Court Ball "Chocolate Castle"
Chocolate House On 18 December, The Renaissance Event Agency’s Irena Trots put together what was billed as the Chocolate Ball in the gorgeous House of Chocolate last month. The event authentically replicated a true royal ball of the 17th century, when chocolate was a popular delicacy among the European aristocracy. The ball included a workshop on ancient dance provided by Poland’s Cracovia Danza ensemble, heaps of chocolate treats, silly competitions involving the King of the Ball and a separate programme for kids. Exclusive costumes recalling past eras and sophisticated live classical music combined to make for a memorable occasion.
Court Ball "Lorenzo Medici's Carnival"
The forthcoming event is called the Ball of Lorenzo Medici, and will include all the necessary trappings. In addition to mandating appropriate dress, the organizers invited an ensemble to play period music and a Polish troupe to dance period dances, and they set up a theatre performance of the Masked Ball of Queen Bona. There will also be the obligatory court jester, the life of every ball. Everything is guaranteed to be a hundred percent authentic: Irena has done exhaustive work to reproduce the exact environment of Lorenzo’s fifteenth century Florence, down to the smells. “I had a CD recorded in France which consists exactly of the music written by court composers for the Medicis’ balls. Cracovia Danza [the Polish troupe] is one of the most renowned ensembles that do ancient palace dances. They’ll teach the attendees of the ball some simple but very beautiful steps. The jester will keep everyone happy: fools can say even more than kings,” says Irena.
“I’m sure that when a person sees the costumes, hears the authentic music and wears a costume, miracles will happen. People start acting differently – men start kneeling and kissing their women’s hands,” says Irena. (The Ball of Lorenzo Medici has also a charitable aim. Proceeds from a raffle will go towards supporting talented young musicians and actors.)
“I read a book about Lorenzo Medici and fell in love,” says Irena. “I used to think about him all the time, and at some point things started happening to me. You may not believe this, but once I was sitting in Shevchenko Park and dreaming of Lorenzo when I saw a grandmother with two children. She called her child Lorenzo and I was shocked. First I thought it was a hallucination, but it turned out to be real. Then I knew I was on the right track. When I checked the dates, I realized the ball had to take place in January 2009, since that’s the 560th birthday of Lorenzo Medici. Do you see how symbolic everything is?”
“For me,” she goes on, “Lorenzo Medici is a very contemporary person – the way he thought and ruled. In his poetry he called on people to rejoice in life, in this very moment. I think it’s already time for Ukraine to proclaim a Renaissance here – just stop criticising and complaining and start rejoicing.”
The beauty of the ball, she thinks, will overcome political and economic miseries.
Kateryna Kyselyova. A Ball Like Lorenzo de Medici’s // WHAT”S ON. – 2009. – January 23-29.
Anastasiya Skorina . A Ball in the Renaissance Tradition // WHAT’S ON.—2007.—October 5-11.— No. 36
Thanks to the efforts of the organizers, the theatrical castle show took the guests to Renaissance Florence. This is when the historical Lorenzo de Medici the Magnificent ruled.
Guests of the carnival in Kiev were wearing period costumes and enjoyed the wonderful play of the ancient musical instruments, theatrical shows and dances performed by the Cracovia Danza ensemble from Krakow, Poland. In the second part of the programme, Cracovia Danza performed the theatrical Queen Bona Masquerade. At the end of the evening a charitable lottery was held where the prize was a week-end at one of the most luxurious hotels of Florence.
During the ball, today’s Prince Lorenzo de Medici said in his interview with Panorama that he felt ties with his famous ancestor: “He was an idealist, dreamer, knight, and poet. I always thought that I have inherited the outlook of Lorenzo de Medici”. Prince de Medici is engaged in charitable projects, sponsors art and is an adviser to film industry representatives who make films about the Renaissance.
The idea of “the Carnival with Lorenzo de Medici the Magnificent” belongs to Irena Trots, who is the producer of the project. She thinks that Renaissance beauty will inspire Ukrainians to restore their castles, of which there are so many in Ukraine, as well as to pay more attention to our own ancient culture.
KYIVSKA FORTETSYA The 'Romeo and Juliet' ball, organised by Irena Trots, took place on 22 September in one of the halls of the Kyiv Fortress. Trots has been the moving force behind other historically-themed projects of this type. Aimed at popularising the traditions of the XV-XVI centuries, the event showcased the dancing, music and costumes from that period. During the event the Polish theatre troupe Cracovia Danza, known for staging medieval plays, gave a ballet and pantomime performance.
Anastasiya Skorina . A Ball in the Renaissance Tradition // WHAT’S ON.—2007.—October 5-11.— No. 36
…Nowadays, Europe shows increased interest to its culture of XV-XVI centuries. Many times we watched on TV Germans, French or Polish people dressed up in historical dresses. Recently, Kiev citizens got lucky to touch history as well: in fire-place hall of Kiyvska fortress there was held “Romeo and Juliet” Renaissance court ball…
…Days before the beginning of the ball, fancy dresses disappeared from all ateliers. There was great number of people wishing to get to the ball, however not everyone was lucky to come there. Those who still visited the event felt as if they are in a true fairytale…
…One of the ball zests was performance of “Cracovia Danza” court dances ensemble (Krakow, Poland) directed by unsurpassed Romana Agnel…
NinaBay.RomeoandJulietball// Ukrainian word.—2007. – October 3-9.-- № 40 (3343)
…Great fortress walls, bronze lions at an old chain bridge gently «immersed» visitors into the interior of Renaissance Verone.
…Acted dispute between Tybalt and Mercuccio grew into a duel with swords. All participants were in position to actively influence on development of the ball plot; they learnt dancing and could choose and play some minor parts. White pigeons flying up to sky symbolized lovers souls relief. Guests did not want to leave and lose their realized Dreamlong after the event was over. With words of gratitude to the author of the idea Irena Trots, the Montecci and Capuletti had long celebrated the delighted occasion in cultural life of Kiev.
Old days magnify! // EXCLUSIVEstyle.—2007.—November-December
RenaissanceballRomeo&Juliet, KyivFortressonPechersk, 22ndofSeptember.— PhotosbyMariaSverlova.—HIGHLIFE // 10 Days.—2007.—September 28-October 12.—# 38-39 (58)
…Recent court ball that took place in Kiev fortress has been dedicated to Shakespeare «Romeo and Juliet». Special guest of the event has been Renaissance court ball dances ensemble “Cracovia Danza” (Poland). Guests had to come wearing historical fancy dresses of Renaissance age. Parts of the play have been distributed just before the beginning of the ball. All the participants showed their interpretation of Shakespeare «Romeo and Juliet»…
... Participants of theevent could not hide their emotions. They said, such a performance made unusual impression.
Natalia Maslova, student: «I think such balls are extremely necessary for us all, as they are very nice, and mood of Renaissance epoch is really amazing. In today active high life there is lack for something delicate and sophisticated…”
Organizers assure they want to organize Renaissance court dancing parties as frequent as possible. In their plans are developing the project and dedicate it not only to Renaissance literature, but also to prominent historical dates and famous persons.
M. Fradkin., IMostovych. Newentertainmentforkievcitizens– Renaissance fancy dress balls —http://ntn.tv/news/kiev/07/09/24/10/54.html—September 24, 2007.
In May 23, 2007 the first ball in Renaissance style «Romeo and Juliet” took place in Kiev fortress. Irena Trots, organizer of the balls not only created wonderful atmosphere, where guests really were participants of the show held in the small town of Verona, but also learned medieval dances herself and performed perfectly at the event. Guests quickly mastered simple motions of some dances and sincerely made merry. Everyone danced at the event!
Svetlana Sorokina design studio
—http://www.ssf.kiev.ua/?mod=news&article=12&lang=rus
... The ball in Renaissance style proved that such festive occasions are our spiritual demands. Sophisticated dresses of Romeo and Juliet epoch perfectly suit today's knights and ladies. Many girls did not want to change their clothes and went walking around evening Kyiv, having belief that very soon fairy-tale will happen to them again…
…As Romana Agnel (“Cracovia Danza” director) said later, idea of the ball was so interesting, and audience so talented that sometimes it was really hard to distinguish between professional actors and amateurs…
Nina Bay. Ball of Romeo and Juliet epoch// Professional unions news .—2007.—October 12.— № 39 (398)