Countrywide Events

Western SLOVAKIA

Bratislava BALLET: THE SLOVAK National Theatre hosts the renowned Spanish ballet Companía Nacional de Danza led by choreographer Nacho Duato who will be visiting Bratislava to personally present three of his choreographies: Gnawa, O Domina Nostra, and White Darkness. The first ever performance by this ballet company in Slovakia will be held on May 30 in the new SND building. Tickets cost €12 to €35. For more info, please call 02/2047-2299 or go to www.snd.sk.

Piešťany

CARS: IN THE spa town of Piešťany, the 18th ‘Golden Ribbon Piešťany – Concour d'élégance’, organised by Ján Horňák, president of the local vintage car club and owner of the Vintage Car museum along with Klaus Pilz, the general manager of the health spa, will give visitors a chance to admire classic automobiles from May 27 to May 29. The annual race of the classics from Piešťany to Červený Kameň will be held on May 28. On May 29, a precision driving show will attract audiences – as will rarely seen cars like a Bugatti Type 46 from 1930, a Renault Ek from 1914 and a Ford Model T from 1912. For more information, go to www.spapiestany.sk.

Bratislava

LIVE MUSIC: Ida Kelarová, Dezider Dužda and Jazz Famelija, AVEN BACHTALE – The famous singer, musician, and music teacher from the Czech Republic brings her band to offer selections from her blend of jazz, Roma, and world music.

Starts: May 25, 20:00. Nu Spirit Club, Šafárikovo Square 7. Admission: €12. Tel: 0917/304-801; www.nuspirit.sk.

Bratislava

MEXICAN FOLKLORE: Dni mexickej kultúry – Within the Days of Mexican Culture, the Bratislava ensemble of Mexican music and dances, Magisteriál, and the Mexican Children’s and Youth Ensemble of Folk Music, Atizapan de Zaragoza, will perform and an exhibition by Mexican artist Rafael Ortega will open.

Starts: May 27, 17:00 (exhibition opening). DK (House of Culture) Dúbravka, Saratovská 2. Admission: €5. Tel: 02/6920-3030; web.dkdubravka .sk.

Bratislava

ROMA/BALKAN MUSIC: Rock ’n’Roma! KAL a ich hostia – The Belgrade-based band KAL offers untraditional Balkan Gypsy music that blends tango with Middle Eastern melodies and adds some Turkish and Jamaican spices. Their guests will be the Bohémiens and Jana Orlická.

Starts: May 28, 20:00. Divadlo Aréna, Viedenská cesta 10. Admission: €10. Tel: 02/6720-2557; www.divadloarena.sk.

Bratislava

EXHIBITION: SLOVERIGE – The Centre of Folk Crafts and the Swedish Svensk Slöjd institution present a joint project showing crafts from 26 Swedes and 28 Slovaks, illustrating both contrasts and similarities in form.

Open: Tue-Fri 12:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-14:00 until June 12; Galéria ÚĽUV, Obchodná 64. Admission: free. More info: www.uluv.sk.

Senica

FORMULA RIDES: Jazdy na Formulách – At the Senica airport, fans of speedy rides can taste how it feels driving a real Formula 1 racing car for 3 to 4 hours and from 35 to 50 kilometres.

Starts: May 29, 9:00-18:00. Admission: €349. More info: www.procarmotorsport.sk.

Nitra

GASTRONOMY: Festival ružových vín a jahôd – The Festival of Rosé Wine and Strawberries offers tastings of various wines and the chance to buy strawberries in different places in Nitra.

Starts: May 29, 11:00-21:00. At the Ponitrianske Museum in Štefánikova Street. Admission: €20. Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk, www. vino.sk.

Central SLOVAKIA

Zvolen

LIVE MUSIC: Rytierske dni na Pustom hrade 2010 – The Knights’ Days at the Pustý Castle presents legendary Czech saxophonist Felix Slováček & Brillant Orchester Milana Olšiaka.

Starts: May 28, 18:00. Courtyard of Zvolen Castle. Admission: €12. Tel: 0905/975868, www.pustyhrad.sk.

Dolný Kubín

EXHIBITION: Hľadal som vás a vy ste prišli – The town’s Cultural Centre presents a photo exhibition from the burial of Pope John Paul II titled ‘I had looked for you and you came’. It is organised in cooperation with the Polish Cultural Centre of Wadowice.

Open: 24 hours, until June 30. Nám Slobody. Admission: free. Tel: 043/ 5864-928; www. osvetadk.sk.

Eastern SLOVAKIA

Košice

TRADITIONAL MUSIC: Chasidské piesne II – Within the Košice Musical Spring and the Days of Jewish Culture, Rabbi Baruch Myers will join Slovak musicians Miloš Valent, Jozef Lupták and Boris Lenko to perform Hasidic songs that were premiered at the Konvergencie Festival 2008.

Starts: May 27, 19:00. Dom Umenia, Moyzesova 66. Admission: €2-€5. Tel: 055/6220-763; www.sfk.sk.

Košice

LIVE MUSIC: Jean Michel Jarre, Best of Live – The famous French performer and composer, one of the founders of electronic music, gives a series of concerts in Slovakia, including this one in Košice (and one to follow in Bratislava).

Starts: May 28, 19:00; Steel Aréna, Nerudova 12. Admission: €25. Tel: 02/5293-3321; www.ticketportal.sk.