In the late 1990s, former Czech President Václav Havel and his wife rescued a deconsecrated and dilapidated church and transformed it into an international spiritual center called Pražská Křižovatka (Prague Crossroads). According to the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97, the concept was:
"to respond to the now widely felt need for open-minded and creative dialogue among people of different faiths, convictions and professions about the present state of our civilisation, the dangers threatening it, and the hopes for the future."
Brilliant! Thus, what a fitting place for a week-long celebration of the arts.
Three phenomenally talented colleagues and I spent months planning and executing an arts week in honor of our school's "Arts for Life" focus this year. The result was four days and nights of stunning exhibitions, workshops, lunchtime concerts and evening performances filled with drama, dance, music, poetry and visual arts (and even some catering by BW!).
The calm before the storm:
And then the implosion of art:
My heart overflows with thankfulness for the beauty that children can create, for the hope that our future holds. Unlocking and sharing the gifts of so many young people is a tremendous privilege.
...Aaaand, on the topic of arts, our Fall production, "The Government Inspector" by Nikolai Gogol, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, is now on Youtube:
The Government Inspector, Act I
The Government Inspector, Act II
Wow! I am so sure a lot of work went into this production! So much talent. Makes me wish l had tried ballet as a kid..hah hah! :-). Well done!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you blogging again, Em. You rightly recognise the privilege of 'unlocking and sharing the gifts of so many young people'. But it needs adults like you & your colleagues to do so, together with many hours of your time. Btw - I recognise at least one of the young people in your photos :-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your summer break - you deserve it!
My name is Joe Pinzone and I'm casting an international travel show about expats moving abroad. We'd love to film in the Czech Republic and wanted to know if you could help us find expats who have moved there within the last 15 months or have been there for 3-4 years, but recently moved into a new home. The show documents their move to a new country and will place the country in fabulous light. The contributors on the show would also receive monetary compensation if they are filmed. If you'd like more information, please give me a call at 212-231-7716 or skype me at joefromnyc. You can also email me at joepinzone@leopardusa.com. Looking forward to hearing from you.
ReplyDeleteJoe Pinzone
Casting Producer
P: 212-231-7716
Skype: Joefromnyc