WriteIdea Festival 2010

The WriteIdea Festival is a London’s free reading festival that takes place from 12-21 November near Tower Hamlet.

“Our City” is the theme of this year’s programme. It is focused on East London. The festival starts in style with a conversation with Tony Benn on November 12 and it includes poets, politicians, presenters, philosophers, performers as well as novelists and other writers talking about their work.

The distinguished authors that will take part in the festival are: Caroline Gilfillan, Salena Godden, Adam O’Riordan, Sarah Wise Paul Willetts, Martin Knight or Rob Young, to name a few. Signed books will be available to buy!

All events are free but will be ticketed so make sure you reserve a place.

Find the complete programme here!

Enjoy the WriteIdea Festival 2010!

Fiesta! at the British Library

FIESTA! is a fabulous free day of performances, music and workshops celebrating all things Latin American. This year marks two-hundred years since many South American countries gained their independence and the British Library is marking the anniversary with a special exhibition and events programme under the title ¡Viva La Libertad!

We are also delighted to be presenting FIESTA! in association with Somers Town Festival, an event that brings our closest local community to vibrant life once a year. Please explore the performances, stalls and activities along Chalton Street, just a few steps away.

Read more…

A fiesta to remember

AFTER weeks of preparation, the big day finally arrived and students, friends and other guests descended on the Instituto Cervantes London for El Día del Español last Saturday, June 19. And what a party it turned out to be, as we enjoyed sensational sounds from Latin America, fantastic food from Ibérica restaurant and essential refreshments courtesy of Wines from Spain.

With the kind permission of Grosvenor Estate, we turned a section of the beautiful Eaton Square Gardens into the Plaza del Español, with a marquee hosting the music, food and wine, while the giant board was set out on the lawn for the final of the Juego del Español.

Thousands of people worldwide have been playing the online version of this word game, inspired by Scrabble and crosswords and developed by the Instituto Cervantes. Here in London, classmates Shamalee Vanderpoorten and Michael Cummins reached the final of the liga for Instituto Cervantes students.

(Read more… LondonSpanish)

Have a Spanish staycation

The multicultural, cosmopolitan nature of London is one of the city’s greatest strengths, and it has to be said that Spanish speakers are better represented than most.

Sunday provided the perfect illustration as Spaniards took over Regent Street for the annual spectacular that is A Taste of Spain. 

It seemed that virtually all the country’s regions were represented with marquees offering tourist information and local food products.

And it was pleasing to see Spain celebrating its sporting success at the very same time as the brilliant Rafa Nadal was winning yet another French Open championship.

Read more… (LondonSpanish)

El Día del Español (El Día E) – Spanish Language Day – Saturday 19 June 2010

COME and join in the worldwide celebration of Spanish Language Day on Saturday June 19 as more than 70 Instituto Cervantes centres in 40 countries put on a host of special activities and entertainment.

Spanish is the official language of no fewer than 21 countries, so here in London we’re busy organising with ACALASP a programme that includes activities, exhibitions, demonstrations and music from several Latin American nations.

We’re also looking forward to the authentic flavours of Spain with gourmet tastings and workshops provided by Ibérica, one of London’s finest Spanish restaurants, and, of course, Wines From Spain.  Pre-registration is ESSENTIAL for these tastings and workshops, which take place in the Eaton Square gardens between noon and 4pm. For full details see the Instituto Cervantes website.

But the main point of the day is the Spanish language, so we’ll be launching a ‘word shower’ to open the event at 10am, and offering activities including the Spanish Game, a crossword-type contest designed to test your Spanish skills. 

And here’s the best bit … we’re offering all current Instituto Cervantes London students the chance to win a luxury tour of Andalucía, visiting all the major sights and staying in some of the region’s finest hotels.

Read more… LondonSpanish

Flamenco Festival in London 2010. Reviews

The Festival ended last weekend.

Here you are 4 interesting reviews:

Step-by-step guide to dance: Eva Yerbabuena
By injecting traditional moves with bold theatrical flair, this Spanish dancer and choreographer brings flamenco thrillingly up to date.
Sanjoy Roy 

guardian.co.uk

Flamenco’s humane roots
Forget the Hollywood image – flamenco has deep-rooted social and political resonances that cross culture and genre
Mike Marqusee 

guardian.co.uk

 

Sadler’s Wells seventh annual Flamenco Festival
David Dougill

timesonline.co.uk

 

¡Viva la evolución!
The show begins with a haunting, wailing song that could easily be mistaken for the muezzin’s call to prayer as the Nuevo Ballet Español pays homage to the mysterious origins of flamenco in Moorish… Spain.

LondonSpanish.wordpress.com

 

Very interesting blog about flamenco:
http://fromthesolesofthefeet.wordpress.com/

 

 

More about flamenco

Flamenco Festival London 2010

13 Feb 2010 – 27 Feb 2010

The crème de la crème of Spain’s flamenco talent are performing during Sadler’s Wells’ very special two week Flamenco Festival.

From Rafaela Carrasco’s bold, contemporary flamenco style to Maria Pagés’ emotional rollercoaster of a show and the maestros of flamenco, Rojas and Rodriguez, with their sublime company Nuevo Ballet Español , famed for their heart-racing sequences, this is a unique chance to sample some authentic Spanish flamenco in London.

Read more and book tickets