Some might not believe it, but when you compile numbers... it is incredible to see. Casco Viejo is truly leading Panama as an example of social revitalization fueled by an economy that is gathering its own momentum. Its image is one of the favorite subjects of international reporters who find in Casco Viejo`s historic architecture and mixed community a wonderful story to tell... the story of true Panama and why people should come to explore it.

Culture and money, for some reason they are not always perceived as close relatives. Culture and social change seem like cousins, but somehow not necesarily people think they go to the same parties. However, it is through culture that we generate tourism and many other activities... and it so happens that as a tool for change is quite a bomb on its own. And that bomb has started to catch a bit of fire in Casco Viejo.

This year, Argentina is celebrating 200 years of existance with a fantastic performance in Casco Viejo. "The three faces of Tango" will be a show of the best of dancing, music and singing... tango. It will gather on stage for the first time, a Piazzola playing a Piazzola (grandson playing music from his grandfather!), award winning tango dancers and beautiful tango singers.

It seems like dance took over this month! Momentum with Wizard of Oz, Danza Nova with their recently created ngo... and more!

The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and the National Association Against Cancer (ANCEC) are presenting today a very special performance by dancer and coreographer Fernando Hurtado. I´ve seen him dancing before with Panamanian and Casco Viejo resident Analida Galindo and they are an explosive combination. All proceeds will go to help ANCEC with their important mission to fight Cancer in Panama.

FAE Theatre Festival is here! check out the schedule: who - what - when

Last night, Panama had its very first "heavy metal" concert! and we enjoyed the hell out of it. I didn´t realize how many heavy metal lovers we had in Casco Viejo, and probably they didn´t realize I was one of them as well. Panama has a unique species of headbangers, not like anyone in Latin America... nor the States.

La Casona will be hosting this weekend in honor to Women´s Day an art show featuring female Panamanian artists. Last time I was there, she featured great work from Marta Sanchez and many other artists who worked either painting, photography, and even sculpture. This year they are including oriental dance, jewelry and more! The weekend seems to start with a nice Electro & Dancehall party!

Last Saturday House Hunters International aired an episode called "Two Best Friends Invest in Panama" featuring Casco Viejo... and me! (alias Patrizia Pinzon, not Patrizia Penzon as it was spelled in the website. The thing with Spanish is that the vocal "i" sounds like "e" in English) along with Eric and Vladimir who are childhood friends that decided to invest here and now are an active part of Casco Antiguo´s community.

A very special flamenco show from Spain will make a one - time appearance at the National Teather on November 16 @ 7 p.m.

During the next weeks we are having a lot of things to do in Casco Antiguo...

Do not miss this spectacular air show of contemporary dance ... "Gramo Dance" in the Anthropological Museum Reina Torres de Arauz

Love, treason, murder. All the elements a great ballet should have! don´t miss Giselle, at the National Theatre, this week.

For the first time in Panama you will be able to enjoy of the Reggeae Dancehall Roots and Hip Hop from Colombia @ 10:00 p.m.

Culture is hardly ever thought as an economic engine. But it is! and as a secondary effect, it also raises the lifestyle of the society as a whole (or was it all the way around?). Join hands and contribute to Casco Viejo´s cultural future...

Next Friday, August 7th the Argentine choreographer Iñaki Urlezaga will present "Carmina Buruna" in the National Theater...

More about the Fundación Danilo Pérez...

Beautiful and powerful, Iñaki promises to be an experience!

A special folklore event entitled "Panama Querida" (Beloved Panama) will be held on SAturday, August 15...

More about the Music Festival...It´s missing just one day to start the Festival in Casco Antiguo...

Which NGO´s and charitable foundations work in Casco? this posting is part of a six-posting series. Here you´ll find who/what and how to participate of: HOGAR DE LA INFANCIA AND CASCO ANTIGUO DANCE SCHOOL

Panama, City of Panama

Casco Antiguo Events

 

 

2009 Artistic Season

 

 

February 13          National Ballet                                                                   La Chorrera

               

March 3 to 15      Seminar Workshop of Movie and Tv Scripts                      Anthropological Museum

                                                                                                                        Reina Torres de Araúz

March 12             National Symphony Orchestra Weiyin Chen (Pianist)        National Teather

March 20             National Ballet of Panama                                                 National Teather

March 24             National Symphony Orchestra                                            Colón

March 27             Cultural  Fair                                                                       Plaza de Francia

 

April 1                   National Symphony Orchestra                                           National Teather                            

April 2                   National Symphony Orchestra                                           National Teather

April 3                   Show of national artists , folks and modern dance           Colón

April 7                   National Symphony Orchestra                                           24 de Diciembre

April 18                Great Folkloric Ballet of Panama "Music and Dance"       National Teather

April 19                Great Folkloric Ballet of Panama " Music and Dance"      National Teather

April 27 to 29       National Ballet of Panama                                                 National Teather

                             International  Week of dance

 

May 6 to 12        Collective exposure of bare                                                 Visual Arts Gallery

                           Silfrido Ibarra , Alberto Dutari, Julio Zachrisson,                  Las Bóvedas

                           Etanislao Arias y otros

 

June 4 to 19        Marta Sanchéz                                                                   Visual Arts Gallery

 

July 6 to 17         Franklin Rodríguez                                                              Visual Arts Gallery                          

 

 

What a weekend! Panama´s Presidential Election, How does it work? who won? what to expect?

Obama is lifting finally parts of the Cuban embargo. While you are thinking on traveling to Cuba, read this first....

To spark change through dance. To transform children into creative forces... Casco Viejo has started a pioneer program that will change from inside out.

They are coming!!! April 2nd and 3rd, don´t miss this fantastic troupe!!!! check Colegio del Cuerpo out in YouTube, they have great stuff...

From the Oficina del Casco Antiguo calendar... these are the upcoming events. Some are "to be confirmed", but is good to keep them in mind:

Fantastic, free and fun... Casa Gongora is the place to start your Friday dance night out!

Good news for opera lovers: the Fundacion Opera Panama will present this upcoming 24 and 26th of March "La Magia de la Opera" (Opera´s Magic) featuring young Panamanian talents and international opera singers.

In celebration for Women´s Day (or week... or year?) a friend just sent me one of these forwards with feminist jokes (which I happened to enjoy a lot by the way!) to give a laugh at the eternal extremes of the "battle of the sexes". In Casco Viejo, however, we celebrated with a significant event.

Pum!Pum! Pum! ... to the left.... cha chaaanann to the righttttt cha chaaannn down! up! around! A classic summer day in Casco Viejo!

The 6th edition of the Panama´s Jazz Festival is on its 4th day. Yesterday, we went to an amazing concert hosted by the Spanish Embassy featuring Flamenco Jazz. A spicy combination!

Global markets falling, the greatest economic recesion since the American Depresion... but Latin American Idol is here to save us! at least to remind us we still have what it takes to solve this.

Last night was the opening night of Panama´s National Ballet performance of La Bayadere (known also as Bayaderka), the famous ballet from Marius Petipa where Prince Solor marries Princess Gamzatti, although he is really in love (and had sworn loyalty) to Nikiya, the temple dancer. Alexa Gutierrez, from Panama, danced on Nikiya´s roll, one of my favorite I´ve seen from her so far.

I first visited Havana Vieja in Cuba around 1996. It was a very interesting trip from which I learned a lot about our common roots, despite our different current political lives. Culture and architecture reflects our spirits...

Ever since the slavery trade times, African traditional religions have been concealed by their followers under Cristianity... for obvious reasons. Today, many, many years later, the reminiscents are still there. And in Casco Viejo, very much alive!

In many countries, cultural activities fuel tourism, which becomes one of their main economic revenues. With Casco Antiguo, Panama has a unique opportunity to be launched into the world´s cultural map. Check out the details here...

September´s agenda is full! check out the calendar to your left, and you´ll see the details. But here is a "panoramic" view of what´s going on for September.

September in Casco Viejo starts with interesting events: dance and music all over. Check out the new events here...

A new client recently asked me “Is Casco Viejo gay friendly?” For a moment I had to think about the question. You see, growing up as a ballet dancer I never even gave a thought to it.

A few days ago I got an email from a journalist at The Guardian, as they´ve found somehow my postings on La Casona in Casco Viejo. It was quite exciting, this is my first collaboration with international press! Here is the article:

Casco Viejo will host a very special event in September. The United Nation´s agency for the Environment (known in Spanish as PNUMA) will present an art festival featuring artists from different disciplines, from poetry to street painting. Check out the event calendar here!

Panama´s National Theatre was literally born with the Republic. The need to build it was at the first Gacetas Oficiales in 1903 - 1904 along with main stuff like a Presidential Palace and public bathrooms. It was the heart of social life and culture. Today, we celebrate its 100 year anniversary with a bit of history and wonderful events in August and October.

It isn´t summer, but somehow Casco Viejo hasn´t slowed down too much regarding cultural events. August 8th will have a special presentation of a German Jazz Duet where all profits will go to social work in Darien. July still gets a Contemporary Dance Encounter and an Art Auction from the Museum of Contemporary Art at Casa Cor. Learn when and who to contact here!

This morning it felt like a scene from Jonathan Livingston Seagull. The sky was a beautiful plomb color, the air felt almost chilli. Hundreds of seagulls flying over the roof catching all sorts of things for breakfast. A bit of rain still falling, but not enough to carry an umbrella. We call that "bajareque". I stood there, just watching this silent, beautiful dance for a few minutes. It was really peaceful.

Diversity is Panama´s strongest feature. We have so many cultural influences! and not all of them are properly celebrated. So we are very glad to announce the openning of a special gallery where you can acquire art from Portobelo, which is located in our Caribbean Coast at Colón Province. These pieces where done by local artists lead by Panamanian photographer Sandra Eleta...

I don´t know if you have noticed, but we set up a calendar to input all the events. So send us yours! Here is the final schedule for the FAE (Festival internacional de Artes Escenicas 2008)

Organized by Enrique King, this festival will gather artists from United States, Spain, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Cuba and Mexico.

All I actually knew about the pedestrian mall on Avenida Central was "Don´t take anything valuable there!". So I avoided going. I´m ashamed, embarrassed, and am making amends. The day I visited...

Events Calendar... updated! International Festival of Performance Arts coming soon...

Like a soldier holding the fort under "extreme weather conditions" (meaning the day was hot as hell) Mery held her head high and smiling during the last Casco Viejo Flea Market, all for a good cause: to provide information to the local population about...

There is something special about every season, but summer in Casco Viejo is without a doubt the most fun. Starting with the jazz fest and following with all small and big cultural events. Sunny days, wonderful ambiance... Don´t get jealous...come down and join us!

This is one of the things I enjoy most of living in Casco Viejo: there is always an interesting cultural event going on. Last sunday it was Drum Fest... a loud but very enjoyable (somehow) event where hearts pumped at the drums of all sorts of musicians. Preparing for Jazz Fest?

Incredible news: not only Panama made it to the Grammy´s Awards (with Rabanes) but now we are making it to Sundance Film Festival. "The Wind and the Water (Burwa Dii Ebo)" has been accepted to compete, along with another 63 films. The festival will inaugurate with the film "In Bruges" starring one of my favorite actors Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell, directed by Martin McDonagh. Learn more! and congratulations to the movie crew!

Panama Art. The Dance Festival finally inaugurates featuring seasoned troupes from France, Colombia .... and Casco Viejo! Greyskull Castle opens it´s doors to the secret life of pandilleros, or maybe giving us a mirror where to recognize our own culture.

Panama Dance Fest. Don´t miss it... Plaza Herrera, 7:30 p.m. Saw the troupe practicing yesterday, I would say is not for the faint of heart! No se lo pierdan, Plaza Herrera, 7:30 p.m. Vi a los bailarines practicando ayer, diría que no es apto para cardiacos!

Christmas is here! A group of international and panamanian artists will be exposing their angels throughout the Casco. Again, don´t miss the big banner on the Dance Festival, from the 10 to the 16th!

Dance Festival in Casco Antiguo from December 12th to the 16th. The Casco continues to celebrate it´s 10th anniversary as World Heritage Site with all sorts of activities, from sculpture show to vertical performance. Check out the schedule and where to get more info...

November has arrived, Panama´s holiday month. A good time to relax and meditate about the beginnings of our country and what makes it and us so special. The answer might be really simple, but powerful...

For many, the Casco is love at first sight. Everyone has his or her own first memory, or a turning point where they decided to live, work or invest here… Don’t be shy! Take a moment and post your story! For me, early memories of the Casco are profoundly linked with my family and my childhood. I hope you enjoy the opening of this blog! Patrizia