and Ahmed have travelled extensively in the region and have played on different cultural events to promote Arabic music.

In tandem with the music, renowned painter Wael Hamadeh brought a blank canvas to life with his masterful brush strokes; creating an unforgettable experience. As part of VLCC's efforts to honour the efforts and the ideals of art, the showpiece commemorative painting was later handed over to Mr. Waleed Akkou, Director of Cultural Affairs, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, the guardians and connoisseurs of art monuments.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Luthra said: "We are proud to unveil our first Weight Management Clinic in Abu Dhabi amidst the symbiotic fusion of two cultures, two art forms and one common denominator - the love of the arts. This art form by the gifted artists intensely connects, converses and collaborates with what VLCC espouses to offer in Abu Dhabi. It is our vision to make Abu Dhabi a more fitter place, continuing on our journey we began in Dubai in December 2005 and in India almost two decades ago."

She added: "Our weight management clinic in the Capital is well positioned to meet the needs of this health conscious market. VLCC's Abu Dhabi clinic is in line with our promise to our consumers - to provide them with state-of-art services in a congenial and comfortable environment."

The new clinic, situated on the mezzanine floor of Prestige Car Showroom Building, opposite Khalidiya Park junction at Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, is part of VLCC's ambitious Dh100 million GCC-wide expansion plan aimed at servicing its growing client base in the region.

The new centre will offer VLCC's signature brand of customised slimming services including Weight Loss, Body Therapy, Body Firmer, Body Contouring, Gel Therapy, Lipofit and other Weight Maintenance Programmes. Also on offer are beauty services, encompassing regular hair wash, conditioning, different type of hair massages, spa therapies, Moroccan bath and skin-care services and make-up programmes.

Apart from its emphasis on world-class fitness and beauty services, the centre will also showcase VLCC's comprehensive personal care products. Patrons can choose from over 100 VLCC skin-care, hair-care and body-care products made naturally from Ayurvedic remedies.

The VLCC beauty treatments and its weight-loss programmes are the result of extensive research and scientific trials. VLCC, with its team of qualified professionals -- Doctors, Nutritionists, Dieticians, Psychologists, Counsellors, Physiotherapists, Nurses and Cosmetologist -- employs a multi-disciplinary approach to help both men and women with weight-related problems. 

VLCC is soon expected to make its foray into Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, taking the total number of VLCC centres in the Middle East to 28. VLCC currently operates three centres in the UAE (1) Spinneys building on Trade Centre Road with separate facilities for men and women (2) Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah exclusively for women and (3) Crescent Tower, Buhaira Corniche, Sharjah with separate facilities for men and women.

For VLCC, each individual is unique, in terms of lifestyle, attitude, and 'body logic' - viz. the kinds of pressures and constraints he/she faces, or aspects like dietary habits. The slimming programmes are strictly based on scientific principles and are customised as per the individual's need, medical status and body composition analysis. The programmes are holistic in approach with weight loss coupled with essential body firming, toning and detoxifying therapies, which help tighten the skin by providing the requisite skin tone The VLCC approach focuses on longer term solutions that address the core of the problem rather than just its outward manifestations.

-Ends-

About VLCC:
Starting as a single centre in New Delhi in 1989, VLCC is today India's leading chain of health, beauty and fitness centres to become an over AED 245 million business. Widely recognized for its scientific weight loss solutions and therapeutic beauty approach, it offers services over a quarter million square feet of retail space across nearly 104 centres in 48 cities across India and the UAE.

Established as the leader in the Indian beauty, health and fitness industry, VLCC is today regarded as an authority in the business of wellness. Having pioneered the concept of complete well-being, both inside and outside, VLCC has further integrated into product and brand extensions -- VLCC Personal Care range of products, VLCC Nail Studio and Spa, VLCC Workout Factory and VLCC Institute. The VLCC Institute currently has 10 campuses across 7 cities in India with a student strength of over 2500.

For further information, please contact:
Jaya Joshi
VLCC International L.L.C.
Phone: +971-4-3553600
Email: jaya.joshi@vlcc.co.in
 
VLCC centres in UAE:
Crescent Tower,
Buhaira Corniche,
Sharjah:
+971-6-5562286

Al Wasl,
Jumeirah,
Dubai: +971-4-3429986,
+971-4-3441128

Spinneys next to BurJuman Centre,
Dubai: +971-4-3599552, +971-4-3599577
Toll Free: 800 VLCC (800 8522)

© Press Release 2007