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T
he second 2011 issue of “Cyprus Today” continues the overview of the cultural life of the is-
land since the declaration of Cyprus’ Independence. The magazine hosts an article by Dr Andri
Constantinou displaying the theatrical route Cyprus followed from ancient times to the present. In
addition, our readers will be informed by Elena Christodoulidou on the Cypriot cinematographic
scene, which had a late start (end of 1940s) and a rather slow development in its early years; how-
ever, several new films have been produced by Cypriot film makers and interesting film festivals are
found in a number of cities on the island.
“Cyprus Today” also deals with the participation of Cyprus in the 54th InternationalArt Exhibition Biennale
in Venice. Our country is represented by two artists, Marianna Christophides and Elizabeth Hoak-Doering
who, taking the Cypriot experience and historical reality as a starting point, approach issues of historicity,
identity and memory in a particular way, tracing and mapping data from a wider cultural history.
As regards cinema, the magazine presents the Spanish Film Festival 2011, which was held in Nico-
sia; the international “Cyprus Film Days” Festival, which aims to contribute to the development and
promotion of the art of film-making in Cyprus and the wider area, and to introduce the work of for-
eign film makers to the Cyprus public; and the “Images and Views of Alternative Cinema” Festival,
screening rare films from the international vanguard.
This issue also presents a concert series given by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, “From Romanti-
cism to Neoclasiccism”, under the direction of the renowned conductor Nicolas Christodoulou; the
concerts were held in memory of the late Rodo Menelaou. It also documents the 11th International
Pharos Chamber Music Festival, one of the most renowned festivals of its kind in the Eastern Medi-
terranean.
In addition, “Cyprus Today” includes an article by Christodoulos Callinos on the artist Christos
Foukaras, and a review by Dr Criton Tomazos on the solo art exhibition by Renos Lavithis, which
was held at the Britannia Centre in the UK.
Dancing is represented in this issue by two articles, one about the 14th European Dance Festival
co-organised by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre in collaboration with
the embassies of the countries involved; the other discusses the Conference, “Dance/Body at the
Crossroads of Culture”, a celebration of multicultural meetings from different parts of the world
which share dance and the body as their common loci.
“Cyprus Today” presents the “Cyprus-St Petersburg” cultural programme which took place in Limas-
sol and sought to bring the Cypriot audience closer to the culture of this major Russian city. In a similar
context, an exhibition of work by children from Marioupolis Art School in Ukraine was hosted in the
Leventis Municipal Museum under the title “Cyprus and Greek Mythology”. The exhibition displayed
drawings and sketches depicting problems the island faces and expressing the grief of Cypriot people
who were forced to abandon their houses after the Turkish invasion in 1974.
Finally, our readers will find two obituaries for the actress, director and political activist, Monica
Vassiliou, and the former Minister of Education and Culture, Akis Cleanthous, who passed away
recently, and details of the ceremony where the honorary cultural grants were awarded to 27 distin-
guished persons of Letters and Arts.
Editorial