Western SLOVAKIA

Bratislava EXHIBITION: THE EXHIBITION of the Slovak National Museum (SNM) in Bratislava called With a Wire in the Head (S drôtom v hlave) is a joint show of SNM, the Museum of Puppet Culture and Toys at Modrý Kameň and the Anderle Family from Banská Bystrica. It shows traditional puppets in their full glory with several accompanying events. The exhibition runs until March 28, with opening hours at the main SNM building at Vajanského nábrežie from 9:00 to 17:00. The admission fee is from €2 to €3.50 . For more info, call 0 2/ 5934-9 122 or see www.snm.sk.

Bratislava
DANCE: Homage to Cows – This musical-dance-artistic-theatrical happening was born from cooperation between the Elledanse Dance School and Theatre led by Šárka Ondrišová and Slovak choreographer and dancer Boris Nahálka.
Starts: January 15-16, 20:00. Admission fee: €4 - €6. Elledanse, Miletičova 17/B. Tel: 02/5541-0716, www.elledanse.sk.


Bratislava
CLASSICAL MUSIC: The Popular Cycle – The Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra begins its new year with pieces by John Williams, including music from the films Star Wars and ET - the Extra-Terrestrial; and by Gustav Holst's The Planets.
Starts: January 14, 19:00. Admission: €7 - €9. The historical building of the National Theatre, Hiezdoslavovo Square, tel: 02/2047-2111, www.filharm.sk.


Bratislava
OPERA: Carmen – George Bizet’s Carmen is one of the most passionate and famous operas and director Richard Eyere gives it an innovative approach. This live broadcast from the New York Metropolitan Opera in high definition is led by conductor Yannick Nezet-Séguin.
Starts: January 16, 18:45. Admission: €14. Aréna Theatre, Viedenská cesta 10. Tel: 02/6720-2557, www.divadloarena.sk.


Bratislava:
DANCE: Belly-Dance Yesterday, Today, and... (Brušný tanec včera, dnes a....) – Dance exhibition by the Association of Oriental Dance, Zatun Dahabee, presents Leyla Damab, Elisha, Zuzana and their students showing off their newest choreographies.
Starts: January 14, 19:00. Admission: €4. DK Zrkadlový Háj House of Culture, Rovniankova 3. Tel: 02/6383-6776, www.kzp.sk.


Prievidza
LIVE MUSIC: Karel Gott – Divine New Year. The biggest star of Czecho-Slovak pop music, whose popularity has lasted for more than half a century, comes back with Boob Band and a special guest, the vocal band Fragile.
Starts: January 11, 19:00. Admission: €29. City Aréna, Mariánska 35. Tickets: www.ticketportal.sk or www.nabrehu.sk.


Komárno
LIVE MUSIC: Presser Gábor – This legend of Hungarian rock, who played with the Omega band and who founded the cult Locomotive GT band, gives a concert called Songs and Some Stories, which is an allusion to his CD titled Kis történetek.
Starts: January 15, 19:00. Admission: €10. Jókai Theatre, Petöfiho 1. Tel: 035/7908-112, www.jokai.sk.


Central SLOVAKIA

Banská Bystrica
OPERA: THE STATE Opera in Banská Bystrica offers, apart from typical pieces, some less traditional performances. The dance theatre Gypsy Roots by Goran Bregovič (music) and Dana Dinková (directing, choreography) shows the romance between a young Roma boy and a white girl, with Beata Gaálová and Andrej Andrejkovič as the main actors. The rare atmosphere evoked by the music of world-renowned Serbian musician Goran Bregovič can be enjoyed on January 12 at 18:30 for €5. For more info, call 048/4154-544, or see www.stateopera.sk.

Banská Bystrica
BALL: A Thousand and One Nights (Tisíc a jedna noc) – The first charity ball on the city is named correctly as it will feature oriental dancers, fakirs, a slave market, the dance studio Alishaba and historical culture group Cassanova, an oriental bazaar and much more.
Starts: January 15, 20:00. Ticket: €30 and €40. PKO (former House of Culture), Námestie Slobody 3. Tickets can be bought at: IC Banská Bystrica, tel: 048/4155-085; MsÚ Banská Bystrica, tel: 048/ 4330-520(-3) .


Žilina
LIVE MUSIC: Good For Cows – Devin Hoff (contrabass) and Ches Smith (percussions, Xiu Xiu) return to Stanica, where they gave a memorable concert back in 2008. Their music is on the edge between composition and improvisation, free-jazz, drum & bass and avant-garde.
Starts: January 12, 20:00. Admission: €2 - €3.50. The Stanica Žilina-Záriečie Culture Centre, Závodská Cesta 3. Tel: 041/5623-564, www.stanica.sk.


Eastern SLOVAKIA



Košice
FASHION: Beata Rajská Fashion Show – Rajská is an established Slovak fashion designer who has created designs for the Czech entrants at several Miss contests, including Miss World Tourism. At that show, the designer won the award of Most Beautiful Evening gown.
Starts: January 11, 18:00; 20:00. Admission: €10 - €65. State Theatre, Hlavná 58. Tel: 055/16-186, www.espacestudio.sk.


Poprad
EXHIBITION: Starry Messages – Ján Zoričák belongs among the most outstanding glass-working artists; his design was selected for the 1967 EXPO in Montreal. He has become one of the representatives of prismatic plastic art.
Open: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, until January 17. Admission: €1. The Electricity Plant of the Tatra Gallery, Hviezdoslavova 12. Tel: 052/7722-617, www.tatragaleria.sk.