Social & Cultural Events Archives

JUNE 2010 T A I K O - the Art of J a p a n e s e D r u m m i n g "Forming body and spirit" IWAP members have an opportunity to experience Japanese drumming rhythm with a group of the Czech-Japanese Association, directed by Robin Šóen Heřman "Rhythm gives power and releases energy" says an old oriental quoting - and rhythm is a cure, we would add to this proverb. Breath and pulsation is the rhythm that keeps us alive. By experiencing the moment of rhythm our body reacts naturally and gains momentum. In listening to the deep sounds of the Taiko drums our heartbeat becomes one with the drums and the energy starts flowing freely. Taiko is a way to strengthen both body and spirit. It is exhausting but uplifting, powerful and vibrating. Find out what Japanese Taiko is about and join us on a Sunday Drumming Morning with your family and experience the rhythms that will unlock the energy in your body and mind. About the "Taiko", the big drum: Already in the Japanese myths the Gods were dancing and drumming. In "Shintoism", the old Japanese religion, the Gods of the forefathers were called by the sound of the drums. Drumming would get people closer to heavenly powers and vice versa, drumming would awake the Gods and ghosts asking them to fulfill peoples' wishes of fertility, rich harvests, health and happiness. The deep sound of the drums would mark the borders of land and drums were also used in everyday life. For example: the hunters would hit the drums to rouse the animals; the farmers would use the drums to ask for a good harvest and the Japanese warriors used the drums to give their signals thus encouraging each other to fight. At the imperial court the drums were played at the Noh- and Kabuki-theatre and in Buddhism the sound of the drums represents Buddha's voice.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z76E7i4iZO4 BOAT TRIP TO CHATEAU TROJA Spend a relaxing hour and 15 minutes floating on the Vltava River to Troja  Date: Tuesday,  June 15 Cost of the boat trip: 250 CZK return ticket  /150CZK one way, children (3-12yrs) 120 CZK /80 CZK one way Cost of the chateau: 120 CZK, reduced 60CZK  (depending on attendance) This very romantic Château is situated in a picturesque part of Prague, between vineyards and the Vltava river. The Château, or Villa, is called Troja after its impressive garden staircase with statues depicting the battle between Olympic gods and  Titans, which people connected with the conquest of Troy. Count Václav Vojtěch of Šternberk started building the Château in 1679. The family of Šternberk was one of the oldest Czech noble families and the Troja Château was intended to honour its owner. The architect of the Troja Château was Jean Baptiste Mathey, who was of French origin. In the design he drew on the experience of his sojourn in Italy and was inspired with the type of Roman ex-urban villa. The Villa has changed many owners. One of them was even Maria Theresa. Troja has large wine cellars. It is said that there used to be a huge cask of wine, the second largest in Bohemia. The last private owner was Jan Svoboda who gave the Château, decayed at that time, to the state. The Château was renovated and, since 1989, it is used by the City Gallery Prague, where collections of paintings, early printed books and maps of Far East are displayed. A GUIDED TOUR AT THE LOBKOWICZ PALACE Date: Friday, June 11 Cost of the tour: 150 Kc Join a special event at the Lobkowicz palace. We will meet at the admission desk in the Palace at 11:30a.m. Everyone will receive an audio guide and a 10% discount voucher for the museum café. At around 12:45 we will be escorted from the Balcony Room to the Imperial Hall where we will meet with Sandra Lobkowicz, Veronika Wolf and John Somerville (tbc). Sandra Lobkowicz and the new director of Lobkowicz's collections Veronika Wolf and the chief curator John Somerville will answer to our questions about the Lobkowicz collection. More information about the collection and the Lobkowicz family can be found on http://www.lobkowicz-collections.org . After the tour we can enjoy one of them most beautiful views of Prague with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine at the museum cafe. May 2010 TAP DANCING Date: Thursday, May 13 Place: Tap Dance Studio Four Taps Cost:  50 CZK per person, which will be donated to an IWAP charity. Join us for a fun afternoon of dancing. Come to renew our childhood dance lesson memories. If you have never tapped before come and see how easy it is. Tap shoes not required. FUTURA GALLERY AND THE MEETFACTORY When: Friday, May 7, 2010 Address: Holeckova 49, Prague 5 - Smichov (trams 4, 7, 9,10 to Bertramka) Price: 100 Kc FUTURA Centre for Contemporary Art - is an exhibition space with a total area of 1,000 m located in Prague's Smichov quarter. Works from numerous renowned international as well from Czech artists have been presented here since 2003. FUTURA's spaces, created following the renovation of a former small factory, are extremely diverse and offer both classical minimalist "white cube" spaces as well as atypical spaces suitable for site-specific installations. TodayThe MEETFACTORY - International Center of Contemporary Art - successfully runs several projects: artists in residence (providing 15 studios of various sizes and shapes), gallery, theatre, film, lectures and debates, music and a small bookshop. The aim of the exhibition concept of the MeetFactory Gallery is to present contemporary foreign artists and gallery curators and to actively involve them in the Czech art scene. The concept of the MeetFactory Gallery stems from the MeetFactory's multifunction background and also from the possibility of long-term cooperation with the gallery space.The Artist in residence and gallery programme is managed by the MeetFactory artistic board: David Černý, sculptor, Chairman of the board of directors of the MeetFactory o.p.s.; Tomáš Pospiszyl, critic, curator and art historian; Zuzana Blochová. SOCIAL EVENT AT THE EMBASSY OF GERMANY IN PRAGUE Date: Tuesday, May 11  Place: Palais Lobkowicz, Vlasska 19, Mala Strana, Prague 1 Cost: 300 CZK, which will be donated to IWAP`s chosen Charity Since September 1989 the Embassy of Germany  became the medias center of attention when becoming a resort of thousands of GDR refugees. On the 9 th of November the Berlin Wall fell, and the Czechs would succeed with in the Velvet Revolution. David Cerny's  sculpture "Quo Vadis"  in the garden reminds us of the thousands of refugees that found their way to freedom via the Embassy of Germany in Prague. April 2010 Visit to Parliament/promised second tour Daytrip to Headquarters of Skoda in Mlada Boleslav March 2010 CzechFolklore Jazz in Club Ryba na Ruby/by Marketa Zdenkova Aloe Vera Forever/by Mari Zimmermann at Hotel Hoffmeister Cubism in Prague - its gothic and baroque roots - walking route through the streets of Prague, making ten different stops at places such as the House of the Black Madonna, St. Nicholas's Church, the Adam Pharmacy, the Church of St. Havel and the Church of Our Lady of the Snows February 2010 Visit to the Parliament of the Czech Republic January 2010 Pilates Workshop/ by More than Pilates studio Think well-Live well/ by Hypnotherapist Michael Cassell at Orbis Pictus, Spanelska 10 December 2009 DSA (diplomatic spouses`association)Christmas Bazaar/in Hotel Hilton Christmas Concerts/Music School of Prague by Jana Korbelova How to cook the perfect Christmas Dinner/by Michael Corkery Pre-ChristmasParty/ at Hotel Hoffmeister November 2009 A Morning with Contemporary Art-Our Mirror of Society/Dvorak sec gallery Understanding Internet Service in the Czech Republic, BCH October 2009 A Morning with Contemporary Art-Our Mirror of Society/Dvorak sec gallery Pumpkin Picking on Bykos Farm in Beroun UNICEF project: Adopt a doll and save a child invited by Pavla Gomba Visit the Augustine-The Quintessence of Prague/ Hotel Rocco forte collection September 2009 Summer Party: International Riding School Aigle by Solveig Zoske in Tuchomerice July/August 2009 Views of Prague through stained glass windows Fred Schendel June 2009 A night at the Opera: The Bartered Bride at the National Theatre It all starts with you by Krysti Brice at the Caffee, Restaurant Ambroisie Health tip: Magnetism boosts Metabolism and Agility/by Thoma Tietjen, at the Caffe Restaurant Ambroisie May 2009 Daytrip to the atelier in Louny atelier Ivan Jelinek 5 Lectures about 5 historic Towns of Prague/the Jewish Town (Josefov) April 2009 Bakery Master Class/ by expert pastry chef Markus Breier 5 Lectures about 5 Historic Towns of Prague/Prague Castle and the Hradcany area 5 Lectures about 5 Historic Towns of Prague/the New Town March 2009 5 Lectures about 5 Historic Towns of Prague/Old Town and its development 5 Lectures about 5 Historic Towns of Prague/the Lesser Town (mala strana) All lectures held by Jana Kotalikova at Gallery Jakubska February 2009 The Return of Legends/lecture about reopened legendary establishments of the First Czech Republic "U Mysaka", "Erhartova Cukrarna" and "Paukert" Bohemia: The Other Europe (Jesuit Petr Kolar) January 2009 A Day of health and Relaxation/at Holmes Place Premium Club December 2008 Sushi, Sake & KaraokebyBe KaraOK, Legerova 78