Dance Forms Productions brings "The 52nd International Choreographers' Showcase" to Madrid
Ana Luisa Johnson
Teatro Cuarta Pared
An Invitation from the Director
Dear Choreographers,
On July 1, 2010 a group of distinguished choreographers will travel to Madrid to be featured in "The International Choreographers' Showcase," a presentation of Dance-Forms Productions for the people of Madrid to be held at Teatro Cuarta Pared in Madrid on July 3 and 4, 2010 at 20:00 hours.
This exciting trip will offer choreographers an excellent opportunity to perform their work, make contact with the press, numerous dance directors, producers, presenters, other artists, (hopefully to negotiate new engagements!) and to earn a share of the revenue from ticket sales of the two performances. A dynamic platform for the promotion and presentation of contemporary dance, "The International Choreographers' Showcase" is a mini market where many presenters get together to select dance works for their programs.
I invite choreographers who are willing to invest in themselves and who are interested in expanding their knowledge of other cultures, as well as promoting their work abroad. I invite choreographers who see this thrilling event as an opportunity to benefit their professional development.
You receive a complete production package, which includes: the theaters, lighting, sound, technical assistance, publicity, pre-show rehearsal arrangements, printed materials, printed programs, and hotel accommodation based on two persons sharing twin bedded rooms with private bath/shower.
To find out how to qualify, and the investment required, call my office at (502) 222-2273. Remember, the space is limited, so please call right away. You may call from Monday through Saturday, between the hours of 9 A.M. and 9 P.M. Eastern Time.
After we have spoken be prepared to submit your professional resume, 4 full body pictures for publicity, program notes, and a VHS video with samples of the work you will present. Remember, the space is limited, so pick up the phone and contact us now! You may e-mail us at any time. Our e-mail is: danceformspro@aol.com
Dance the World with Dance-Forms Productions! Let's do it now!
Don't wait, if you have further questions, you can check our FAQ page, e-mail us by clicking on danceformspro@aol.com or speak personally with me by calling (502) 222-2273.
I look forward to your participation, and to greeting you in Madrid.
Susana B. Williams
Director
DANCE-FORMS PRODUCTIONS
Welcome to Madrid
Almudena Cathedral
The capital of Spain, located in the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the Castillian plain 646 meters above sea level, has a population of over three million. A cosmopolitan city, a business center, headquarters for the Public Administration, Government, Spanish Parliament and the home of the Spanish Royal Family, Madrid also plays a major role in both the banking and industrial sectors. Most of its industry is located in the Southern fringe of the city, where important textile, food and metal working factories are clustered. Madrid is characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife.
The grand metropolis of Madrid can trace its origins to the times of Arab Emir Mohamed I (852-886), who ordered the construction of a fortress on the left bank of the Manzanares river. Later it became the subject of a dispute between the Christians and Arabs until it was conquered by Alonso VI in the 11th century. At the end of the 17th century, a defensive wall was built for the protection of the new outlying areas, tracing the roads of Segovia, Toledo and Valencia. During the 18th century, under the reign of Carlos III, were designed the great arteries of the city, such as the Paseo del Prado and Paseo las Acacias.
Puerta del Sol
At the beginning of the 19th century, Joseph Bonaparte undertook the reform of the Puerta del Sol and vicinity. The commercial street known as the Gran Vía was built as an east-west avenue at the start of the century. In the 1950's the north-south boulevard called Paseo de la Castellana was extended and modern buildings were erected, housing the major financial institutions. Remainings of the distant past are mainly the Baroque and neoclassical structures of the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) and others.
Royal Palace
The city has a host of ongoing attractions that are well worth a visit. As a major city of the arts and culture, you will also find many world-famous galleries and museums, housing some of the finest collections in the world. Madrid is a lso home to a large number of mainstream and specialist cinemas and the Softguide maintains a comprehensive up-to-date listing of what's on and where. Most foreign films are dubbed into Spanish, but many films are also shown concurrently in their original language with spanish subtitles. The Filmoteca (National Filmboard Repertoire Cinema), a must for movie buffs, shows films at very reduced prices and always in their original language. Madrid is justifiably famous for its vast selection of bars and cafes, as well as for what it has to offer in food, from tapas to a wide variety of restaurants and food shops of various origins and ethnic flavors. There's lots of music and dance of various styles and origins. And of course, there's the famous, or infamous, Madrid nightlife - if you are not content with the regular bar scene, where you can dance all night long.
Torero
Many people won't want to leave Madrid without experiencing the thrill of a bullfight, still a major tourist attraction despite its "non-pc" label .
The Avenue of Art
The Avenue of Art is an itinerary, unique in the entire world, which includes painting, sculpture, architecture and natural beauty, set in one of the most emblematic areas of Madrid; The Paseo del Prado. This is an area which the inhabitants of Madrid hold very dear and which they can easily explore on foot. It includes three of the most important museums of Spain; the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía a National Museum.Only one place in all the world, only the Paseo del Prado, offers, in such a short space, the opportunity to see art works of the quality of The Meninas of Velázquez, Las Majas of Goya, Giovanna Tornabuoni by Ghirlandajo, "Les Vessenots" en Auvers by Van Gogh and the Guernica by Picasso, as well as other masterpieces of world art.
Picasso's Guernica
During the reign of Carlos III (1759-1789), in the middle of the Enlightenment, urban reformation was planned for what at the time was the outskirts of the city; the meadow (Prado) of San Jerónimo. The Salón del Prado, the name given to this large reformation project, covered the river bed which crossed the meadow, transforming this area, thickly covered with trees, into a park with gardens and fountains. Cibeles, Apollo and the Four Seasons and Neptune, constructed by the architect Ventura Rodríguez, are still with us today. Between two palaces on either side, the Museum of Natural History (today the principal building of the Prado), the Botanical Garden, and the Astronomical Observatory were built. All were designed by another one of the King's great architects; Juan de Villanueva. One of the itineraries for the visitor to Madrid is the artistic triangle centered around the Paseo del Prado. It offers the opportunity to enjoy art history and some of the city's finest sights.
El Prado
The Prado National Museum contains the world's best collection of Spanish painting, that is, of recognized geniuses of world art such as El Greco, Velázquez, Goya. Also represented are the great artists of the Siglo de Oro (Golden Century); Ribera, Zurbarán and Murillo. The Prado contains some of the best Flemish paintings, such as works by Van der Weyden and Hieronymous Bosch, as well as Italian art, including the most complete collection of Titian and other painters of the Venice School contained in a single museum. And the collections of German, French and English art, although smaller than the others, contain first-class works.
Since its establishment, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum has provided a perfect complement to the Prado. What is missing in the Prado, is splendidly represented at the Thyssen. This special rel ationship begins with the Italian primitives, of which the Prado offers Fra Angelico's masterpiece, Assumption. The Thyssen, on the other hand, contains a numerous and important collection from this period. The new museum also has excellent samples of the German Renaissance and Duch painting of the 17th century, of which the Prado contains few works, and 19th century American painting, virtually non-existent in Spain. Impressionism, the beginning of modern painting, previously absent from Spanish museums, as well as German expressionism, Russian Constructivism, Geometric Abstraction and Pop Art, are all part of the Thyssen Collection and add a wonderful new section to the Avenue of Art.
The itinerary closes with the masterpiece of our century: Picasso's Guernica, the centerpiece of the 20th century art collection exhibited at the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía National Museum. The collection is made up primarily of Spanish painting and sculpture; Picasso, Juan Gris, Miró, Dalí, Chillida and Tapies as well as more recent artists. Without a doubt, this Avenue is unique in all the world.
Spanish Cuisine
The dominant and richly-varied Spanish cuisine combines expansive regional flavours (Andalusain, Basque, Galician, Valencian, Castilian, Riojana) from the mediterranean, the sun-drenched south, the rugged central plateau and the lush green north. Despite its location, Madrid also has much to offer in the realm of seafood; in fact anyone up early will see the truckloads of fresh fish being brought into the city every morning. Given the love of meat, vegetarian restaurants are thin on the ground, but their numbers are increasing. A healthy selection of international styles is available in the city. Tapas, one of Spain's great contributions to world gastronomy has a section of its own. For the most informal setting, tapas or snacks can be had with a drink in most bars and cafes, a good way to sample a large variety of tastes in a short time. There is also a section on Madrid's famous dish, El Cocido, which should not be missed.
Cocido Madrileño
International Cuisine
It's perhaps a little surpising that a city like Madrid, with such a large variety and depth of local and Spanish food, doesn't have a wider choice of international restaurants. There's certainly no shortage of american fast food chains and their spanish imitations, or bargain chinese restaurants but finding good quality, genuine ethnic food can be something of a challenge.
Breakfast
This is usually eaten in a bar and most madrileños have little more than a coffee (there is a description of the various coffees in the food dictionary) and a sweet roll or croissant for breakfast. Freshly squeezed orange juice is also popular and widely available. Probably the most traditional Spanish breakfast is 'churros' or 'porras' with hot chocolate. These are best had early in the morning as they're at their best and crunchiest just after being deep fried. If you're looking for a more substantial breakfast you could try a 'pincho de tortilla' , a sandwich mixto or a mixto con huevo.
Eaten between about 1:30 and 4:00, it is probably more appropriate to refer to this meal as dinner as it is the principal meal of the day for many madrileños. Virtually all restaurants offer a lunch time 'menú' which is invariably much better value than an a la carte selection and can be excellent. A menu is usually a three course meal, with a limited amount of choice for each course, and generally includes (cheap) wine. The first course can be as light as a bowl of soup or a salad, or as hearty as a bowl of lentils with chorizo. The second course will probably be selection between fish and meat or poultry. Desert will often be a choice of fruit or some sort of pudding. The wine included with the price of the meal will almost never be of the finer variety, and it is often mixed with 'casera' or 'gaseosa', a sweet, carbonated drink. You have the option of of paying more for a better bottle. It is not uncommon to follow lunch by a siesta.
Evening Meal
Madrileños eat the evening meal quite late in comparison to other countries - anywhere from 9.00 to 11.00 P.M. is reasonable, particularly in the summer and on weekends. While some people have a full meal at dinner many have only a light meal, which might consist of a few tapas.
Eating well, cheaply
Madrid has a lot to offer for those wishing to eat well without spending a lot of money. There are a few tips to follow. Try and eat 'typical' food. As mentioned before, it's best to fill up at lunch, choosing from the wealth of small restaurants offering the lunch time 'menu'. Seafood in Madrid is much cheaper, and often fresher than in other European countries, in fact, Spain is the second biggest per capita seafood eating country, after Japan. Sit-down meals are usually more expensive at supper than at lunch. Its probably more economical to eat tapas for dinner, which are well accompanied by a glass of wine or a glass of bear. Tapas also offer the visitor a means of trying a large variety of Spanish delights, without spending a fortune.
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