A double bill of dance performances is coming to the Nicosia International Festival this week, featuring productions selected through an open call. On October 30, the Nicosia Municipal Theatre will host two back-to-back performances by two choreographers of the younger generation who present two distinct approaches to contemporary dance.

First, at 7pm is Myrianthi Panagiotou’s Residue, which explores the act of preserving within ourselves objects, stories, bodies and human bonds, revealing the human need, wherever we go, to carry places, relationships and memories with us.

On stage, santur player Kypriana Constantinidou and five performers will create a language rooted in the landscapes and cultural memory of Cyprus.

At 9pm, the second performance is by Konstantina Skalionta, titled All of (y)our time. This dance act zeroes in on the question of how much time is worth.

Taking its stance in a world where ‘time is money’ and everything has a profitable purpose, Skalionta draws on contemporary theoretical approaches to the value of artistic labour under capitalism, where dance is undervalued, as its ephemeral and immaterial nature cannot easily be accommodated within the framework of production and profit.

The choreography explores the vulnerability of artists while reclaiming the dancing body as a political and social body.

On the evening, viewers can enjoy both performances with a single ticket (€20) or experience each one separately (€15).

Residue – All of (y)our time

Dance Double Bill, part of the Nicosia International Festival. October 30. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 7pm and 9pm. €15 or €20. Tickets on More.com

A new exhibition opens in Nicosia this Friday, October 30 as Gloria Gallery hosts the solo showcase of Pascalis Anastasi. Under the title Belonging, the artist’s exhibition is an artistic exploration of human presence, everyday life and the fundamental human need to feel that we belong somewhere.

The opening event will take place at 7.30pm, inaugurated by the writer and poet George Moleskis and the public will be able to browse Anastasi’ paintings until November 17.

Through scenes of daily life, human figures, bustling streets and images of nature, the artist observes and captures moments that often go unnoticed.

Facial expressions, movements and subtle gestures become the starting points for stories and reflections on human relationships, loneliness, acceptance and the search for personal identity.

As the artist explains: “Observing the people and places around me gives me another opportunity to express my deepest feelings through my work, whether depicting crowded streets, the sea or the natural environment that surrounds me. The main objective of this exhibition is to create stories through people’s facial expressions, the clothes they wear and the way they move.”

“Like a flâneur,” he adds, “I watch the world go by, sometimes wondering whether people are truly happy or simply going through the motions of life – a mother holding her child, a young woman with her mobile phone, an elderly couple walking together. We all share something in common: the desire to feel that we belong somewhere and the fear of rejection.”

Belonging

Solo painting exhibition by Pascalis Anastasi. October 30-November 17. Gloria Gallery, Nicosia. Opening night: 7.30pm. Tuesday-Friday: 10.30am-12pm and 6pm-7.30pm. Saturday: 10.30am-12.30pm. www.gloriagallery.com

The non-profit organisation Windcraft Loud celebrates ten years of creativity, collaborations, musical encounters and new paths with a series of events under the title ‘Windcraft Back’, which runs from October 31 to November 29.

The series brings collaborations born out of the organisation’s journey and that of the Windcraft Music Fest back into the spotlight.

About Windcraft Loud

Since its foundation, Windcraft Loud’s primary aim has been to build bridges between the local and international music scenes, bringing together artists from Cyprus and abroad and encouraging the creation of new, cross-border musical collaborations.

Through the Windcraft Music Fest, dozens of musicians met for the first time, experimented with different musical genres and created original musical projects.

About the event series

‘Windcraft Back’ revisits some of these encounters, giving them the opportunity to be revived and further developed.

Cypriot and international musicians are coming together once more in Nicosia, presenting their music through four distinct concerts, whilst also sharing their knowledge and experience with the local music community through four specialised workshops.

As part of the series, Harris Lambrakis joins Odysseas Toumazou on a musical journey with references to jazz and modal music, Toms Rudzinskis joins forces with Christos Yerolatsitis for a session centred on contemporary jazz, Federico Pascucci teams up with Larva (Vassilis Filippou & Alexis Kasinos) for a contemporary exploration of traditional music, whilst Andreas Polyzogopoulos meets Marios Takoushis in yet another creative jazz collaboration.

The concerts are complemented by workshops on modal music, jazz, swing and Balkan music, offering students, professionals and music lovers the opportunity to engage directly with acclaimed musicians from Cyprus and abroad.

Programme of workshops

The workshops begin on Saturday, October 31 with a session on modal music by Harris Lambrakis at 5pm.

Then, on November 14, a jazz music workshop with Toms Rudzinskis takes place, again between 5pm and 7pm.

Balkan music is next as Federico Pascucci dedicates a workshop to it on November 21, before William Scott hosts a swing music workshop on November 28.

Concert nights

The first concert of the series is on this Sunday, November 1 at 8pm where Harris Lambrakis and Odysseas Toumazou join forces.

Then, on November 15, Toms Rudzinskis and Christos Yerolatsitis will play together, whilst on November 22, Federico Pascucci and LARVA take the floor.

Concluding the event series is one final concert on November 29 with Andreas Polyzogopoulos and Marios Takoushis.

Windcraft Loud

Ten years of Windcraft Loud with a series of music workshops and concerts. October 31-November 29. Windcraft Music Centre, Nicosia. €10 (for the workshops, free for members). €15 for concerts. info@windcraftloud.com. Tel: 22-377748

A day in nature packed with bold flavours, music, competitions and, of course, spicy tastes approaches soon. The 2026 Sia Chilli Fest returns on November 7 as organiser Johnny Pep brings another epic edition with fun planned for all. Especially, those who enjoy a heat kick.

From 10am to 4.30pm, the village of Sia in the Nicosia district will host the festival. On site, Johnny Pep will share spicy secrets and stories from his micro farm of spicy peppers, whilst bars serve beers and cocktails. Food vendors will feed hungry stomachs all day long and on this year’s menu are stone-fire pizzas, smashed burgers, loaded hot dogs, steak sandwiches and Cypriot ice cream.

Live DJ beats will add a tuneful note to the event, accompanying what is perhaps the highlight of the event – the Chilli Contest. Visitors who want to challenge how much heat they can take, can take part in the competition, eating spicy peppers to earn the title of the Chilli Champion.

Sia Chilli Fest 2026

One-day festival with street food, drinks and the Chilli Contest 2026. Organised by Johnny Pep. November 7. Sia village, Nicosia. 10am-4.30pm

The captivating score of The Jungle Book comes to life on Larnaca’s and Nicosia’s stages as the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra presents family concerts. Under the baton of the Cypriot maestro Kyriaki Kountouri, orchestra musicians, mezzo soprano Marilena Nisidi and narrator Petros Georkadjis will present two magical evenings.

First, The Jungle Book concert will be presented at the Municipal Theatre G. Lycourgos of Larnaca on Thursday, November 5 at 6pm, before Nicosia audiences enjoy it at Pallas Theatre on November 7 with two performances; at 4pm and 5.30pm.

Based on five of the nine Mowgli stories from Rudyard Kipling’s classic 1894 collection of the same name, this fantasy adventure inspired one of the most iconic film scores of Hollywood’s Golden Age, composed by the eminent Hungarian-American film composer Miklós Rózsa.

Renowned for his unforgettable scores to classic films such as Ben-Hur, Spellbound, El Cid and The Thief of Bagdad, Rózsa vividly captures the adventurous spirit, imagination, heroism, humour and mystery of the jungle, masterfully blending traditional Indian musical elements with the grandeur of the symphonic idiom.

The score features eighteen distinct themes, one for each of the story’s principal characters. Through this richly imaginative, almost operatic approach, Rózsa vividly brings to life both humans and jungle animals.

Mezzo soprano Marilena Nisidi, the recipient of an honourable mention at the recent International Masterclass & Competition for Opera Soloists organised by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, will perform the beautiful lullaby for Mowgli.

Enhanced by live narration by Petros Georkadjis, this magical family concert promises an immersive and unforgettable journey into one of cinema’s most beloved adventures – an experience sure to delight audiences of all ages.

The Jungle Book Concert

Family concert by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, mezzo soprano Marilena Nisidi and narrator by Petros Georkadjis. November 5. Municipal Theatre G. Lycourgos, Larnaca. 6pm. November 7. Pallas Theatre, Nicosia. 4pm and 5.30pm. €12. Tel: 22-463144. www.cyso.org.cy