On the march: Martisor bedeck the city

Receiving, giving or exchanging amulets for Martisor, the local celebration of the arrival of spring, is about the continuity of sharing our lives together, friendship and mutual appreciation. It is more than a gift; it is symbol of wishing each other ongoing luck, hope, love and prosperity. There is a range of fun activities that can help you celebrate the freshest season of the year. Here are some of our recommendations to help you relax and shape up for spring.

 DANCE

What about mixing the classical with the contemporary? Have you ever dreamed of donning a bright tutu just once, but now feel that it is too late? Well, while a professional will tell you that the starting point is somewhere around the age of five, Iolanda Petrescu (first ballet soloist of the Ion Dacian National Lyric Theatre), the founder of Dance Academy Ballet Art, will let you into a secret – it’s never too late to do what you like!

Visit  www.balet.ro to enroll to a ballet for adults course.

Attitude Ballet Studio is another place where the artistic joy of classical ballet is combined with the development of flexibility, strength and grace.

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Lyric Dance is a new phenomenon that combines classical ballet techniques with natural jazz steps and a contemporary vision through dance. It is focused on expressing oneself originally and personally through dance and upgrading each dancer’s relationship with his or her body and physical abilities. RON 200 for eight sessions.

Contemporary dance is a course led by the choreographer Andreea Novac, who will encourage you to experiment, play, fail, start over again and change until your own sensibility and imagination finds its best form of expression. RON 250.

The course starts on March 7 at Attitude Ballet Studio, 33 Strada Regina Maria,  http://attitudeballet.ro

RELAX

Beautiful aromas and music for the soul to help your body and mind find balance and energy inform the Spa philosophy. At Eden Spa you can find more than 40 therapies with natural spices and essential oils. A special program to promote your health and beauty along with that of your female friends will run on March 8 from 16.00 to 20.00 at a price of RON 99. Places are limited. Book in advance at http://www.edenspa.ro/pc/home.

Noblezza Beauty Lounge is the place to find the luxury treatments for hydration and wrinkle prevention adored by international stars like Madonna, Fergie and Naomi Campbell. The mysterious treatment, which shows spectacular results from the first session, is called Intraceuticals. A special offer in March consists of a free skin scanner facial diagnosis and a reduction from EUR 900 to EUR 650 for a package including six sessions of treatments and creams for everyday use at home. Find out more at  www.noblezza.ro.

A destination which can provide a quick escape from Bucharest and a relaxed experience is Ana Aslan Health Spa in Eforie Nord. A few unusual methods to get refreshed are to be found here, such as Green Coffee Wrap and Salted Algae Bath (the algae are recognized for their capacity to release lipolysis and for their efficiency in weight loss programs). And the Red Grapes Bath is an innovation in the art of luxurious spa baths, offering through perfumes and color a precious gift: a moment of total relaxation. Red grapes are said to have youth-giving properties in their seeds.

All procedures are done in combination with salt water from Techirghiol Lake, to keep the skin firm, moisturized and reinvigorated. Learn more at www.anahotels.ro/europa/spa-ro.html

STYLE YOURSELF

Be your own stylist! This is what top fashion stylist Irina Markovitz encourages you to do. Get her advice on how to experiment, redefine your look, organize your wardrobe, shopping destinations and recommendation and any other questions you may have relating to your personal style during a two-day styling course organized on March 17 and 18 in Bucharest at Fundatia Calea Victoriei. Get in touch at office@imagematters.ro

SHOPPING FOR MARTISOARE

Open Fairs

The National Museum of the Romanian Peasant will see over 200 artisans and artists gather to exhibit and sell all sorts of amulets tied with red and white string to celebrate the coming spring. Embracing either surreal or vintage design, some recycled, they are mastered in clay, textile, paper, felt and wool. Culinary delights from the different regions of Romania such as gingerbread, sweets, plum jam, kurtos kalacs, apple juice, honey and other goodies are the gastronomic martisoare of the season. The fair is open daily from 10.00 to 18.00 through to February 29.

The Romanian Geological Institute through the National Geology Museum opens the gates to Geo-Expo Martisor between February 24 and March 4 from 10.00 to 18.00. High-quality “martisor” of quartz and rubies in spectacular shades of red and white can be purchased as single stones or transformed into jewelry and interior design pieces.

I Love Handmade will suit people who appreciate delicate objects whether knitted, or embroidered in pearls or lace. The best places to find them at the moment are the streets of the Old City near Hanul lui Manuc, the Voievodal Palace and Curtea Veche.

Dana Niculescu