Let the fun begin > a taste of Carnival February 25, 2008
Posted by grhomeboy in Arts EventsCyprus, MusicLife Greek.Tags: arts, Carnival, Culture, Cyprus, Events, music, Tierra Latina
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Carnival > a taste of the real thing with Tierra Latina
Sometimes glittery, usually hideously tacky and always outrageous - there’s nothing quite like the craziness of carnival costumes. Carnival is all about spectacle. And there’s little doubt that the greatest spectacle of them all can be found in the cities of Latin America, where carnival festivities go on for days and streets fill with a party vibe like no other.
If the recent carnival excesses from Rio to Trinidad shown on TV here made you desperate to experience carnival as it should be, then we have great news for you. You’ll soon have the chance to be part of all that fun as a Latin dance and music extravaganza is about to hit our shores.
With talented artists from Cuba, Colombia and Brazil arriving at the start of March to give a show like no other, you can also enjoy performances by special guest, Nancy Murillo, all under the direction of the Argentinean Ricardo Cuellar. The Tierra Latina show will be touring Larnaca, Limassol and Nicosia, with performances at Antidote Theatre in Larnaca, Rialto Theatre in Limassol, and the Strovolos Municipal Theatre in Nicosia.
As the Latin spirit arrives in Cyprus, we asked Ricardo who lives in Cyprus how he came up with the idea for the Tierra Latina show. “Since the moment I first arrived on the island I was happy to see that a large part of the Cypriot community embraced Latin American dance and music,” he says. “I’m really glad to see the work and effort of various dance schools and companies that put on regular shows, and somehow feel that Tierra Latina is my gift to the community, thanking them for their passionate support of Latin American culture.”
Go along to the performance and you’ll get to watch a variety of dances and acts which represent all different Latin American rhythms, from mambo and salsa to Brazilian samba, Argentine tango and Colombian cumbia. The limelight will then shine on Nancy Murillo, a vibrant Colombian singer now living in France, who has brought folkloric rhythms like the cumbia, salsa and porro to Europe. “Murillo is a wonderful artist renowned in Europe for her great voice, artistic talent and for promoting Latin culture through her music to the world,” says Ricardo.
As she travels from country to country, Murillo has gained fame and respect for her talent and passion for music on stages in France, Morrocco, Holland, Germany and Greece. “Through her captivating performances on stage and powerful voice I felt her passion was contageous - a feeling I’m hoping to convey to the audience of Tierra Latina,” Ricardo adds.
You may not be leaving on a jet plane for an exotic destination this month, but you can experience the passionate spirit of a Brazilian carnival practically at your doorstep very soon. Let the fun begin!
Tierra Latina > A music and dance extrabaganza with performers from Colombia, Cuba and Brazil
March 2: Antidote Theatre, Larnaca. Tel 24 822677
March 3: Rialto Theatre, Limassol. Tel 25 343800
March 5: Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. Tel 22 313010
8pm. €25. General info: Tel 22 444612
Limassol gears up for carnival February 14, 2008
Posted by grhomeboy in Arts EventsCyprus, Arts Festivals.Tags: arts, Carnival, Culture, Cyprus, Events, Festivals, Limassol
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Limassol Municipality yesterday announced its plans for the ten-day carnival festival, which will start on February 28.
The Municipality has announced the introduction of a number of new features to this year’s events. A live ‘King Carnival’ will be reappearing to launch the carnival, replacing the puppet that has been featured in recent years.
The Municipality also announced that three carnival-related exhibitions would take place during the festival, the performance by Cuban band ‘Son Cubanos’ at the Patticheion Theatre and at the Old Market and the participation of three groups from Patras Carnival in the main parade.
To boost the festive spirit, the Municipality will also open two carnival cafes at Grigori Afxendiou Square for the carnival days, while lively music will be played at central spots in the town.
The Children’s Carnival Parade will take place at Anexartisias Street on Sunday March 2 at 11.30pm. The main parade, considered the climax of events, will take place at Makarios Avenue on Sunday March 9 at 1.30pm.
Exhibition of stamps commemorates Cuban hero February 12, 2008
Posted by grhomeboy in Arts EventsCyprus.Tags: arts, Cyprus, Events, exhibitions, news, Philatelic Association of Cyprus, Stamps
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An exhibition of stamps was recently inaugurated at the Philatelic Association of Cyprus to commemorate the 155th anniversary of the birth of Cuban National Hero Jose Marti.
According to Granma news daily, the exhibition includes stamps from the personal collections of Cuban Roberto Delgado and Cypriot expert Andreas Eliades, which are linked to the life and work of Jose Marti and also to the history and nature of the Caribbean island.
During the inauguration ceremony, the Cuban Ambassador in Cyprus, Fidel Vascos Gonzalez, expressed his gratitude for the opening of the exhibition and spoke of several aspects of Marti’s life.
Nicos Rangos, President of the Philatelic Association of Cyprus, presented several transparencies showing the literary and patriotic work of Jose Marti and the monuments that have been erected in his honor in several parts of the world.
An Art Gallery without walls November 3, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Arts EventsCyprus, Arts ExhibitionsCyprus, Cyprus Nicosia.Tags: arts, Ayia Varvara, Cyprus, exhibitions, Friends of Fine Arts Association, International Sculpture Park, International Sculpture Symposium, Nicosia, Sculpture, Travel Cyprus
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Ten artists from around the world gathered in a cloud of dust last week to create the second part of an International Sculpture Park
I could see white dust filling the air from the main road but thought nothing of it. However, approaching the park, the scene was quite breathtaking. A woodland slope was host to a group of ten dust-coated artists, each working on individual pieces of limestone. Over two weeks they had been carving sculptures as part of the second International Sculpture Symposium held in Ayia Varvara.
These ten sculptures were unveiled last week and have taken their places alongside ten existing sculptures at the International Sculpture Park, that were created during a similar event last year. Despite being on a hillside outside Nicosia, the park is called ‘international’ due to the participation of overseas artists, from as far afield as Cuba and Argentina.
“The International Sculpture Symposium is an EU-funded programme that helps Europe’s regions form partnerships to work together on common projects,” said Christos Lanitis, one of the artists and a member of the Friends of Fine Arts Association, which first realised the dream of a park. “By sharing knowledge and experience, these partnerships enable the regions involved to develop new solutions to economic, social and environmental challenges.”
Last year, the first symposium had sculptors from France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Georgia, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus working together to set up the first part of the park. “The association’s aim is to promote both Cypriot and foreign artists by organising exhibitions in Cyprus and abroad, and, of course, educating our members and the public about the arts in general and cultural and artistic events in particular,” said Christos. The Ayia Varvara Community Council donated the land, which, in addition to the sculptures, is home to eucalyptus trees and a small chapel of the Holy Cross that sits on top of the hill.
The scene from this year’s gathering was reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands, with clouds of dust surrounding each artist as they worked away on sculptures in the open air. Some were in overalls sans T-shirts due to the heat while others were covered from head to toe in clothing and masks. Tools were scattered around the area, and the atmosphere was cheerful despite the pressure to finish in time for the unveiling last Sunday. “Some of us have worked together on other symposiums,” said Nabi Basbus, from Lebanon. “But it’s such a nice time for all of us because we meet new people and live with them for 15 days, meanwhile doing what we love, so we’re one big, happy family.”
Although last year’s symposium did not have a theme, members of the Association decided to adopt the idea of having one from now on. “It was Christos Lanitis’ idea to focus this year’s sculptures on one theme, the sea, because he’s such a fan,” says Christiana Megalemou, PR spokesperson for the symposium. “The idea was to give all these people from different backgrounds a theme so they could elaborate and create something the way they understand and view it.” Although some of the artists’ English was on the poor side, it was clear that they were all happy to lend each other a helping hand whenever necessary, and, of course, the language of art was widely spoken.
The Friends of Fine Arts Association, a registered non-profit organisation, has big plans for this large stretch of hill. At present, however, describing the area as a park is a little misleading. There is little greenery and few facilities. “Nothing has happened yet apart from the roofed kiosk and seating area but our objective is to create a sculpture park with no admission fee, that way making it accessible to everyone,” said Christiana. “It has already become an educational destination for schoolchildren and college students, and we’re hoping that a cafeteria will also be operating for the community and the youth in particular.”
This is encouraging, but improvements to the site in the last year have been fewer than organisers had hoped. The reason is simple. “Lack of funds and sponsors,” said Christiana. “The younger generation might appreciate what we are trying to do here, but the truth is that a lot of people don’t understand or simply don’t see the point of it.” The EU funds 50 per cent of the costs involved, but the rest have to be covered by other sponsors and more need to be found.
The idea of a gallery without walls is intriguing enough but the fact that it also enables people to respond to these pieces of art, explore them and think about the sculpture in relation to the landscape, is a thrilling concept. However, the sad fact is that although people, regardless of race, creed and colour had gathered at this small village just outside of Nicosia to create a beautiful, creative recreational area, it’s a wonder if it will ever be fully appreciated.
The International Sculpture Park is situated in the village of Ayia Varvara, (Saint Barbara), Nicosia district, Cyprus.
Related Links > www.friendsoffinearts.org.cy
Tango’s eternal embrace November 1, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Arts EventsCyprus, Ballet Dance & Opera, Stage & Theater.Tags: arts, Cyprus, Theater, Nicosia, Events, Stage, Limassol, Performances, Dance, Argentine Tango
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Internationally renowned dancers will perform in a special production of the world’s most passionate dance
When tango first evolved in Buenos Aires in the late 1800s, it was seen as a terribly scandalous new dance. At the time, the waltz and the polka were the only other dances requiring a man and woman to hold each other, but the embrace was staid in comparison to the shocking closeness of the partners dancing the tango.
A world away from the posh ballrooms of Europe however, tango was born in bars, gambling houses and brothels. As lonely men looked for a little entertainment, they fell into the arms of women who were willing to dance cheek to cheek, chests together, their legs intertwined.
The middle and upper classes frowned upon this kind of activity, and ‘decent’ families or women of good reputation did not want to have anything to do with this dangerous new behaviour. But this sensational dance was unstoppable and orchestras and dancers from Buenos Aires began to travel to Europe to show the world their moves. The first European tango craze took place in Paris in the early years of the twentieth century, where it became the dance of the moment and rapidly migrated to London, Rome, Berlin and finally New York. Back in Buenos Aires, no longer was tango a dance to be frowned upon, on the contrary, it became the most fashionable dance at all grand social events and parties.
Today, tango is one of the most popular dances in the world, seen as sensual and romantic by millions around the world who enrol in classes to learn the intricate moves. All lovers of the dance in Cyprus can look forward to something really special at the start of November, as a very glitzy and passionate Argentine Tango performance will be staged in Nicosia and Limassol.
Named ‘The Eternal Embrace’, the show will include the participation of three of the most famous Argentine tango couples from Buenos Aires, world-class musicians, special effects and projections, all under the artistic direction of Julia Gorina. Brought to Cyprus by JG Productions, the show will be staged for two nights at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre on November 8 and 9, and at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol on November 10.
As a real affair of the heart, the name ‘Eternal Embrace’ was aptly chosen, as all net profit sales will be given to the medical fund of the charity Adult Congenital Heart Defects Association. “Tango starts from an embrace and all the rest just builds from that touch. It’s a strong and supportive gesture, but also one of kindness and softness,” says Gorina.
The show is a brand new tango production, best described as a fascinating fiesta of dance and music that brings together top grade performers who are currently touring around the world, Gabriel Misse and Alejandra Mantinian, Omar Ocampo and Monica Romero and Fernando Serrano and Bibliana Reynoso.
The dancers and musicians bring alive a story of a man and woman in love, complete with seduction, passion, love and hate, and friendships destroyed by rivalry.
The show will take you on a journey through all tango styles and rhythms. Omar and Monica were the stars of the most famous tango show in the history of Argentine tango, ‘Tango Passion’ and toured the world. Monica has studied and performed with some of the most prestigious choreographers and Argentine tango teachers, while Omar has performed as the lead dancer in some of the most important masterpieces of national Argentine folkloric dance productions. Alexandra and Gabriel are another famous duo, and for the past five years they have been performing in shows such as the famous ‘Una Noche de tango’.
Fernando and Bibliana make an interesting partnership between a male dancer who is renowned around the world as a real ‘tango showman’, and a new generation female dancer who combines classical tango with contemporary moves.
The renowned Austrian violinist Dora Schwarzberg will be performing the music, accompanied by Jorge Bosso, the talented composer and virtuoso cello player from Argentina, and Ludmila Pischik on the piano.
Tango – The Eternal Embrace > An Argentine tango performance with three of the most famous Argentine tango couples from Buenos Aires, world-class musicians, special effects and projections. November 8 and 9, Nicosia Municipal Theatre, 8.30pm, tel 77772717. November 10, Rialto Theatre, Limassol, 8.30pm, tel 77777745. Tickets at Cy£15. For general information call 25 822842 and 25 578220.
An exhibition by six universal Greek fashion designers October 11, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Arts EventsCyprus, Arts ExhibitionsCyprus, Arts Museums, Fashion & Style.Tags: arts, Cyprus, Events, exhibitions, Fashion, Museums, Nicosia, Style, The Leventis Municipal Museum
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Greek fashion from days gone by > Get a different take on vintage at an exhibition of the designs of Greek designers who had a huge impact on the international fashion industry
Fashion is made to become unfashionable, Coco Channel once said. Coming from a world famous designer who ruled over Parisian haute couture for almost six decades, he must have known what he was talking about.
What’s ‘hot’ this season is ‘so not’ next season. What’s a ‘must have’ this winter will be considered terribly outdated next year. The fashion industry certainly knows how to grab our attention, making us desire things we would never have previously dreamt of wearing.
But there are times when celebrities tire of parading all the modern designs around. So what they do? Easy peasy. They re-invent a look from days gone by and walk down the red carpet in some vintage dress that makes them look a million dollars. And all of a sudden, it becomes the coolest and hippest thing to do as women around the world rush to recreate that porcelain skinned, red lipsticked, ‘belle of the ball’ look.
A few years back Renee Zellweger wore a lemon yellow strapless 1950s Jean Desses gown to the Academy Awards and the cameras would not stop snapping away at her. Jennifer Lopez also wore a moss green Desses gown, made with 50 yards of chiffon, to the 2006 Academy Awards and the crowds stood back in awe. The point is, both these celebrities were wearing dresses by one of the fabulous Greek designers that took the fashion world by storm in 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. But many of us are not even aware of their contribution to the fashion industry.
Thanks to an exhibition at the Leventis Museum in Nicosia, you now have the chance to view the works of six pioneering Greek fashion designers within the framework of a wider exhibition by the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation. The fashion exhibition is taking place in the temporary exhibition hall, presenting important creations by Jean Desses, Yiannis Evangelides, James Galanos, Dimis Kritsas, George Stavropoulos and Yiannis Tseklenis.
After the Greek industrial revolution at the end of the 19th century, Greek men and women adopted ‘European’ fashions without it ever really being possible to establish a Greek haute couture. As Greek designers travelled abroad to make names for themselves in the 20th century, European and American women were beginning to wear intricate designs influenced by Greek fashion.
Desses in particular specialised in creating draped evening gowns in chiffon and mousseline based on early Greek and Egyptian robes. Moving to Paris in the 1920s, he started up his own couture house in the late 1930s, as well as his own perfume line.
Among his clientele were the Queen and Royal Princess of Greece, the Duchess of Windsor and society hostess, Elsa Maxwell. In 1962, he designed the wedding gown worn by Princess Sophia of Greece in her marriage to the future King Juan Carlos of Spain. In 1963 he retired to Greece because of poor health and passed away in Athens in 1970. But his legacy lived on. Recently, his fashion designs have seen a strong revival with the increased interest in vintage dresses.
Take a wander around the exhibition at the Leventis and you’ll feel like you’ve truly entered a world of the rich and famous of the past. You certainly won’t be able to miss the dresses of James Galanos, the Greek designer who had everyone talking in New York in the 1940s, swiftly gaining a reputation among high society. This is the man who designed gowns for Nancy Reagan, wife of Ronald Reagan, and whose work is characterised by fine craftsmanship, particularly in the use of hand beading, full, loose dresses and chiffon coats over simple sheaths, as well as the extensive use of silk fabrics.
Having studied fashion in New York in the 1940s, Galanos went on to work for top fashion designers in Paris and New York and soon opened up his very own Galanos Originals shop in Los Angeles. In 1985, Galanos received the Council of Fashion Designers of America Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, the City of New York began honouring fashion designers by placing bronze plaques along the pavement of 7th Avenue. Dubbed the ‘Fashion Walk of Fame’, Galanos was one of the first designers to be honoured. Though he officially retired in 1998, Galanos continues to make his presence known in the fashion world.
As you browse through the hall, also be sure to take a look at the designs of Yiannis Tseklenis that have been sold by leading stores in more than 20 countries worldwide, winning himself a niche in the wardrobe of thousands of well dressed women and men since 1965. You’ll even get to see the dresses of Dimis Kritsas, who started his spectacular career designing for Jaqceus Fath and the super trendy Balenciaga. If you love designs from days gone by, don’t miss this exhibition that gives you a glimpse into the biggest names that put Greece on the international fashion map.
Six Universal Greek Fashion Designers > The exhibition displays the work of the pioneer Greek designers, Jean Desses, Yiannis Evangelides, James Galanos, Dimis Kritsas, George Stavropoulos and Yiannis Tseklenis. Until October 28. Temporary Exhibitions Hall, The Leventis Municipal Museum, 17 Hippocrates Street., Laiki Yitonia, Nicosia, tel 22 661475 and 2 2671997.
Related Links > http://www.nicosia.org.cy and http://www.nicosia.org.cy/english/ipiresies_politistika_leventio.shtm
grhomeboy
