The radical dancing 'couple' of Tancici Dum offer a perfectly Bohemian counterpoint to Prague's formal architectural elegance.
If you wander towards the small Alois Jirasek Square, which looks out over the leaping weir of the Vltava River, you may find yourself doing a double-take. There, right where the long formal terrace of Rasinovo Nabrezi meets the river, its last two buildings are clasped in dance – Fred-and-Ginger style. They appear to be about to twirl out across the bridge. This 'couple' is in fact one building, the Tancici Dum, or Dancing House. And its flowing quirky curves have inspired smiles (or cast frowns) on the faces of residents and visitors alike, ever since it was unveiled back in 1996.The playful idea of making glass buildings dance, right in the heart of a World Heritage Site (heresy to some) came from Prague architect Milunić. He saw an abandoned building plot on the street corner, and wanted to create a pair of buildings, united in a 'yin-yang' sort of way. He spoke to the neighbour in 1986, a certain Václav Havel. He was then a dissident under the oppressive communist government. But within five years, the Velvet Revolution had swept Havel into the President's office eventually Milunić gave him a call. The rest is history.The Dancing House is best seen from the bridge of Jiráskův Most. From here, you can see how the 'Fred' side starts out as a sober straight-laced office-building, before his windows start waving and dancing towards his 'Ginger'. She is a glass-clad curvy beauty, leaning into 'Fred', glass skirts flying. The architects like to call it 'deconstructivist'. Most visitors just call it 'fun'.The building is owned by the Dutch banking group, ING Bank, and most of it isn't open to the public. The top-floor, however, is – and here you can indulge in both fine views, and an even finer meal. The Celeste Restaurant has made its home here, just underneath Fred's 'hat'. The price of entry maybe high (the Celeste is a first-class French restaurant), but it's a treat worth paying for. You get wonderful food, views out over the Vltava River, Prague Castle, and the Charles Bridge. And you get to say you danced with Ginger Rogers in the heart of Prague.
