music

Figure skating- Japan’s Sakamoto becomes first woman in 56 years to claim three-peat

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Figure skating- Japan’s Sakamoto becomes first woman in 56 years to claim three-peat

Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto retained the figure skating world title in Montreal, becoming the first woman to win three consecutive crowns since Peggy Fleming in 1968. Sakamoto, who was fourth after the short program, scored 222.96 points with her free skate to “Wild Is The Wind/Feeling Good” by Lauryn Hill. American Isabeau Levito won silver with 212.16 points, and Chaeyeon Kim of South Korea took bronze with 203.59 points. Madison Chock and Evan Bates led the ice dance competition at the world championships with a score of 90.08 for their rhythm dance routine.

A minute with Ivi Hadjivassiliou Dancer/performer , – Choreographer – Dance Teacher

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A minute with Ivi Hadjivassiliou Dancer/performer , – Choreographer – Dance Teacher

– The person lives in Nicosia with their two dogs.
– For breakfast, they had toast and coffee.
– Their perfect day involves spending a full day at the beach or in the forest, depending on the weather.
– The best book they’ve read is “The Courage to Be Disliked” by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi, which offers a new perspective on changing one’s life and achieving happiness.
– Their best childhood memory is family holidays by the sea.
– Juice is always in their fridge.
– They are currently listening to Jet in the car.
– Their spirit animal is a horse, symbolizing power and freedom.
– They are most proud of remaining humane in a cruel world.
– A memorable movie scene for them is the last scene of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
– They would choose to spend an evening by the sea with their best friend if they could pick anyone to go out with.
– They are not interested in time traveling, preferring to live in the present.
– Their greatest fear is the death of their loved ones.
– They would advise their 18-year-old self to always believe in themselves and be proud of who they are.
– Arrogance, sexism, or racism in a person would stop them from dating someone.
– If the world were ending in 24 hours, they would continue living life as they are currently.

Exciting live music events ahead

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Exciting live music events ahead

– A new wave of live music events is happening on the island, featuring local bands and musical ensembles.
– Live shows will include Greek music, jazz, and psychedelic tunes at bars in Nicosia and Limassol.
– Giannis Dionysiou will perform at Antonakis Music Hall in Nicosia on March 22-23, presenting folk and rembetiko songs from the Greek music scene and his discography.
– A bebop jazz event will take place at Sarah’s Jazz Club in Nicosia on March 22, featuring Aris Constantinou, Charis Ioannou, Marios Staikidis, Kyriacos Kesta, and Marios Spyrou.
– The bebop jazz evening will draw inspiration from Tadd Dameron, Freddie Redd, Fats Navarro, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, and more.
– A music and poetry event titled “Because You Loved Me” will be held at Technopolis 20 in Paphos on March 26, featuring Katerina Paraschou and Kyriakos Costa.
– The “Because You Loved Me” event will include works by Greek composers and original works by Cypriot composers, with Andrianos Charalambous narrating original text in English.

Swedish Eurovision host city braces for possible protests

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Swedish Eurovision host city braces for possible protests

The Swedish city of Malmo, hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in May, expects guests from 80 countries and is preparing for possible unrest. The event, which is the world’s biggest music competition of its kind, aims to be non-political. Despite this, the European Broadcasting Union has faced pressure to exclude Israel due to its actions in Gaza but has resisted these calls. Malmo’s Safety Director, Per-Erik Ebbestahl, mentioned there is no direct threat to Eurovision, but the situation could change. Cultural events in Europe have recently been impacted by protests related to the Gaza conflict. Israel modified its Eurovision song to comply with the event’s non-political requirements. Malmo’s Mayor, Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, emphasized the city’s support for democratic expression while acknowledging the potential for disruptive actions. The contest is scheduled for May 7-11.

Uniting cultures through dance

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Uniting cultures through dance

Music, song, and dance are significant in uniting people across different cultures. In Cyprus and China, local initiatives are actively preserving traditional dance as part of modern life. Yanggyi, a 25-year-old kindergarten teacher and passionate Tibetan dancer from Chengdu, China, formed a dance group in 2021 to promote Guozhuang, a traditional Tibetan dance. The group has become popular, amassing 420,000 social media followers. Guozhuang dance, characterized by its circle formation and symbolic movements, is a community and social cohesion symbol. In Cyprus, the Ayioi Omologites Cultural Centre, active since 1999, focuses on teaching and preserving traditional Cypriot dancing among all age groups. Research conducted in the 1980s by Alecos Iacovides documented specific characteristics of Cyprus traditional dancing. Both initiatives highlight the importance of respecting and preserving cultural traditions to foster a sense of belonging and community. Mirror of Culture is a joint initiative by the Cyprus Mail and the Chinese embassy, aiming to promote cultural understanding and preservation between Cypriot and Chinese cultures.

What, ’s on this weekend

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What, ’s on this weekend

– A long weekend is approaching, offering cultural events for those staying on the island.
– World Poetry Day will be celebrated with a poetry reading and open mic night at Backstage Gastrobar in Nicosia, hosted by KENO Publications.
– The Belonging exhibition opens at the Goethe-Institut in Nicosia, focusing on artists affected by forced migration, as part of the Assemble programme.
– Azines Mingle event will take place at The Common Room, featuring a zine exhibition, workshop, talks, a zine fair, and live music.
– The 4th Mandarin Festival will be held in Dierona village, featuring mandarin produce, traditional song and dance, and a photography exhibition.

Piano trio to tour Paphos, Limassol and Nicosia

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Piano trio to tour Paphos, Limassol and Nicosia

A series of concerts featuring musicians Grigoris Theodoridis (double bass) from Greece, Attila Gyárfás (drums) from Hungary, and Christos Yerolatsitis (piano) from Cyprus will take place in early April in Paphos, Limassol, and Nicosia. The concerts will include original compositions from Grigoris Theodoridis’ debut album “Green of Silence” and new music by Christos Yerolatsitis. The performances are scheduled for April 5 at Technopolis 20 in Paphos, April 6 at Cornaro Art Center in Limassol, and April 7 at Windcraft Music Centre in Nicosia. Ticket prices range from €12 to €15.

Tersefanou gearing up for… snail festival

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Tersefanou gearing up for… snail festival

The Community Council of Tersefanou is organizing a gastronomic and cultural festival focused on snail dishes, scheduled for May 12, 2024, from 3 pm to 8 pm. The event aims to highlight Tersefanou’s traditions, gastronomy, and cultural heritage. It will feature chefs preparing snail-based dishes, a competition for the best snail dish, live music and dance performances, interactive workshops, activities for children, and stalls offering street food, local products, and crafts.

Coming up at Limassol theatre

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Coming up at Limassol theatre

Rialto Theatre in Limassol is hosting several cultural events in March. These include a production of Akis Dimou’s play “Emptiness in Person” featuring Greek-Cypriot artists and a pianist on March 20, a concert by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra with French artists performing French romantic compositions on March 29, and a concert titled “Notes of Peace and Love: From France to the World” featuring baritone Kyros Patsalides, singer Vakia Stavrou, and a 10-member orchestra on March 30. These events are part of Rialto Theatre’s ongoing commitment to offering a diverse range of performances.

Classical music heading to Paphos

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Classical music heading to Paphos

The casalQuartet, a string quartet formed in 1996 in Zurich, Switzerland, will perform at Markideio Theatre in Paphos on April 12 as part of the Technopolis 20 Classics concert series. The quartet includes violinists Felix Froschhammer and Rachel Späth, violist Markus Fleck, and cellist Andreas Fleck. They have performed in over 1,500 concerts worldwide and are known for playing both modern and historical instruments. Their repertoire spans from the 17th century to contemporary music, and their upcoming program in Paphos will feature works by Mozart, Schubert, Grieg, and Gershwin. Tickets are priced at €20.