Travel Notecards

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Dance & Arts Festivals 2012

Flamenco at Corral de la Moreria Madrid

Classical ballet, flamenco, tango, modern, I love them all. I can't dance to save myself but I could watch any genre of dance for hours on end, and I do.

I have only ever tested my dancing skills in ballet and flamenco, and a one night quick lesson of tango. Besides the odd dance here and there my two most recent dance experiences were poles apart.

One experience being a little more successful than the other....the successful episode was a night learning the tango on the banks of the Seine on a warm summer evening. You see I had 'scored' quite unexpectedly as my partner a guy who just happened to be a dance instructor while my gorgeous friend Susan, a professional and very talented dancer had 'scored' herself quite possibly the worst male dancer of the evening! So while she was being quite literally thrown up, down and around, I was slowly regaining my confidence and making moves I never knew I could!

A night of Dance in the Piazza della Signoria, Florence

From that moment on I promised myself that I would take the time for dancing classes, that maybe I wasn't a total lost cause on the dance floor. So, ambitiously I skipped myself over to the Centre of dance in the Marais (Centre de dance du Marais) here for another try at ballet. How hard could it be I heard myself saying...I'm fit I told myself..... I wasn't that bad at it (when I was 12)... I kept thinking.

......And so it was here that I was completely and utterly humiliated by women twice my age. I literally crawled home unable to walk normally again for nearly a week (not an exaggeration I am sorry to say), one and a half hours on a parquetry floor with no mat and half an hour at the bar will do that to you if you are not 'ballet' fit.....I never returned!

So much more comfortable sitting in the theatre watching the pros. I love nothing more than an evening of dance and I know I am not alone there, so here are a few of the dance / arts festivals happening this year for all of you who love this beautiful art form as much as I do. (Some of these events include workshops and others are purely performance only).

Tango Festivals around the world 2012

Hong Kong Salsa Festival

February 27 - March 4

Womad

March 9 - 12

Move it (London UK)

March 9 - 11

Adelaide Fringe

February 24 - March 18

Adelaide Festival

March 2 - 18

2012 Australian Youth Dance Festival

April 8 - 14

Venice Dance Festival

May 5 - 6

Dublin Dance Festival

May 11 - 26

International Dance Festival Birmingham

April 23 - May 19

Roma Tango meeting

June 21 - 24

Florence Dance Festival

June 23 - July 19

Les étés de la dance (Paris)

June 25 - July 21

Big Dance UK 2012

July 7 - 15

Festival d'Avignon

July 7 - 28

Festival des arts vivants (Nyon Switzerland)

August 8 - 18

Zurcher Theatre Spektakel (Zurich Switzerland)

August 16 - September 2

Millie x

These photos are copyrighted, please do not download :-)

Saturday, 11 February 2012

Mauvais Président.....and protest marches in Paris

I found this image while going through my archive tonight, it is from the year 2008 and it reminded me of the great photo opportunity that the endless protest marches in Paris provide, and I admit to enjoying getting amongst it all with my camera.

I remember the first large protest I came across, a sea of people was streaming down Boulevard Beaumarchais from Place de la République on its way to Place de la Bastille. I unfortunately didn't have my camera on me and was simply on my way to the supermarket. Just negotiating the crossing was an experience in itself and in doing so I was surprised to notice that everyone seemed to be in good spirits and pretty much enjoying themselves. I have a feeling that some Parisians quite simply love a good march!

I am not sure what you think about involving children in the adult world of political demonstrations, I know what I think. I do wonder when I look at this photo how much this boy knows of President Sarkozy and his policies (then again the same question could be asked of many adults too I am sure). Food for thought in any case.

By the way the literal translation of his placard is bad President.

Paris Map

Millie x

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Cultural Guides for what's on in Paris - Pariscope & L'Officiel des Spectacles

Roaming Paris at night with my tripod when the crowds have usually disappeared

If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast - Ernest Hemingway

I have just finished reading Ernest Hemingway's 'A moveable Feast'. Love the book, really enjoy Hemingway's style, its so to the point.....and of course its no secret, I love Paris.

As I prepare slowly to go back to the city I love so much, I feel excited again about doing all the things I love to do in Paris, even if that means doing not terribly much sometimes. Sipping a rosé on a warm day on some café terrace, or reading a book by my favourite fountain in the Jardin du Luxembourg, or maybe simply enjoying the sunday papers over a fresh buttery croissant and café crème.

I am on the outdoor terrace of Printemps (department store) photographing La Basilique du Sacré Coeur in Montmartre.

I can't wait to speak the language that I love so much again and hear it spoken, to walk miles and miles of museum corridors and rooms devouring history, art and all the photographic exhibitions that I can find, and to pop in to see some of France's best actors treading the stage in one of the city's many gorgeous theatres. There is simply no end to the possibilities in Paris.

When you arrive in Paris and you don't have much time, (or even if you do), grab one of these publications from any newsstand or newsagent and hit the ground running.

Pariscope or L'Officiel des Spectacles both great weekly publications / cultural guides that cost next to nothing and list simply everything that is happening in Paris for that week. Throw one of them in your bag and keep it there (with the umbrella)!

Pariscope website here

L'Officiel des Spectacles website here

Paris Map

Millie xx

These photos are copyrighted please do not download, thank you :-)

Saturday, 4 February 2012

South Australian Landscapes, The Coorong

Birdlife is abundant in this part of the world with many Egrets and Pelicans inhabiting the gorgeous and delicate environment of the coorong.

This particular Egret finds itself competing against the freshly painted jetty on the foreshore of Milang, a small town situated on Lake Alexandrina, an hour and a half drive from Adelaide's CBD http://www.milang.org.au/

If you love nature and pristine wilderness this area of South Australia is definitely worth visiting, you'll discover sand dunes, beaches and waterways all inhabited by an abundance of rare and wonderful bird life.

Millie xx

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Cassie Thring the Artist paints Hugo the dog

The most exciting part of my Christmas this year was waiting to see my parents reaction to our (my and my sibling's) best kept Christmas secret, the unveiling of Hugo......the portrait (and our present) of their much loved, very spoilt and very large dog.

To be able to commission Cassie one of South Australia's most talented and exhibited artists to capture Hugo on canvas was one of the most exciting elements of the surprise. I am a huge admirer of her incredible talent and creativity. She is not only an immensely gifted artist but is also one of the warmest and wittiest people I know. An all round great girl.

Cassie in her studio with Hugo

No need to go into detail on their reaction, but it couldn't have been a happier one. Cassie has captured Hugo to a 'tee', the special 'Hugo' expression with his soft caring eyes that we know so well absolutely shines from the canvas.

Cassie works from her studio in the Adelaide Hills, where she sculpts with clay, and works with ceramics and paint.

Visit her website here, get a glimpse of some of her unique work in both sculpture and painting, and see why she is in such high demand as an artist.

For me personally it is her distinctive sense of style and humour that emanates from her work and draws me to it.

Millie xx