| 18-20 Lyon Holiday on Ice – Spirit A spectacular combination of skilful skating, dance and theatre, Holiday on Ice’s new show, Spirit, is packed with polished choreography and acrobatics. There are fabulous costumes, and a soundtrack featuring Macy Gray, Seal, and Vanessa Mae. Good for all the family. www.holidayonice.com |
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| 3-12 Tel Aviv Docaviv With the purpose of elevating Israeli documentary to an international stage, the Israeli Documentary Film Festival is now in its 10th year. This year’s event gives a voice to many people who fly below the media’s radar, and features discussions, workshops and awards. www.docaviv.co.il |
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| 9 Ghent The John Scofield Trio This April, the John Scofield Trio’s international tour stops off at Ghent, where the eponymous guitarist will pitch up at De Handelsbeurs. Considered one of the finest living jazz guitarists, Scofield will perform alongside drummer Bill Stewart and Matt Penman on bass. www.johnscofield.com |
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| 11-13 Barcelona Bike Show BCN Barcelona’s annual exhibition showcases the latest bicycle models, stages live demonstrations and even has an area devoted to teaching safe cycling to kids. There are also opportunities to test-ride the machines. One for cycling aficionados everywhere. www.bikeshowbcn.com |
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| 14-27 Gothenburg The International Science Festival Göteborg 2008 For two weeks every year science takes to the streets of Gothenburg, with lectures, films and workshops in the city’s libraries and museums. And the best thing about it? Almost everything is absolutely free! www.goteburg.com |
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| 18-21 Brussels Art Brussels First staged in 1968, artbrussels swiftly grew into a highly respected international art fair. This year, more than 2,000 artists from 25 countries are exhibiting. And although it attracts its fair share of established collectors, guided tours make it great for the uninitiated too. www.artexis.com |
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| 21 Berlin Dianne Reeves Blessed with a talent that puts her in the same league as the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, Dianne Reeves has won a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for three consecutive albums. Catch the vocals for which she’s renowned at the Kammermusiksaal. www.diannereeves.com |
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Book your plane tickets for…
16-17 May Venice Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Symphony at La Fenice (teatrolafenice.it) ++
17 May Vienna Life Ball (lifeball.org) ++
8 June Barcelona Catalonia MotoGP (motogp.com) ++
22 June Munich Celine Dion (celinedion.com)
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| 20-26 Budapest Central Europe Rally Part of the Dakar Series of events, the Central European Rally runs from Budapest to Lake Balaton, crossing 3,000 kilometres and occasionally straying into Romania. As ever, amateurs and professionals compete, driving a variety of cars, bikes and trucks. www.centraleuroperally.com |
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| 26-27 London Seni08 Not just for martial arts enthusiasts, Seni08 combat-sports show will appeal to anyone with an interest in health and wellbeing. There are demos, seminars and a film festival, and Bruce Lee’s daughter is due to attend, which will dovetail with the launch of her dad’s museum. www.senishow.com |
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| 28 (until 25 May) Birmingham International Dance Festival Birmingham Dance lovers should hotfoot it to Birmingham for a month-long programme showcasing the talents of troupes including the Kirov Ballet Company. Expect master classes, workshops and a huge participatory salsa on the final night. www.idfb.co.uk |
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