Abu Dhabi - Abu Dhabi Festival features 500 international artists and runs from March 8 to 30.
Published: Mon 5 Mar 2018, 2:43 PM
Last updated: Mon 5 Mar 2018, 8:03 PM
India will showcase its best of art and culture at the Abu Dhabi Festival with a high octane theatrical dance ensemble 'Merchants of Bollywood' at the Emirates Palace auditorium on March 8 and 9.
The Abu Dhabi debut of the show that displays the colour and splendour of India's Bollywood film industry, is an apt opening act as India is the 'Country of Honour' at the 15th edition of the festival, reflecting the long tradition of cultural exchange between the UAE and India.
Merchants of Bollywood has in the past captivated over 2 million people across the world. It tells the story of the last dynasty of a family of choreographers who promoted traditional Kathak, an Indian classical dance form, its huge cast, vibrant costumes, choreography by leading talent Vaibhavi Merchant, and score by award-winning duo Salim and Sulaiman Merchant,
Speaking about India's participation in the festival, Indian ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri said people to people and culture dimension is also extremely important besides the partnerships in trade and investments, defence and government relation.
"India is blessed with a depth of culture. So, for us this opportunity to partner with a major local festival means that we can reach out to a bigger audience."
Suri said the diverse programme will showcase the best of India's art and culture. "India's cultural richness is not just about Bollywood. We have Tanusree Shankar and her dance academy performing the piece called 'We the Living' based on Sufi poet Rumi's 'Human Being' on March 19 at the Emirates Palace at 8pm. We are also bringing the internationally acclaimed sarod master Amjad Ali Khan, who will perform at the Emirates Palace on March 25 along with his two sons."
Visitors can avail of a 50 per cent discount for the three Indian events by using the promo code 'IND50' while booking online.
Indian talents will also lit up the outdoor scene when the festival moves to the Umm Al Emarat Park. On March 22 and 23, choreographer Gilles Chuyen will conduct a Bollywood dance workshop and Raghu Dixit, dubbed as 'India's biggest export', will enthral the audience with his live musical acts on stage. Both events are free entry. There will also be interactive workshops and community events, as well as film screenings showcasing India's rich culture: Jai Ho, A Brush with Life, and The Spirit of India.
"We are also bringing a very eminent calligrapher from India, Rajeev Kumar, who is going to be showcasing calligraphy in Devnagari script as well as a collaborative piece with famous Arab calligrapher, which will be on display from March 10 to 30 at Emirates Palace," added the ambassador.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, the Abu Dhabi Festival features more than 100 events and 500 international artists and runs from March 8 to 30.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com
iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
