Calendar of Events

Last chance

Chinese circus comes to town

Precision and ancient arts.

An excellent Chinese Circus show, “Circo Imperial”, will be presented in the Teatro Anayansi of the Atlapa Convention Center, August 9 to 12.

“Circo Imperial” is considered one of the best shows in the world of this kind and its style is similar to that of Cirque du Soleil. Its producer, John Regna, is renowned for his works at the circus of Beijing and Moscow.

The main difference between this circus and others that occasionally arrive in Panama is the absence of animals, clowns and tents. What is highlighted is the skill of the athletes, complemented with the beautiful choreographies, costumes and ambiance. The common theme throughout the performance is Nature.

Fifty performers will participate in the show, the majority from mainland China. Some are former gymnasts and others practice ancient acrobatic arts that have passed down from generation to generation.

The show lasts 90 minutes and there will be a total of eight perfomances at Teatro Anayansi in Atlapa on these dates: August 9, 8:00 p.m. August 10, 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. August 11, 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. August 12, 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Tickets are for sale at all "Ticketcenters" at CD Place and Audiofoto stores, prices are $60.00, $40.00, $20.00 and $10.00.

French chamber ensemble performs in Old Quarter

The Trio Con Fuoco in a playful mood.

The exceptionally talented French musical group, Trio Con Fuoco will delight the Panamanian public with their chamber music on August 14 at the Teatro Anita Villalaz, in a concert to celebrate the 488th Anniversary of the foundation of Panama City.

The trio formed by Sulliman Altmayer (violin), Gauthier Herrmann (cello) and Samuel Parent (piano), was born in 1998. They have studied with renowned musicians like Paul Boufil, Eric Le Sage, Paul Meyer, Trio Wanderer and Claire Désert. The group has participated in numerous festivals, gave two series of concerts in France and went on tours around India and Germany.

In 2005 Trio Con Fuoco performed in Italy and France. They play regularly for the radio station France Musique.

They have the support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The entrance to the concert is free and by invitation only. Anybody who is interested can contact the Alliance Francaise on Calle 49 Bella Vista from August 7.

Handicraft fair August 15-19 bigger, better than ever

By: Marijulia Pujol Lloyd

If you want to discover the essence of Panama in a single place, you should go to the 30th Annual Handicraft Fair which will take place at Atlapa Convention Center, August 15 to 19. The fair offers handicrafts from all parts of the country, troupes of folkloric dancers and authentic Panamanian food and drink.

Marta Irene Bosa, National Director of
Handicrafts, poses with some of the best
tagua (ivory nut) carvings chosen during
previous fairs.

The General Director of Handicraft of the Ministry of Commerce, Marta Irene Bosa, said that the aim of the fair is to commercialize, promote and exhibit native handicraft so that Panamanian culture can be better appreciated throughout the world.

Panamanian crafts are much sought-after abroad for the quality and originality of the items. The craftsmen use all kinds of materials such as fabrics, seeds, shells, stones and wood. The molas,(reverse appliqué needle work made by the Kuna Indians), woven baskets and taguas (ivory nuts carved into miniature sculptures) fetch high prices in Europe and the United States.

Many foreign businessmen attend the fair to establish direct contact with the craftsmen and buy their artifacts. In 2006 the artisans received orders worth $100,000 for future purchases.

Last year around 33,000 people went to the fair and the organizers expect to exceed that number in 2007.

Around 468 artisans will exhibit and sell their wares this year. They are classified by province and ethnic group. Also around 35 businesses will have stalls in the lobby. Other events include costume and master-craftsman competitions, fashion shows and the first children contest of décimas (folkloric singing improvisation). There will be a greater number of folklore performances than in previous years.

The fair will honor the "tipico" accordionist songwriter, Osvaldo Ayala, for his contribution to the Panamanian culture and the First Lady of Panama, Vivian de Torrijos for her support to the handicraft sectors, specially the rural women.

The opening hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The cost of the tickets is: $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children and retirees. Children that come in school uniform from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. will only pay fifty cents.

Young talent in opera at National Theatre

IF YOU ARE AN OPERA LOVER "Opera Joven" is an event you cannot miss. It presents four talented singers and musicians from Spain, Costa Rica and Panama on August 14, at the National Theater.

The concert is organized by "Culturaplus" and "Fundacion Amaneceres" with the intention of promoting culture among the Panamanian youth.

The singers are Carmen Arrieta, soprano (Costa Rica); Marc Sala, tenor (Spain) and Ricardo Velásquez, baritone (Panama). They will be accompanied by the Panamanian pianist, Lupe Avila.

Carmen Arrieta was the semi-finalist of the "International Competition of Singing Manuel Ausensi" in 2006. She has performed in prestigious theaters such as "Palau de la Musica" in Barcelona and "Teatre Fortuni" of Reus.

Left to right: Marc Sala, Ricardo Velásques and Carmen Arrieta.

The tenor, Marc Sala has given concerts in Milan, London, Tokyo and Panama. In 2004 he made his debut in the role of Agenore in the Roger Alier production of "Il Re Pastore" by Mozart. He was also the winner of the Competition "Mirna Lacambra".

Panamanian baritone, Ricardo Velásquez, was selected to sing in a recording of the Symphonic Orchestra of Barcelona and recently made his debut as Not in the contemporary opera "Sort!" by Daniel Antolí i Plaza.

The repertoire is divided in two parts. The first one is completely dedicated to opera with arias by Verdi, Villalobos, Mozart, Donizetti and Puccini. In the second part the artists will perform zarzuelas and great Latin American songs such as "Caminito", "Bésame Mucho", "Luché la fé por el triunfo" and "Granada" among others.

For more information and reservations call "Fundación Amanecer" 226-3195. Tickets cost $50, $20 and $5 and you can buy them at Exedra Books, Hombre de la Mancha, Argosy and Allegro.

Las andanzas de Lady Vagina

A saucy comedy

From left to right: Doris Rovetto, Martín Raggo, Eillen Sossa, Javier Navarro,
Susana Reifschneider, Roberto Gradín.

THE HOT, FUNNY MUSICAL COMEDY, "Las Andanzas de Lady Vagina" will be shown on August 14 at the Panama Hotel, with the participation of actors from Uruguay, Panama and Argentina and members of the audience.

The scenes take place in a bar where the owner of the establishment, Lady Vagina, Messie, a prostitute, El Macho a homosexual, Don Penito, a Psychologist and the guest singers, Signo Negro and Roberto Gradín meet.

The dialogue is saucy, Lady Vagina and Messie fight over Don Penito every time they have a chance and audience participation adds another dimention to the story. In spite of its apparently frivolous theme, the play has a deeper message to impart.

"Las Aventuras de Lady Vagina" is an ARPA production and starts at 9:00 p.m. Tickets cost $10.00.

For more information call 6669-3038.

“Anything Goes” a hilarious love story

Ingrid de Ycaza, the sexy partner
of a gangster (at the front) and
Victoria Greco the Evangelist
nightclub singer, in a scene
of the comedy “Anything Goes”.

El Teatro en Círculo will present the musical comedy "Anything Goes" by Cole Porter. from August 2 to 31. Directed by Don Tull, the cast includes more than 30 well-known actors, dancers and singers such as Victoria Greco, Nicole Puga, Miguel Cuadra, Maritza Diez de Morales and Enrique Olivella.

Ana Melissa P. de Guardia is in charge of the choreography, which includes tap, jazz, and Charleston. Reynaldo Taylor is the musical director.

"Anything Goes" is a hilarious love story which takes place aboard an ocean liner sailing from New York to London, amid romances and intrigues.

For reservations call: 261-5375 y 261-5259

Show at National Theatre

Folklore dances from around the Isthmus

Dancers representing Panama’s different
cultures.

The Folklore Group "Panama", that performs a compilation of the dances of Colon, Bocas del Toro, Ocú, Nogbe Bulé and Emberá, will present a show at the National Theater on August 25, at 8:00 p.m.

The 30 member troupe will execute 20 dances from different parts of the country. This event takes place once a year and the idea is for everybody to know the culture and folklore of Panama through dance.

"Grupo Folklórico Panama" was founded as a youth initiative in the 90s at the church "María Reina de la Paz", located in Los Andes No2, in San Miguelito.

The group comprises professional people and students, who dedicate their free time to discover, learn and dance Panamanian dances that otherwise would have been lost. They managed to get enough money together to buy their own costumes and musical instruments.

The group, directed by Professor Fermín Garibaldi Quintero, also has a band with accordionists, drummers and singers.

Tickets for the show cost $10.00, $8.00, y $5.00.at Mueblería Ancón and the National Theater.

Love for the blues

Bitches Ghost is born

Left to right: Rod Richards, Daniel Andrade, John Brock, David Walker
and Enrique Varela.

THREE AMERICAN EXPATS were looking for something do and almost by accident found each other. Their common bond was their love for the "blues" Later on, they met two enthusiastic Panamanian musicians and the band "Bitches Ghost" was born.

David Walker and Rod Richards play the blues.

The sound of the band is a mixture of blues and rock and roll. Despite being together for only three months, and although they are just beginning to write their own material, their playing style makes old songs appear new. The combination of three expats and two young Panamanians seems to work, vibrating with powerful energy.

John Brock tickles the ivories with skill.

Rod Richards, who plays lead guitar and also does vocals said that they named the group "Bitches Ghost" to honor all the women they loved before and who had broken their hearts. The band members are: David Walker (harmonica and vocals), John Brock (keyboard and vocals), Enrique Varela (bass) and Daniel Andrade (drummer).

Rod Richards is a real guitar maestro.

The repertoire of the band includes songs by Stevie Rayburn, Jimmy Hendrix and Kev Mole; but the group which has influenced them the most is Cream. They will be playing an original melody written by John Brock.

The goal of the group is to eventually play in bigger venues like Balboa Theater or Atlapa Convention Center, because there is a real need for a good blues band in Panama.

"Bitches Ghost" will be performing at "LUMs" on August 18, starting at 9:30 p.m. The cover charge is $10.00.

LUMs bar is located in Corozal West. Directions: the first right turn past intersection at El Rey in Albrook going towards Diablo, just to the left of the old canal road, across the tracks from the Panama Canal Railway passenger station.

Bello Hogar fair offers everything for the home

FURNITURE FROM ALL OVER the world, electro-domestic articles, professional designers and much more can be found in one event which has taken place in Panama for 17 years: "Bello Hogar". This year it will be celebrated in the Atlapa Convention Center from August 29 to September 2.

"Bello Hogar" is organized by "Asociación de Decoradores, Diseñadores, Remodeladores y Técnicos Afines", (ADEREA) and is one of the few fairs in the region that specializes in the home area.

The construction sector in Panama is growing at an incredible speed, which has brought as a consequence a great demand for articles for the home and "Bello Hogar" offers the perfect opportunity to obtain in one place whatever you need to make your house habitable.

Every year around 150 exhibitors from all parts of the world come to the fair, especially from México, United States, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Spain, Italy and China to name a few.

"Bello Hogar" will have simultaneous events such as presentations and seminars. Within the Food and Drinks Pavilion, 20 chefs will present their best dishes, and give the public their favorite recipes. Meanwhile, in the Real Estate – Luxury Projects sector, visitors will have the opportunity of winning entrance prizes. The Garden and Flowers section will have demonstrations of how to make flower arrangements.

Last year around 20,000 people visited the fair and organizers expect that this number will increase in 2007, because many importers and buyers who are interested in decorating and remodeling their houses will visit the event to establish new contacts or look for ideas.

The fair will have nine pavilions that will exhibit and sell electro-domestic items, furniture, jewelry, flowers, ornaments, electrical items and beauty products among others.

"Bello Hogar" is open to everyone and will take place from August 29 to September 2 at the Atlapa Convention Center. For more information call: 236-7845.

Fiesta Alrededor del Mundo

Popular fair offers food & products from 38 countries

FORTY SIX YEARS AGO, a group of women, foreigners, diplomats´ wives and some Panamanians decided to get together and create a group called:"Caravana de Asistencia Social" with the aim of helping the needy people of Panama.

María Inés de Shipani, wife of the
Uruguayan Ambassador and
president of the “caravana” says
15 charities will benefit.

"Caravana de Asistencia Social" has only one event each year, "Fiesta Alrededor del Mundo", to cover the expenses of its "help the poor program". Countries which take part offer food, products and handicrafts which they sell in stalls, at very competitive prices.

The "Caravana" president and wife of the Uruguayan ambassador, María Inés de Schipani, said that this year 38 countries will take part in the event and 15 charities, among them Hogares Crea and Aldeas S.O.S: will benefit from the money raised.

Mrs. Schipani pointed out that "Fiesta Alrededor del Mundo", is a very interesting festival, because it attracts a wide variety of people all interested in experiencing other cultures, without leaving Panama.

Last year around 10,000 people went to the event and although the 2007 "fiesta" will take place on a Thursday, "Caravana" expects that number to increase.

In addition to selling their products, some nations will present folkloric dances and the children from the Special Olympics will perform in a dance exhibition.

"La Fiesta Alrededor del Mundo" will take place on September 6, at the Atlapa Convention Center, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $3.00.

Brazilian franchise Casa Cor presents design exhibit at Santo Tomas

AN EXHIBITION OF DESIGN, interior decoration and landscaping is currently being held by the Brazilian franchise Casa Cor at the old Santo Tomas Hospital Building on Avenida Balboa in Panama City.

This represents a spectacular launch for the Casa Cor brand in Panama and a bonus for the Santo Tomas Hospital since their old, original building, which was abandoned five years ago during a re-modelling of the entire facility, has received a $2.5 million facelift by Casa Cor.

Casa Cor started 21 years ago in Brazil and expanded to other countries as far apart as Peru and Sweden. The franchise organizes an interior design exhibition once a year in a derelict historic building, that can be privately or goverment owned. Once the site has been selected, the company makes appeals to sponsors and designers to create spaces with the latest trends in interior designs.

This year the exhibition has 45 environments or corners and it is divided in two areas: commercial and residential. The commercial part has banks, restaurant, bar, bookshop and a real estate office all of them open to the public.

In the residential side, you will find rooms representing different lifestyles and parts of the house, from the ultramodern kitchen with computerized controls to the twin bedroom with its tiny toilets. Each area has been created by an individual designer.

You can see Casa Cor´s exhibition until August 12 at Hospital Santo Tomás, Balboa Avenue entrance. Monday to Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and weekends from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Entrance: $10.00.

Sports

Great boxing program at Figali Convention Center

THREE ELIMINATION matches for the World Boxing Association (WBA) world titles are part of the billboard of “KO to Drugs”, which will take place on August 16 at the Figali Convention Center. Evander Holyfield and Michael Moore will take part in this event.

In the first fight, the “chiricano” idol, Roinet Caballero, will face the Brazilian, Adailton de Jesús. This elimination trial will be for the chance to have a shot at the WBA feather weight championship title, (126 pounds).

The second encounter of the night will be between the Panamanian, Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno, and the Mexican, Ricardo Vargas, who are looking to win the right to fight for the WBA bantam world title (118 pounds).

In the last elimination round of the super bantam (122 pounds), José “Maco” Arboleda of Panama will confront the Colombian, José Mendoza.

One of the attractions of the night will be the clash between the middle weights, Tito Mendoza, the local boy, and the American Keith Colmes.

For more information call Figali Convention Center: 314-1414.

Creative soccer

Eliminations for Red Bull free-style soccer finals

SIXTEEN COUNTRIES from the Caribbean, North, Central and South America have confirmed their participation in the final of the Red Bull Free Soccer Elimination Competition which will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in November.

Free-style soccer is an out-shoot of the traditional soccer which is experiencing a growing acceptance world-wide. This is an individual discipline, where competitors manipulate the ball following the basic rules of the sport, but adding the own style with original movements.

Each person manipulates the ball for 15 to 20 seconds, then he passes it to his opponent who has to react immediately with his own style and original movements which have to be very creative.

From August all the 16 competing countries will organize classification events to choose their own representatives. In Panama the elimination will begin in:

August 18: Chitré. Llano Bonito Communal Ground.
August 25: Penonomé. Alguis Moreno Gymnasium.
September 1: Colon. Abel Bravo College Gymnasium.
September 8: Arraiján. Nuevo Arraiján Communal House.
September 15: Panama. Multiplaza Ground.
September 16: Panama. Los Andes Commercial Center.
September 23: Panama. Albrook Mall.
October 6: Final competition.

The winner will go on to compete in the final in Buenos Aires in November.

Off-road Sprint Triathlon at Coronado resort

“THE CORONADO OFF-ROAD SPRINT TRIATHLON” will take place on August 19. In this hard test of three stages, the competitors will swim 750 meters in the sea, cycle 20 kilometers on mountain bikes, following a difficult route through rough terrain and in the third stage they will run five kilometers to the finish line.

The participants will start the race at “Coronado Golf & Beach Resort” and the event will be valid for the adult ranking and the “Iron Teen”.

The race will start at 7:00 a.m. Adults and children will compete together, because the distances are half of an Olympic triathlon.

Eladio Quintero, of the Panama Triathlon Union, said that it is going to be a quick race which will test the impetus and speed of young triathlonists against the experience of older ones.

Plaques will be given to the first three places of each category per age, sex and mixed pairs. At the end of the event there will be a tombola with prizes donated by the sponsors.

You can register at UPS, ground floor of the MMG Tower in front of World Trade Center or call t Albrook swimming pool: 315-0148 or Promises and Treasures: 270-7457.

For more information visit the web site: www.triathlon.org.pa

Dominican impersonator and comedian at Atlapa

THE POPULAR Dominican impersonator and comedian, Julio César Sabala will entertain with his fabulous mix of music and humor on August 16 at the Anayansi Theater of Atlapa Convention Center.

Sabala, who started his career at the tender age of 13, when he won the “Festival de la Voz” in his native country, is one of the best impersonators of Latin America. His impersonation of popular singers such as Julio Iglesias, Lola Flórez and Michael Jackson to mention a few, has won him fans all over the world.

The Dominican got the EMI award with his Univision Special and was nominated to enter the Guinness Book of Records, for having impersonated the largest number of characters in a show and also for being the re-creator of stars, who has toured the most countries heading billboards in important theaters.

He always impersonates the greatest artist of the nations he visits.

The show starts at 8:00 p.m., August 16 at Anayansi Theater, in the Atlapa Convention Center. Ticket are on sale at CD Place and Audiofoto. Prices: $100, $75, $60 y $35.