F(ê)aites de la Danse festival returns after six-year hiatus

danse festival

24 hours of performances, workshops and parades will fill Casino Square this July as Jean-Christophe Maillot’s F(ê)aites de la Danse festival returns for a much-awaited second edition.

First held in 2017, but not repeated for nearly six years, the F(ê)aites de la Danse is to hold its second edition between 8th and 9th July. And just like it did first time round, the festival will be taking over Casino Square with a packed schedule of events that will see 250 international artists heading to the Principality.

The concept was conceived by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s famed choreographer and director, Jean-Christophe Maillot, who is thrilled to see his vision come to life again after a series of unfortunate events prevented the festival from picking up where it left off.

The programme has been extended this year; from one night to a full 24 hours of dance in all its forms.

Tap dancing, pole dancing, Latin American, capoeira, ballet, concerts… A fascinating combination of styles have been integrated into the programme, which can be found in its entirety here. There will also be a flashmob and the choreography is already online for those that want to get some practise in early.

A special “marathon” event, where participants will be tasked with dancing inside the Salle Garnier for 12 full hours, will be held and there’s space for 30 couples aged 18 and over. Applications should be sent here.

The whole event is free and open to the public. All you need to do is bring your dancing shoes!

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.  

 

Photo source: F(ê)aites de la Danse 2017

 

This article was originally published on 4th May 2023.

Monaco sees record number of new build sales in first quarter of 2023

Real estate in Monaco has hit another record, with new apartment sales reaching €400 million in Q1 2023 for the first time in the history of the Principality.

According to the latest economics report by statistics group IMSEE, Monaco’s economy has bounced back from the pandemic with nearly every category seeing an uptick in the first quarter of 2023.

Trade has surpassed 2019 levels to hit €900,000, revenue is up by €600,000, and the number of private sector jobs rose by 5% over 2022.

SCORCHING PROPERTY MARKET

But the most impressive statistics in the report relate to the real estate sector.

There were 12 sales of new-build properties in the first quarter of 2023 – twice as many as in Q1 2022. They achieved a sales total of more than €400 million, an “absolute record for a first quarter”, according to IMSEE.

More than 80% of these transactions were for apartments that were in the process of being delivered.

Meanwhile, the resale market was stable with 96 transactions, an increase of 3.2% on Q1 2022, to reach €563 million in value. This figure is 12.4% more than that achieved in the same period last year, and has not been seen since Q1 2016.

Only five properties were sold for less than one million euros, a historically low level, while the rest exceeded €10 million.

 

SEE ALSO:

Monaco Real Estate: The private new builds that are changing Monaco’s landscape

 

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Photo by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life

 

Everything you need to know about Monaco’s new Green Shift Festival

green shift festival

A brand new eco event is coming to Monaco this June. Here’s what you need to know about the Prince Albert II Foundation’s Green Shift Festival.  

Between 7th and 10th June, a series of free and public roundtables, conferences and discussions, as well as creative performances, will be taking place on the Promenade du Larvotto in Monaco.  

Called the Green Shift Festival, the four days of events have been organised under the aegis of the Prince Albert II Foundation, but also have the backing of the Principality’s Direction des Affaires Culturelles, Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco, Fondation Carmignac, Imagine 2050, Time for the Ocean, Agir pour le Vivant and the Académie Monégasque de la Mer. 

Each evening, between 7pm and 8.30pm, and out in the fresh sea air, important green and environmental topics that range from the philosophical to the generational will be presented through short films, performances and open discussions in the presence of experts.  

“How can we trigger a real change?”

“The starting point of the Green Shift Festival is a reflection that seems to me to be shared at all levels: how can we trigger a real change in the way we see and think about the world?” says Olivier Wenden, Vice-President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. “Science is fundamental in responding to environmental challenges but, beyond the circles of experts, scientific messages do not always lead to the necessary shift to action.” 

It is hoped that the informal, free and entirely open-to-the-public nature of the festival will encourage people of all ages and walks to life to participate and engage in the ideas being presented, which offer opportunities for reflection in the short-term and positive activism in the long.  

“In order to project ourselves into a desirable future, emotion, creation and art are powerful tools for generating commitment,” adds Wenden. “This approach is at the heart of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s mediation and awareness-raising missions.” 

For further information and the full programme, click here.  

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.

 

Photo source: Michael Krahn for Unsplash. This article was originally published in 12th May.

Top street artists heading to Monaco for UPAINT 2023

upaint

For four days next week, the Promenade du Larvotto will be abuzz with the sounds of graffiti artists from the world over as Monaco welcomes back its vibrant UPAINT urban painting festival. 

Street art, formerly known as graffiti, had its roots in 1970s New York City, when young people used spray paint and other materials to illegally create images on the sides of buildings and subway trains. For decades, many didn’t understand the art and therefore found it offensive, but, as it is said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and these artists, called taggers, persevered. 

Fast-forward to today and street art is big business. A cousin to its original form, it is now a highly sophisticated and sought-after medium produced by talented artists, some of whom have become well-known globally. 

Monaco at the forefront 

Monaco saw the writing on the wall and has been at the forefront of recognising this art form. The Principality launched the Urban Painting Around the World (UPAW) festival, which morphed into UPAINT, some seven years ago and it continues to attract top artists.  

This year’s crew includes: Mon Devane and Lula Goce from Spain; One Truth Bros out of Switzerland; Norway’s Martin Whatson and Hama Wood; Stom500, Lord Anthony Cahn and Nils Inne from France; Woskerski of the UK; Iéna Cruz via Italy and the USA; Rylsee from Germany; and Monaco’s own Mr One Teas. 

The festival will also host interactive activities, such as the Street Art Challenge Junior, which is a showcase of Monaco’s secondary school students’ creativity. Visitors will also be able to walk through an exhibition of artworks from previous editions of UPAINT – some pieces of which will be on sale as limited edition prints – and express their own talents on a dedicated wall space.  

More than art

Organiser Alberto Colman, his team and the artists invited for this edition will all be supporting a new initiative from the Prince Albert II Foundation (FPA2), which is called Re.Generation and whose purpose is to foster the fulfilment of 10 young and talented candidates under 35 years of age to become tomorrow’s leaders in the field of environmental protection. 

The FPA2 will also be holding its 2023 Environmental Photography Award exhibition simultaneously on the Larvotto boardwalk.  

Creativity in the virtual world 

This year’s UPAINT will not only be in the vanguard regarding art, but in technology as well. It will be the Principality’s first cultural event to be held concurrently in the virtual world via DWorld, allowing more visitors than ever to take part and share in the experience.   

As in previous years, collectors will be able to bid on the finished artworks from the artists on the evening of the last day at an auction organised by the Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo (HVMC). Bidders will also be able to participate online through Invaluable.com and Drouot.com. 

UPAINT runs from 10am to 10pm on the Larvotto Promenade from 4th to 7th June. For more information, please click here

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.  

 

Photo credit: Axel Bastello / Palais Princier de Monaco

Brits aren’t listening to warnings about sun safety, says report

Worrying statistics suggest sun safety measures aren’t getting through to some British holidaymakers, with more than one in 20 saying they never wear sun protection when abroad.  

Summer is fast approaching and soon tourists will be hitting the beach in droves, looking to create holiday memories for years to come.

But with beautiful sunny days can come serious damage: skin cancer accounts for 4% of all new European cancer diagnoses and 1.3% of all cancer deaths (in 2020).  

Now a consumer research survey by Europesure Travel Insurance, which was published during Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May, has flagged fresh concerns that the messages about using sun protection to reduce the risks of skin cancer just aren’t getting through to some British holidaymakers.  

POOR HABITS 

The study revealed that while more than a quarter of respondents are worried about skin cancer, a full 5.5% never bother with any form of protection from the sun. That figure creeps up to 8% for the 18-to-24-year age group.  

On cloudy days, 11% say they don’t think to wear sun cream as they don’t consider sun damage to be a consideration in those conditions. Experts say differently, however, arguing that up to 80% of the sun’s UV radiation reaches the earth on overcast days.   

7% of those surveyed said that even though they do use sun cream, they prefer to use a low SPF in order to get a tan, and that number goes up to 13% for 18 to 24-year-olds.  

Painful sunburn has been experienced by 27% of British holidaymakers. Women are more affected than men, with a third admitting to getting burnt while abroad.

A shocking number of respondents also said that a sunburn “is just part of the holiday experience”, showing a distinct lack of awareness of the facts: sunburn is known to increase melanoma risks, with that risk level being compounded each time a person gets burnt.  

WORRYING ATTITUDES 

Europesure Travel Insurance’s Sales and Marketing Director, Paul O’Sullivan, said, “Our survey highlighted worrying attitudes towards sun safety, particularly amongst younger generations. Although we surveyed British travellers, we are sure that the same behaviours are exhibited by travellers from other countries too, so want to extend the warning across Europe.”  

Melanoma cases are rising around the globe, with experts saying they are anticipating a 27% rise in cases between 2020 and 2030. In human figures, this is 413,000 new cancer sufferers. Melanoma deaths are also predicted to rise –-by a whopping 31% in this decade – with the total mortality projected to be 74,750 people annually by 2030. 

“It’s time for all European travellers to take much better care of themselves and their families when out in the sun,” said O’Sullivan, “and to appreciate that a tan can come at a huge health price.” 

To get the most out of sun protection, apply a cream or similar product at least half an hour before initial exposure and reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.  

 

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Photo source: Arturo Rivera for Unsplash

Health: new cutting-edge laser and hair transplant treatment centre in Monaco

Complimenting Monaco’s strong health sector is a new clinic offering local laser and transplant treatments called La Clinique Monte-Carlo Eyes and Hair Surgery. 

Monaco is renowned for its centres of expertise when it comes to health and wellbeing, among them: the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, the IM2S, and the cardio-thoracic center.

Entering that realm now is the Monte-Carlo Eyes and Hair Surgery Clinic.

From a newly refurbished space in the Gildo Pastor Centre in Fontvieille, the co-founders of La Clinique Monte-Carlo Eyes and Hair Surgery, Doctor Enrica Segond-Romeo and Doctor Philippe Berros, offer the latest methods in hair transplant and laser eye surgeries. 

Among the technology being used by Doctor Enrica Segond-Romeo is the TrichoLAB studio, the first device of its kind that combines standardised global imaging and precise microphotography for both surgical and non-surgical use, to work with men and women looking for hair transplants.

Doctor Philippe Berros is an ophthalmologist and surgeon specialised in refractive and laser surgery who has been practicing at the International Medical Centre of Monaco for several years. He offers patients laser techniques or implants for vision disorders, including myopia, presbyopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. 

They have enlisted Doctor Cecilia Marcacci, who has 15 years of surgical experience, as the Medical Director of the facility, as well as a team of other professionals to provide on-site consultations, postoperative care and personalised follow-ups.

 

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