Bollywood show opens Abu Dhabi Festival

Abu Dhabi - The renowned stage musical featured a cast of over 40 multi-talented performers in a spectacular fusion of colour.

In an evening of swirling colours and sensational dance numbers, the widely acclaimed theatrical dance extravaganza, Merchants of Bollywood, opened the 2018 Abu Dhabi Festival on Thursday.
Celebrating the depth and diversity of contemporary Indian culture, the dance extraordinaire engaged audiences with an eclectic homage to the vivid energy of Bollywood, telling the story of the Merchant family, a dynasty who have shaped its course for generations through dance and choreography.
The renowned stage musical featured a cast of over 40 multi-talented performers in a spectacular fusion of colour, as well as sensational dance scenes choreographed by one of Bollywood's top choreographers, Vaibhavi Merchant.
The dynamic and spirited musical hits were composed by award-winning duo Salim and Sulaiman Merchant. Seen by over two million people across the world in more than 1,000 performances across 20 countries, Merchants of Bollywood continues to evolve with tributes to the latest Bollywood blockbusters.
Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (Admaf) and artistic director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said: "Celebrating the diversity of international arts and culture is central to our values. The UAE has a longstanding history of cross-cultural exchange with the subcontinent as well as a deep-rooted appreciation of all facets of contemporary Indian culture.
The Abu Dhabi Festival 2018 Country of Honour designation recognises the cultural wealth of India, and the close diplomatic ties enjoyed by our nations. Presenting Merchants of Bollywood as this year's inaugural performance demonstrates the vibrant energy that characterises the nation's most popular export.
As the festival progresses, the nuance and diversity of Indian culture will be presented through music, dance and film - a complement to the richly varied programme embraced by the Festival as a whole."
This year's programme also includes a classical Indian dance interpretation of the work of Rumi in We the Living by Tanusree Shankar Dance Academy and sarod master Ustad Amjad Ali Khan making his Abu Dhabi Festival debut with an evening of expressive and entrancing performances.
Running until March 31, Abu Dhabi Festival will bring a line-up of globally renowned artists to the Capital, including two eclectic performances by the eminent Orchestra dell-Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia - Rome; the world premiere of Emirati composer Ihab Darwish's Waves of my Life performed by Beethoven Academy Orchestra and Polish Radio Choir, conducted by Stoyan Stoyanov; the Sinatra of the Middle East - Palestinian singer Omar Kamal with a night of jazz, swing and Arabic classics; a concert of global music and glamour with Pink Martini; among others.
Throughout the festival, a calendar of free events, exhibitions, performances and workshops will also take place engaging, empowering and nurturing the UAE's creative scene.
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• Abu Dhabi