India to shine at Abu Dhabi Festival
abu dhabi — India will showcase the best of its 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 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 its long tradition of cultural exchange with the UAE.
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.” Navdeep Singh Suri, Indian ambassador to the UAE
Merchants of Bollywood has 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, with a huge cast, vibrant costumes, choreography by leading talent Vaibhavi Merchant, and a 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 dimensions are also important besides partnerships in trade and investments, defence and government relations. “India’s cultural wealth 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, performing 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 light 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 will enthral the audience with his live musical acts on stage. Both events offer 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 will showcase 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.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com