"ghost dances" and ballet pics

one of chanda's favorite classes has been a contemporary/modern class with choreographer/dancer christopher bruce. they've been working on one of his dances that he first created in 1981. it's called ghost dances and was inspired by the unrest in chile in the 70's during the pinochet coup, and the persecution of chilean poet, folk singer and theatre director victor jara. it's a powerful piece danced to chilean folk music that is still very relevant today. there's a wonderful article about christopher bruce and this particular dance here on the rambert company webpage. (when the film starts out, chanda is in the center in the second row.)


these are pics from chanda's intensive, taken by a professional photographer who's been with them these two weeks: photography by ash.

having a treat after completing the first week.

prague castle and cathedral

chanda visited prague castle yesterday, which is the official office of the president of the czech republic and dates back to the ninth century. it's a very large complex, housing several museums, a monastery, chapels and st. vitus cathedral (according to the guinness book of records, it's the largest ancient castle in the world).

archduchess maria carolina von habsburg-lothringen (1825-1915), who served as the abbess of the theresian royal and imperial ladies chapter of the castle of prague from 1843-1852.

 perhaps she stayed in this room as abbess? the dress on the mannequin to the left is similar to what maria carolina wears in the portrait.

st. vitus cathedral is one of the most amazing cathedrals in the world (its official title is the metropolitan cathedral of saints vitus, wenceslaus and adalbert) and is the seat of the archbishop of prague. it contains tombs of many bohemian kings, and also several roman emperors. though construction began in 1344, it wasn't completed until 1929, when it also underwent a massive renovation.

the rose window was designed by frantisek kysela in 1925, and depicts scenes from the creation story in the bible.

stained glass window from the chapel of st. ludmila, who kneels with the twelve apostles below the holy spirit, the white dove, flying up to jesus at the very top.

 lace from a shop on the way home.

a walk around old town

a walk around the old part of prague . .

sunset . . 

(i put up a few photos from the girls' last visit to oxford, where they saw the special tolkien middle-earth exhibit that is there until october. you can see it here.)

more photos from prague

around the corner from the dance studios, is a cafe chanda really likes. their prices are very reasonable (things are cheaper in prague) and she's been enjoying their avocado toast.

it looks like a bed and breakfast (it reminds me of the dining area at the b and b we stayed at during our first night in san francisco).

iced hibiscus tea . .


iced elderberry lemonade.


cantuccini (we used to buy these from a cafe/bakery on christopher street that is now closed).


eating lunch at the dance studio . .


watching modern dance class . .

and pas de deux class.


at the grishko dance shop . .

brick work in the streets of prague . . (we're always impressed at how european cities fix their cobblestones, as our street maintenance department always slaps the bricks together with cement, which cracks within months of the repair).

daria's photos from the first day of the intensive (chanda is in the second row on the right with one leg warmer on).

chanda stayed for a few nights with friends of ours who were also visiting prague this week. they took a special nighttime walk and passed by a concert in one of the beautiful old town buildings:

prague!

chanda is in prague for a ballet intensive with the dancer daria klimentova, who danced with the english national ballet. she holds one every summer in her hometown of prague, and invites different professional dancers to help teach each year.

she arrived yesterday afternoon. the rooms are just a fifteen minute walk from the studios.

she said that breakfast this morning was so good! amazing! i'll have to find out how they are doing the meals.

leg warmers knitted by daria's mother.