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Day: 17 October 2019

Slow motion film explores dance and couture

by: Cassandra Tanti
17/10/2019

A mesmerising new film capturing the incredible strength and beauty of the Monte Carlo Ballet dancers has just been released worldwide. Slow-motion imagery and sophisticated lighting were needed to create this unique art work from Australia titled ‘Missed nuance’, which reveals a stunning connection between dance and couture.

Dancers from prestigious ballet companies, designer garments, exquisite lighting and state-of-the-art filmmaking technology were combined in this work-of-art by photographer Niv Novak.

Featuring elite dancers from The Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Theatre, The Royal Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Queensland Ballet and Projection Dance, ‘Missed nuance’ uses ultra-slow motion photography to ‘slow time’, revealing a mesmerising spectacle of dance movement.

“Subtle gradations in movement, light skimming across a dancer’s physique, muscles activating, ligaments stretching, fabrics flickering, bending and floating – countless moments of expression are missed – lost to speed,” says the film’s creator Niv Novak. “While photography reveals instants of such beauty, ‘Missed nuance’ captures all.”

‘Missed Nuance’ is a breathtaking study of the relationship between movement and fabric and the role fashion plays in elevating and inspiring the artistry of dance.

Pictured dancer: Yuumi Yamada | The Australian Ballet

Curated by costume designer Belinda Pieris, ‘Missed Nuance’ showcases the talents of leading Australian fashion designers and couturiers and features an original score by Melbourne-based composer Troy Rogan.

The dancers from the Ballet Monte Carlo were Ksenia Abbazova, Victoria Ananyan, Cristian Assis, Daniele Delvecchio, Katrin Schrader, Alessandra Tognoloni.

Pictured dancer: Callum Linnane | The Australian Ballet

Monaco Life Editor Cassandra Tanti asked Niv Novak to explain how he managed to achieve such an incredible work of art…

Monaco Life: What motivated you to create this film?

Niv Novak: As a passionate photographer of dance I realised that so much of the beauty is missed – lost to speed. I wanted to capture it all, lit as beautifully as a photograph. The precision, athleticism, beauty and the striving for higher ideals through ballet & dance is my motivation.

What techniques were needed to achieve the end result?

It’s very technical and lighting is really tough. This is why no one has achieved this on such a scale. I was set on lighting dancers as beautifully as a photographer lights a portraiture subject. It took me 18 full-time months to figure it out for high-speed photography.

There are significant technical challenges for high-speed studio photography at 1,000 frames per second. One needs 5x the light intensity when compared to shooting film/video at 24fps. Bright lights are traditionally very hot. New LED lights are run cooler but are not bright enough. Lights are huge, heavy, and hot and hard to modify. Everything about high-speed photography is challenging but lighting is the biggest challenge for sure.

The data requirements are also significant. The camera records 11GB per second and so we would record 4-6TB on most days.

Pictured dancer: Jake Mangakahia | The Australian Ballet

Why did you choose these ballet companies?

My studio is in Melbourne and the equipment weighs 700kg so I cannot travel easily. I realised that if I wanted to make an incredible international ballet film I would need to work with the best talent visiting Australia. I worked for eight months to arrange shoots with dancers from The Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Theatre and Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. I flew to Moscow and London to arrange some of the shoots at the start of the year.

Why did you ask Ballet Monte Carlo to take part? 

Ballets de Monte-Carlo toured Melbourne and I managed to work with seven of their incredible dancers. I contacted the dancers on Instagram a few months before the tour and worked hard to co-ordinate a schedule around their very limited free time.

It was an incredible experience across 3 x 14-hour days for me – the dancers are so powerful, graceful and beautiful people.

Do you have any interesting stories to tell about the involvement of Ballet Monte Carlo?

The dancers were from Brazil, Italy, Russia, Korea, Belgium… It was super interesting and they had such sparks of character. Really special people and you could tell they supported each other like family.

Who is this film intended for?

Dancers for sure. But anyone who loves movement, dance and fashion. I’ve been to told the footage is completely mesmerising and meditative. I hope the fashion world will stop to take note. My big hope for the work was to be a meaningful contribution to dance. To create a record of elite dancers like no other – one that will be referenced in 20 years. Time will tell.

Do you have distribution in Europe? 

The movie will be available worldwide on iTunes from 16th October, including Monaco!

Will it receive a special screening in Monaco? 

I may visit for a promotional screening on a world tour shortly. The film is shot entirely in 4k and looks incredible in cinema!

 

Top photo: Pictured dancer is Zoe Cavedon | Projection Dance

Best of the best: the Frankl family tests Lamborghini’s finest

by: Nicholas Frankl
17/10/2019

When Alexander the Great viewed the breadth of his domain he wept, “for there we’re no more lands to conquer”. Hail the SVJ (the J is for Jota) and what a difference this “J” makes to the world’s best super sports car. 

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It is already in a class of its own, I mean which other racing chariot is equipped with such a glorious normally aspirated V12, is mid-engined and under €500,000? Launched in 2009 with a unique and very stiff Boeing-engineered full carbon chassis, the Avantador literally takes your breath away as the single plate clutch snaps your head into the fine Schedoni leather seat with a ferocity known only in fighter planes and high G theme park rides. It has the confidence-inspiring security of four-wheel drive and a benign set up that favours understeer and allows the majority of owners (rather than professional test drivers on race tracks) to enjoy their cars without fear of ending an amateur Sunday rally down a cliff face in the Malibu canyons. I’ve driven all the Avantador models over the years and it’s still one of my all-time favourites. The SVJ also attains the status of “King of the ring”, posting an impressive lap of 6:44.97 – almost a full minute faster than the original 2011 model. A bit of a late bloomer you might say.

The SVJ takes performance to new dimensions, utilising the sister V10 cars ALA aero technology that allows road drivers to benefit from a relatively simple application of advanced aerodynamic technology. The fabulous E35 highway to Florence took a “Panoramica” mountain tour up towards the famous Futa Pass. The trucks and caravans were going in the other direction, so this left us with a beautiful, smooth two lane highway which could be best described as God’s own highway (we are only 250 miles from the Vatican in Roma after all). Especially if you’re riding one of devil’s finest creations.

Last year, I discovered how good the ALA worked on the Performante.  Stunning was the answer. So, repeating the same drive in the same conditions with two more cylinders and 100 times more horse power was a professional responsibility I needed to complete.

I can’t fully explain how quickly I was taking the corners. Firstly, there is no point of reference as my friend following me in a “normal” Huracan just disappeared in my mirrors within a few upshifts (well actually, it was the side mirror as the rear wing ALA combo inlet totally obstructs the rear view mirror and should be replaced with a rear facing camera like Cadiliac fits). Secondly, I was engaged with judging fast approaching apex’s, so I didn’t pay too much attention to the instruments. “Fly the plane” they instil into every pilot, “don’t bury your head in the cockpit” – all lifesaving advice when piloting an airplane and also when flying on the ground in the SVJ. I found the best set up in the “Ego” mode – Lamborghini’s custom setting for selecting powertrain, steering and suspension. I prefer a less weighted steering feel and a ‘softer’ suspension – it’s all relative here, suspension that also absorbs the plentiful bumps without redirecting the car off the road, and powertrain set to corsa mode.

Exiting the motorway to continue the climb towards the FUTA pass, I had time to rest and reflect on the last 20 minutes of maximum adrenaline. It felt like one of those F1 refuelling hoses had been attached to the top of my neck and an additional adrenal pump turned on. I’m fairly convinced that this is one of the healthiest forms of heart exercise in the world (unless, of course, you over cook it at more than 120mph on a corner).

Meeting up with the Huracan at the gas station exit, we sprinted up the mountain B roads of the SP 59, which are mostly tight second and third gear sprints between a treelined ribbon of degraded Italian asphalt. We were blessed with only few trucks, of which there are many plaguing the roads in Italy and are always a concern when entering blind corners at any speed. We head down the hill past the German war grave memorial where over 30,000 are buried, the Futa Pass forming part of the strategic Gothic line during WW2, and into the famous roundabout near the Albergo restaurant, which has been feeding weary road travellers on horse and cart, bike or Lamborghini since 1890. I’d emailed the owner’s son Claudio, a 5th generation restaurateur, to alert him that we were returning for our annual dose of high carb pasta and high octane expresso. But after receiving no reply, I shouldn’t’ have been surprised to find the joint uncharacteristically shut for the day. Not too perturbed, we continued our assault until we reached another spectacular low-key biker and car guy pit stop, namely Chalet Raticosa, about 10 miles down the pass. Fortunately, they too had pasta and whilst the three raging bulls rested for an hour, hot exhausts ticking away in the slightly cooler mountain air, we obliged with plenty of mama’s homemade delights.

Filled up and ready to continue the convoy, we were missing my father and his rather svelte Ferrari 458 Pista, which not too uncharacteristically had gone missing in action for most of the day. He’d been hold up at the church square entertaining locals in a town called Vado. So, operation Vado it was. Once we navigated, with some difficulty, down the narrow mountain lanes and found a much needed gas station, (don’t ask me about the fuel consumption), I turned off the annoying auto start feature, because if you’re driving a 759 BHP 6.5 litre V12 that revs to the heavens, you want instant engine response. And if you are also concerned about the environment (and why not?) then you should allocate a part of your toy budget to planting a suitably sized forest in Brazil and not worry yourself if it’s 10 mgp or 12 mpg, as it rather defeats the purpose.

All the while, up and down the mountain, the SVJ took it all in its considerable stride. It is a wide car for sure, but personally I don’t find it intimidating at all. In fact, I find that the car shrinks around you and is aided by world class turn-in, excellent weighted steering (Ferrari has gone with ultra-light steering on all models and I don’t like it), secure consistent ride and responses, plus advanced electronics and driver aids that are there to help but don’t interrupt the fun.

As the convoy pulled into Vada the town came alive. It seemed that word had gotten out, helped in no small part by the sparling red 488 displayed prominently at the only church in town. School was out too and there isn’t a more genuine car test than Italian school children.

With the finest from Sant’ Agata and Maranello on display, coupe and convertible V8, V10, V12, it soon became clear which exotic had the longest line and most selfies. Even after eight years, the Avantador still thrilled boys and girls young and old. It was still a challenge to remove the car after an hour of adoration from the drooling circle of children. With the happy families of Vado waving excitedly in the mirror as the sonorous horses ricocheted off their red brick houses and I snapped into second with the rev counter in the red zone, I couldn’t wipe the broad grin off my face… a happy day with happy people and a happy car that inspires all who come into contact.

After a superb day’s driving, I pulled into the factory gates and my thoughts wondered into the workshops in front of me. The next Avantador will be with us soon enough, I thought, and it will leap into the 22nd century with a hybrid V12 (still thankfully normally aspirated) but with additional battery power to push it near 1,000bhp. I have no doubt that under the current management it will be both visually and technically brilliant. But it will take the V12 cars into another league – even further away from the ‘good old’ analogue days. If only they made a manual SVJ – wow what a treat that would be. Pulling into my assigned parking spot, I couldn’t help but notice my new drive waiting for its run home over the Tuscan countryside to the extraordinary Opera 02. I was ready for my Urus.

Read more: The Frankly family test drive Lamborghini’s Urus

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Albanian President visits Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/10/2019

The President of the Republic of Albania and the Albanian royal couple have paid an official one-day visit to the Principality of Monaco, on the invitation of HSH Prince Albert II.

President Ilir Meta was welcomed to Monaco on Wednesday 16th October. It follows a visit by Prince Albert to Albania in October 2018, during which he met Mr Meta and Prime Minister Edi Rama. Mr Rama made an official visit to Monaco in April this year.

This visit to Monegasque territory enabled talks to continue between the two countries on environmental issues led by the Prince Albert II Foundation and the “Land of the eagles”,  in particular the development of a marine protected area, and various other sustainable issues that were raised during previous meetings.

Mr Meta was accompanied by Prince Leka II of Albania and his wife, Princess Elia of Albania.

“I was delighted to have two distinguished and very dear personalities, such as Prince Leka II and Princess Elia, during the official visit to the Principality of Monaco,” Mr Meta told the Albanian press. “The traditional friendly ties between the two royal families remain an important bridge in strengthening the relations between our two countries.”

After the bilateral meeting, Prince Albert decorated President Meta with the highest title of the Principality, the Grand Cross Medal of the Order of St. Charles, in appreciation of his concrete commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two countries

Mr Meta also paid a private visit to the Oceanographic Museum.

Sportel Awards celebrate 30 years

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/10/2019

Sportel, an organisation originally created to help bring together the worlds of media and sport, is celebrating its 30th year with four days of events at the Grimaldi Forum, some of which are open to the general public.

The event will run from 20th October until 3rd October and will host top level executives in the fields of sports broadcasting, international federations, digital platform and technology providers and sports marketing companies, all there to develop new business strategies and ascertain future trends and trials within the sports industry. 

Last year, Sportel saw more than 3,000 delegates and 968 companies from 78 countries attend and the event, and this year the expectation is even higher.

During the week, the public is invited to attend free open events such as lectures, screenings, and signing sessions with professional athletes from all over the world.

It all culminates on Wednesday 23rd October with the Sportel Awards Ceremony under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II and the International Olympic Committee, where the best sporting images of the past year will be chosen by a panel of athletes, directors, Olympic committee members and official representatives of major media groups. 

The public events require advanced booking. For more information go online at www.sportelawards.com or call +377 93 10 40 14.

 

 

Prince Pierre Foundation awards Principality Prize 2019

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/10/2019

Each year, The Prince Pierre Foundation and the Monaco Philosophical Meetings scour the globe looking for an author to honour for their philosophical work or works. The person must have at least one seminal work which has opened eyes in this field, and has explored different views on science, politics, history, anthropology, ethics or psychoanalysis.

Mr Didi-Huberman more than fit the bill. He has had an illustrious academic career having written some 50 books, curated several exhibitions in France and abroad and won numerous awards, including the well-respected Theodor W. Adorno Award given by the city of Frankfurt. Since 1990, he has been the director of emeritus studies at the prestigious Ecole des Haute Etudes en Sciences Sociales and previous to that he taught at the University of Paris VII.

His work is in the field of ethical gaze and to that end his studies have focused on the history and theory of Renaissance images to contemporary art. Additionally, he is involved in thoughts and discussions on uprisings, which he believes to be a word strong enough to enfranchise the “voiceless” and “disinherited” of the world.

The bearer of the award is asked to give a lecture the following year, and Mr Didi-Huberman will do so on 27th January 2020 at 7pm the Maison des Océans in Paris.

 

Photo: Directorate of Communication/ Michael Alessi

UPAW raises €25k to protect chimps in Uganda

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/10/2019

Urban Painting Around the World (UPAW) saw its third edition in June and raised €25,000 from its art auctions. Last week, that money was officially donated to the Prince Albert II Foundation with the directive of contributing to a project that will protect chimpanzees in Uganda.

The summer’s UPAW event on the Quay Albert 1er saw 10 known street artists and middle school students from the Principality participating in the Street Art Junior Challenge. They gathered to create a three-day art spectacle with the proceeds destined to go to charity. The theme, Endangered Animals, went right to the heart of what many believe to a problem on a critical scale.

Last Tuesday, a check for €25,000 was presented by UPAW to benefit the Chimpanzee, My Brother of the Forest project through the Prince Albert II Foundation.

The presentation took place with representatives from the government and the foundation in attendance, including Olivier Wenden, the foundation’s Vice-President, Bernard Fautrier, Special Advisor to the Prince for the Environment, Marjorie Crovetto Harroch, 2nd Deputy Mayor in Charge of the Environment, Aude Larroche-Ordinas, representing the Tourism and Congresses Department and Alberto Coleman, the event organiser.

Plans for next year’s edition are already underway and the chosen theme for 2020 is The Planet and its colours. The event, which will be expanded to last a week, will have not just the 10 chosen artists and a second year featuring the Street Art Junior Challenge, but will see a few new additions, such as street food vendors and a 3×3 basketball court.