Education Exhibition in Larnaca

All students and parents are invited to the Education Exhibition at Ktima Makenzy on Sunday 12th January 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm. Free entrance.

Ballet-tale «The Nutcracker» for kids in Larnaca

Miracles happen not only in the New Year night…

25 and 26 of January 2014 young spectators and their parents will have the unusual meeting: ballet-tale «The Nutcracker» 
(on motives of a fairy tale by E.Hoffman «The Nutcracker and the Mouse king»).

Music by Tchaikovsky.
Libretto by Marius Petipa (abridged version of the ballet performed at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow)

Together with the main character of ballet Marie you will find yourself in a room, lit by the moonlight. Suddenly the Christmas tree starts growing before your eyes and toys come alive. Something rustle from underneath of the floor and army of mice appears. Only resourcefulness of Marie and courage of Nutcracker chase away the evil witchcraft of the Mouse king. Wooden toy will turn into a beautiful young prince. Snowflakes swirl under the tender and wonderfully graceful music in the magical dance and Marie with Prince-Nutcracker will get in fairytale Kingdom of dreams…

The main ballet party are performed by professional artists (the soloists of the leading Moscow theatres). Support by students of the Moscow children's art school named after Mikhail Balakirev.

Duration of ballet - 55 minutes without intermission.
Recommended age – from 4 years.

PLACE and TIME of ballet:
25 of January 2014 – Nicosia, Russian cultural centre at 11.00
25 of January 2014 – Larnaca, Theatre SKALA at 17.00
26 of January 2014 - Pafos, Theatre MARKIDEO at 11.00
26 of January 2014 – Limassol, Theatre POLEMIDIA at 17.00.

Price 12 Euro.
More information 96 30 2770 and on www.magictheatre.ru

Мы все знаем, как трудно детям высидеть на одном месте длительное время.

Именно поэтому для первого путешествия в мир музыки Чайковского 25 и 26 января 2014 года мы выбрали адаптированную версию всемирно известного балета "Щелкунчик". 
Она длится всего 55 минут. 
За основу либретто взята постановка Мариуса Петипа, которая идет в Большом Театре России, г. Москва.

Еще специально для показа на Кипре волшебник Дроссельмеер в балете будет не только танцевать, но и говорить!
Причем говорить на двух языках: русском и английском. Очень короткая фраза - объяснение предваряет балетную партию, помогая детям понять язык танца, дать импульс их воображению.
Такими короткими фрагментами (слова и танец) дети смогут вживую познакомиться с прекрасным произведением, жемчужиной русского балета - феерией "Щелкунчик".

Основные балетные партии исполняют солисты ведущих московских театров.Кордебалет - ученики московской детской школы искусств им. А.М.Балакирева.

А если ваши дети уже знакомы с балетом, значит их ждет переход на более высокую ступеньку образованного и культурного восприятия - наслаждение от увиденного и услышанного!

МЕСТО ПРОВЕДЕНИЯ:

25 января в 11.00 –Никосия, Русский культурный центр,
25 января в 17.00 – Ларнака, театр «СКАЛА»,
26 января в 11.00 - Пафос, театр «Маркидео»,
26 января в 17.00 – Лимассол, театр «Полемидия».

Стоимость билетов 12 евро.
Дополнительная информация по телефону 96 30 2770
и на сайте www.magictheatre.ru

Flamingos late return to salt lake - Paula Manoli-Gray

The famous flamingos that grace Larnaca's salt lake between the months of November to March have finally appeared this year, later than usual due to the dry weather.

Despite the popular misconception that the flamingos stop over in Cyprus on their way to and from Africa, the flamingos actually come from Turkey where they breed in the summer months. As temperatures in Turkey become considerably colder at this time of year, they make their way to Cyprus. Their first choices of habitat on the island are Larnaca Salt Lake and Akrotiri Salt Lake, with the Oroklini Lake as a back-up. This year, the Akrotiri lake has been considerably wetter than Larnaca, and so the flamingos have been there until now, rather than absent from the island.

Research Coordinator for Birdlife Cyprus, Martin Hellicar, explains that there has to be a correct balance for the flamingos to come to Larnaca: "Flamingos have a good sense of when a lake reaches the right conditions for them and once they have identified that, can be there within a day.  The salinity of the lake waters has to be just right for the shrimps they feed on to thrive and that is dependant on there being an optimum amount of water in the lake."

During December 2013, Martin recorded just eight flamingos on Larnaca's salt lake, but wetter weather since is enticing them in larger numbers and their flocks can reach up to 10,000.

In the past, the Flamingos were victim to lead pellets from a nearby shooting range, and the presence of the airport still poses a threat, but Martin says that conditions are much better than they were two years ago: "The lake is an EU Natura 2000 site which means that under EU law, it is a priority to protect the species there. As such, there is a management plan in place that is doing okay. The flamingos are like a flagship species – if they are okay and doing well, then the plan is working."

Larnaca salt lake is the second largest salt lake in Cyprus after the Limassol salt lake and measures 2.2 square km. Its flamingos are a significant part of the town's identity, a major tourist attraction and its mascot.

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly newspaper 04/01/14

Making friends with 2014 - Paula Manoli-Gray

Dear 2014, welcome! It's nice to see you, even if that means I am going to be another year older!

You are well aware that you have a very tough job ahead of you following after 2013. There is so much pressure and expectation for you to sweep on in and be better than your predecessor, like a new president taking on his term at a particularly tough or crucial time. I am sorry that you have this burden to bear, but nonetheless you hold our hopes and dreams in your hands in a way that probably no other year has done so, so please, treat us wisely and kindly.

What I cannot get my head around, is how in 2014, we have found ourselves in such a paradox of being classified as a 'first world, advanced, rich' nation, yet, we are struggling in a way that we should not be – it's crazy.

It's like a game of snakes and ladders. The hardworking people of Larnaca who have always paid their bills and taxes and tried to climb the ladders up towards bettering their lives are now finding nothing but snakes, sliding down further and further, and going backwards instead of forwards due to wage cuts and tax and bill hikes. The shocking fact that we are the first generation to be worse off than our parents is terrifying, especially for those of us who have children that need providing for. We don't (all) expect to be rolling in it, with lavish lifestyles and material wealth, but we do expect to be able to make ends meet in the knowledge that each year our circumstances will better themselves till we can retire in a comfortable way deserving of all the years, hours, blood, sweat and tears that we have put into our lives. The stark reality that the snakes will keep taking us down and that the rungs of the ladders are crumbling beneath our feet is one in the forefront of the minds of all us 'ordinary' citizens as you enter our lives, so please 2014, find a way to get us all back on track.

Don't let all this put you off, this is your opportunity to be the year that turned it all around for us – just like the president who comes in with a fresh perspective and succeeds in making real and tangible improvements during his term. Part of his motivation is to better the lives of the people he serves, but another part is ego - to go down in history books as the person who made the difference. You too can be 'that' year – the one that everyone looks back on with gratitude and positive memories as a defining point in our lives. I can't offer you advise on how to do it, but if you do, the glory is all yours!

I will check back in on you at the end of your term, and I hope that you prove to have been the 'president' that brought about better days… for me, for mine, for Larnaca, for Cyprus, for each and every one of us…

First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly newspaper 04/01/14

Winter Coleslaw

Ok, we've had our fun, we've overdosed on all those delicious Christmas goodies, it is a time of over indulgence after all, but I think now we need to tone it down a little. I really did enjoy all those rich Christmas lunches, followed by mince pies, trifles and fruitcake…..I can go on, but now my body is just screaming for lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. I just love all the winter vegetables available to us right now and have found a perfect recipe for them. It's mixed vegetable coleslaw, inspired by Jamie Oliver. This is not your average coleslaw though; this is something special, just packed with fresh crunchy vegetables and herbs. Yogurt is used instead of mayonnaise which gives it a much fresher taste and I now I actually prefer to use it in quite a few of my recipes. The beauty of this recipe is that you can experiment, adding any raw vegetables or soft herbs that you like. Having a big bowl of this in the fridge helps me behave myself, just a little..….I hope you like it!

 

Ingredients

2 large carrots

2 large beetroots

2 large radishes

Half of a kohlrabi (kouloumbra)

1 chicory

1 small fennel

Half of a small red cabbage

Half of small white cabbage

2 celery sticks

1 Onion

1 handful of mixed soft herbs, I used fennel, parsley and mint

Walnuts (optional)

250g of yogurt

¼ of a cup of olive oil

2 tbls Dijon mustard

Lemon from 1 large lemon

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Grate carrots, beetroot radishes and kohlrabi. Slice the cabbages, celery and onion as finely as you can and mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Chop the herbs and add to the mixture. Add walnuts, if using, also sultanas complement this salad. Now in another bowl mix the yogurt with the olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice and season with the salt and pepper. Pour dressing on to the vegetables and mix.

Androulla xx