InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

Over the next few weeks, you’ll find the city of Madrid dressed up in its finest. The Veranos de la Villa festival features puppetry, dance, theatre, and music. Here are a few of the acts you’ll find in the month of August:

Duke Ellington Ballet
Famed choreographer Roland Petit has brought jazz to a ballet stage. Do not miss this dance interpretation of all your favorite Ellington standards, including “Take the ‘A’ Train,” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing.”

Lole Montoya
Fans of flamenco music will be thrilled with a performance by Lole Montoya. This flamboyant singer mixes North African melodies and beats with traditional Spanish flair.

Yamato: The Drummers of Japan
Rave reviews have been bestowed on these young Japanese performers, and their shows never fail to amaze audiences. Exhilarating rhythms and a dance-like stage presence are what gives Yamato the edge.

Founded in 1986, the New Zealand International Arts Festival has brought the country, both figuratively and literally, to the world’s stage. Featuring a programme of the most globally cutting-edge artists, visitors to the New Zealand’s largest cultural festival will find everything from the visual arts, theatre, literature, music, and dance. Here are a few of the artists you’ll see:

Les 7 Doigts de la Main
Billed as a contemporary circus, these former members of Cirque de Soleil have formed a troupe that forgoes theatrics for a simple, yet highly entertaining show.

Shen Wei Dance Arts
Combining dance elements of both the East and West and paired with a painterly inspiration, Chinese-born Shen Wei’s choreography is dream-like spectacle to behold.

Absolute Ensemble
Led by New York transplant Kristjan Järvi, the Absolute Ensemble will be performing Absolute Mahler, their chamber version of the favoured composer’s Stein Symphony no. Four. They’ll also present Debussy’s Prélude á l’après-midi d’un Faune.

We all need that occasional pick-me-up with our significant other, and what better place to enjoy your time than in Berlin? Since opening up its borders in the early `90s, the city’s cultural attractions have virtually doubled. You’ll find 17th century palaces, exciting shows and cabarets, and, because food is the way to the heart, many culinary options.

Schloss Charlottenburg
This palace was built in 1699 as the summer home for Sophia Charlotte, the consort of Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg. He eventually became King of Prussia, making Sophia a queen. The rolling hills and tranquil lakes that lie behind the palace are the perfect place for a stroll or a nice picnic.

Also, if you have more time to spend, treat yourselves to an An Evening in Charlottenburg. Enjoy a coursed dinner, take in a concert, and, most of all, enjoy the candle-lit ambiance.

Cafe Josty
Opened in 1812, Cafe Josty was an immediate hit with artists, thinkers, and lovers alike. The original building that housed the cafe was destroyed in World War II, and the cafe remained closed. Until the 1990’s, that is, which showed the eatery to its new home within yards of its old location in the Potsdamer Platz. Have a look at their translated page here.

Showtime!
You’ll find opera and ballet houses dotting the entire city, such as the Berlin State Opera and the Staatsballet.Your concierge at the InterContinental Berlin will help you find tickets and transportation.