It's already a tradition. At the end of June, we always meet in Na Pankráci Park at Café Na půl cesty, for a wonderful multicultural evening of music, dance, theatre and exotic food. This time a wild storm threw a wrench into the whole program, and everything went differently than it should have. And that made it all the more magical.
On Thursday, 27 June, our programme After All, We Are Neighbours was to start at 5 PM in Pankrác, Prague. That afternoon, however, a giant cloudburst hit Prague. As Sara Sedláčková from Slovo 21 explained: "At 4:30 PM, we didn't know if the event would take place at all. We had a covered stage and a sound booth, but when it started raining and blowing terribly, it was clear that water was everywhere, including the equipment."
It would have been a terrible shame to miss all the performances, so within an hour the whole programme was moved to Na půl cesty café, who deserve a huge thanks for lending us their equipment, and most importantly, saving the whole event. The concerts were held inside, the workshops were held on the terrace, and finally the exotic food tastings were placed under a covered outdoor stage. "It created an amazing atmosphere, although the event was smaller, because not everyone wanted to come to the park during the storm, but otherwise it was a great success", says Sara Sedláčková.
So, who was performing on the improvised stage at Na Půl cesty café? For parents and children, there was a performance of Theseus by the international puppet theater DaFa. A unique musical experience this year was provided by the band Rifoo, whose innovative style blends Middle Eastern traditions to create an original sound. A musical project with elements of Indian mysticism was presented to the audience by the performer Papia das Bauk, who draws inspiration from her native India, showcasing this beautiful culture around the world. And, of course, there was K-pop! The CKP Dance Team delivered a dance performance for the audience.
This year's program also followed the established traditions. None of the performers from the previous years were repeated and the audience had the opportunity to experience an original programme. Even though it rained the whole time, we all took away wonderful memories from the event and will look forward to it again next year. We also want to thank the Prague 4 district, particularly Anna Chválová, for letting us be a partner in the project Living Together in Prague 4, 2024.
After all, we are neighbours is an event organized within the framework of the Prague 4 project Living Together in Prague 4 2024 supported by UNHCR and the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic. Slovo 21 is a partner in this project.
