The Philippines has always been known for having only two seasons.But in between the dry and rainy season, there’s spring. French Spring that is!

The French Spring provides a varied showcase of French culture to a broad and growing Filipino public every year. Created with the objective of building on an increasing artistic collaboration between France and the Philippines, the French Spring has been a tremendous success. As part of this unique festival's mission, exciting artistic and cultural workshops involving Filipino local artists are programmed. Every year the French Spring offers to bring to Manila an array of topnotch artists, and cutting-edge French productions covering the fields of dance, music, circus, food and visual arts. It is a stunning three month-long celebration of the very best in French culture.

This year their traveling exhibitions will be highlighting not only visual arts with our exhibit "100 X France" - an exhibit on the history of photography; but also the performing arts with music from Quatuor Diotiama and DJ Didier Sinclair, modern circus by Ultimo Momento, and especially dance by the companies of Etha Dam and Hervieu- Montalvo.

Déguste, the art of tasting differently, is a CULINARY NIGHT, which you can experience on the Opening Night of the French Spring 2008 on thrusday, April 17 at the Ayala Museum.

This exhibit by Emmanuelle Becquemin and Stéphanie Sagot creates a journey of taste. The guest discovers a
dense forest of helium balloons, seemingly floating in space. The balloons support the lunch boxes that hold the buffet’s contents. The guest is invited to taste the food which lightens the balloons and gradually sets them
free. A wall of hands will offer you sweet treats. Déguste is a unique experience, satisfying both your cravings for art and culinary delights.

This event is also partnered with a photography exhibit entitled 100 X France which will be on display at the Ayala Museum from April 17 to May 10, 2008.

In this exhibit, one can understand here the emotion felt by the whole world on discovering photography: a dream becoming reality. This exhibition tells a story that began officially in 1839 in Paris, and continues up to today’s conceptual photography. Straddling both art and science, photography cannot be understood without an understanding of its technique. Each of these prints is accompanied by a text about the history of the photograph and the photographer, telling us also about France and the French, and Paris.

Quatuor Diotima, is a classical music performed in the PhilamLife theater on April 24 at 8pm. Quatuor Diotima has been performing on prestigious stages around the world and has won several prizes. The group has recorded two albums and was acclaimed “best new talent” at the Diapason d’Or in Paris. It is their aim to perform  contemporary music and twentieth century classics in the context of the Classical and Romantic string quartet tradition, and be equally immersed in the works of Beethoven, Schumann, Debussy, Janácek et al.

 House music from famous French DJ Didier Sinclair who brought us hits such as Feel the Wave and Lovely Flight. Didier Sinclair is from now on, one of the principal DJ of the French house scene exporting his talent worldwide to every major city, now experience it in Manila on May 30, venue to be announced later on.

The brothers Ferré are descendants of what is probably the greatest family dynasty of guitarists ever. The sons of the Manouche gypsy guitarist Pierre Matelot Ferret, who appeared on some of Django Reinhardt recordings,Boulou and Elios Ferre bring gypsy swing into the modern era. They have upset the polite and pleasant mood of many a posh restaurant with the power and inventiveness of their playing. But those who expect to hear the familiar swing rhythms of the standard gypsy combos can leave bemused and disorientated. The brothers’  sources of inspiration are universal: tunes by Django, J.S. Bach, Charlie Parker, Lee Konitz, and a pair of originals. But these are just starting points for their interpretations and improvisations. Boulou’s creativity appears boundless. He reworks themes with a ferocious inspiration that is the most valuable part of Django’s legacy. Numerous awards and shows all around the world, the Ferre brothers continue to live the tradition of their ancestors and bring their art to the next level. Venue and Date of their performance to be announced.

Ultimo Momento. (peut-être) is a duet : João and Guillaume, a Chinese pole acrobat and a musician. In (peut-être), the two artists deals with the boundaries of the space where they move about. João and Guillaume play on our sense of space, what we assume to be above or below, what we expect to be horizontal or vertical; they surround us with sights and the sounds, with a real or virtual environment. We hear music, acoustic or electronic, and we see a fleeting body, at time real, at other times virtual. The electronically recorded sights and sounds help blur our perception: gravity appears inverted and the performers multiplied on the stage. Whether fleeting or lasting, each move is a feat, so close to a dangerous challenge, so tempting, yet never attempted. Watch them perform live at the RCBC Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium on June 4, 2008 at 8pm.

French cinema has found a loyal audience in the Philippines. Since its launch, French films have been attracting local viewers from all walks of life, with an appreciation for the “7th art form”. Filipinos are avid fans of movies – like the French; films are thus an ideal vehicle for promoting cultural understanding. French films have a unique character of story-telling that is able to touch the psyche of the Filipino, through the imagery,
the romance, the humor, and naturally the beauty of the actors. From June 11-June 22, you can watch these films in Shangrila Plaza Cineplex.

 Representing the new school of street dancing, Etha Dam combines creative spirit with energetic hiphop techniques. Their show Aduna, land of adventure deals with the discovery of an unknown land by 7 adventurers: an invitation to a journey full of emotion and surprise. To be performed in the CCP Little Theater, on June 7, 2008 at 8pm

Cie. Hervieu-Montalvo. This modern dance company takes us into a magical world in their show La Bossa Fataka. Using extensive visual effects, La Bossa Fataka is a journey into the imaginary world of J.P Rameau, compositor at the court of King Louis XV. Extravagant and poetic, this combination of dance and video installation will leave you and your family dreaming. Performed in the CCP Main theater on June 22, 8pm.

Extra-muros, exhibit on architecture. Representing France during the 2007 Lisbon Architecture Triennale, “Extra-muros” offers back doors designed to attract those who, a priori, have always felt that contemporaryarchitecture was unbearable. It forces them to change their angle of view and forget their preconceptions, because it speaks of adventure, invention and creativity and through that, of course, leads imperceptibly to the consideration of contemporary architecture as something other than a closed world. Dates and venue to be announced.

The French Food Festival will associate reputable chefs and restaurants around Metro Manila to participate in a week of French cuisine. Finally, we also open this event to hospitality and culinary schools, eager to showcase the talents of their institutions. Bon appétit!