This week, Belgrade is in a celebratory rhythm. While the Belgrade Marathon sets the pace on the asphalt, music and dance will keep the beat in the city's most beautiful green oases – Kalemegdan and Tašmajdan Park.
The Belgrade Days event programmes are held from 16 to 19 April in commemoration of two dates that marked the history of Belgrade: 16 April 878, when the Slavic name of the city of Belgrade is first mentioned in historical documents, and 19 April 1867, when the Turkish officials symbolically surrendered the keys to the city to Prince Mihailo Obrenović, thus making Belgrade a Serbian city again.
Dance performances on the plateau next to Pobednik (The Victor), acoustic concerts by candlelight in the Music Pavilion, art workshops for children in Tašmajdan Park, as well as a grand final concert of sacred music on the steps of the Church of St Mark, will make Kalemegdan and Tašmajdan open-air cultural stages.
Admission to all programmes is free.
Programme:
In the rhythm of Belgrade – dance performances on the plateau near Pobednik
Tango, traditional and modern dance will take centre stage at the most beautiful viewpoint at Kalemegdan. The series of music and stage programmes opens on Friday, 17 April, with a performance of the k-pop dance group The Heat, with the musical support from DJ Zmija.
On Saturday, 18 April, the cultural arts society KUD ’Lola’ will present the most beautiful Serbian folk dances, and on Sunday, 19 April, there will be a milonga-tango evening, featuring the Tango Natural dance club, while live music will be performed by the Tanguango Quintet.
Candlelight concerts in the Music Pavilion
Acoustic sounds, the soft glow of candles, and the Kalemegdan park together will create a unique concert ambience.
The programme includes jazz, classical, and film music, which will be performed by the Chameleon Quartet and the Rosher Quartet, as well as two outstanding jazz ensembles – the Dragan Milovanović Trio and the Corey Wilcox Trio.
The concerts will take place every evening from 8 p.m., and admission to all programmes is free.
Art workshops in Tašmajdan Park
Singing, painting, and dancing for children
If you want to learn about singing from a principal opera singer, practice dance steps with a ballerina of the National Theatre or learn about fine arts from a graduate painter, come to the outdoor art workshops, which will be held this weekend in Tašmajdan Park starting at 12 noon.
On Saturday, 18 April, a painting workshop will be held in cooperation with the Šumatovačka Art Education Centre, while public singing and dancing lessons will be held on Sunday by Vladimir Andrić, principal opera singer, and Iva Ignjatović, ballerina, ballet teacher, and member of the National Theatre ensemble.
There is no age limit, and materials for work are provided. The duration of each individual workshop is two hours.
Concert of sacred music on the steps of St Mark's Church
The Belgrade Days’ final event will be a big concert of sacred music performed by the Prima Cantus choir, conducted by maestro Bojan Stojčević. The concert will feature soloist Tanja Andrijić, soprano, one of this year's laureates of the Despot Stefan Lazarević award, which is awarded as part of Belgrade Days.
The concert performance will begin at 8 p.m., and the programme will include the works of sacred music by Josif Marinković, Stevan Hristić, and Stevan Mokranjac, as well as parts of the cantata ’Carske dveri’.
