Latest news with #TamaasFestival
Al Etihad
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
The Arts Center at NYUAD celebrates decade of cultural exchange, artistic growth and community engagement
13 Mar 2025 23:05 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)As the UAE embraces 2025 as the Year of Community, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has 10 years served as a cultural hub, bringing world-class performances to the heart of Abu Dhabi while nurturing homegrown talent. "From the beginning, it was important for us to be deeply connected to the UAE community, while also forming a bridge to the international performing arts world," Bill Bragin, Executive Artistic Director of The Arts Center at NYUAD, told Aletihad in an interview. A key milestone has been the rise of local shows, with more commissioned productions and world premieres than ever before."This allows our UAE-based talents to create works which focus on stories and themes with special resonance," Bragin noted. "Our ability to put together a season with so many local productions is the result of a decade of deep engagement, exposing UAE artists to diverse works as they attend our performances, and creating connections between visiting and local artists through our robust residency format."He explained that this format enables visiting artists to engage beyond the stage, share their artistic approaches, connect with the community over meals, and experience local hospitality - gaining a deeper understanding of the UAE's cultural landscape. Year of Community President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has declared 2025 the Year of Community under the slogan "Hand in Hand".Bragin believes that art plays a vital role in making people feel more connected to the UAE, and to one another."In a place as dynamic as the UAE, which is always evolving, the arts offer special opportunities to foster shared histories and experiences for people who come from so many different lived experiences," he said. "At every performance at The Arts Center, people from different backgrounds, ages and heritage all come together in a unique one-time-only community that every audience comprises."The Arts Center follows a curatorial strategy to engage a wide local audience, according to Bragin. This is evident in initiatives like the Tamaas Festival, which juxtaposes artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, and commissioned cross-cultural collaborations. Nurturing the UAE's Cultural Ecosystem Beyond performances, The Arts Center is deeply involved in the development of the UAE's cultural ecosystem, supporting both emerging and established artists."The Arts Center's model is based on a residency model, in which the public performances are merely one part of a constellation of activities designed to help grow the UAE's ecosystem," Bragin said."Most artists lead workshops and speak on panels - these both help to develop the knowledge and skills of the local participants, while strengthening the networks of artists, who often meet each other for the first time at the workshops."The Arts Center also offers free matinees for school groups in the UAE, aiming to instill a love for the arts in young Numoo professional training programme further equips emerging artists with the skills needed to build sustainable careers. The Center has also played a key role in commissioning new works, providing platforms for talents such as Emirati playwright Reem Almenhal and theatre collective 63 Kollektiv, whose upcoming production "Metro Diaries" explores the lives of Overseas Filipino Workers in the notable examples include filmmaker Philip Rachid, aka Soultrotter, whose award-winning film "It Ain't Where You From" explores the stories of street dancers from across the region who reinvented themselves in the UAE; and Abu Dhabi writer Deepak Unnikrishanan who created his first movement theatre piece, "PETTEE", inspired by migration to the Gulf. 'Uncovering' Cultural Bridges A defining aspect of The Arts Center's work is its ability to merge global and local artistic expressions. One of Bragin's favourite collaborations was the 2019 Cuban Khaleeji Project, commissioned by The Arts brought together multiple Grammy winner Arturo O'Farrill and his Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with regional musicians, including Ali Obaid, Malika Zarra and Yazz Ahmed. The project, which toured New York and Saudi Arabia, led to further collaborations between O'Farrill and such as the acclaimed Live in the Khaleej! album recorded at The Arts recalls a comment made by one of the musicians during an artist-community dinner; "that it felt less that we were building bridges between cultures, but rather, uncovering bridges that already existed, but may not have been travelled for a while."Another memorable collaboration was a season-opening concert featuring two traditional groups - Venezuela's Betsayda Machado y La Parranda el Clavo and the UAE's Lewah Maritime Ensemble. Making the Arts Accessible to All The Arts Center has also been a champion of accessibility, ensuring inclusivity for diverse communities, including people of highlighted featured artists such as dancer Aakash Odedra, whose work explores neurodivergence, blind singer Raul Midón, comedian and disability advocate Maysoon Zayid, and the CanDoCo dance company, whose members include a wheelchair user, an amputee and a deaf dancer. These artists visited sessions at local schools and universities, destigmatising neurodivergence and matinees are also modified to accommodate children on the autism spectrum, fostering an inclusive environment where all audiences feel welcome, Bragin added. Abu Dhabi: A Hub of Global Art and Connection Bragin noted that Abu Dhabi's cultural scene has flourished over the past decade, evolving from a city known for beloved annual festivals to a year-round artistic hub. The reopening of the Cultural Foundation, the rise of institutions like Louvre Abu Dhabi and 421 Arts Campus, and the development of the Saadiyat Cultural District have all contributed to this transformation."I think what sets the capital apart is the incredible internationalism of the audience. There's no place else that I know that brings together so many people with so many different histories, lived experiences, languages, accents and stories," Bragin added. "The UAE welcomes us and gives us a shared foundation that also values what we've all brought with us." Ramadan Special The Arts Center will host Layth Sidiq Quartet: Ramadaniyyat 2025 on March 18. Acclaimed violinist Layth Sidiq will bring together renowned musicians - including Samvel Gasparyan (piano), Alaa Saber (qanun) and Ahmed Kamel (percussion) - for a performance featuring lesser-known Ramadan songs from around the world. "While drawing from nostalgia, he also innovates within the tradition with a multi-cultural ensemble, which encourages non-Muslims to feel even more connected to the spirit of Ramadan," said Bragin. And after the performance, the artists and audience will come together for an informal suhoor.
Gulf Today
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Tamaas Festival at The Arts Center NYUAD to amp up global sounds
The Arts Center at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) will host the Tamaas Festival, an event that celebrates the fusion of traditional and contemporary global sounds, inspiring the new name, meaning Contact (Feb. 13). Artists from around the world will take the stage for their UAE debut performances, highlighting different cultures, styles, and genres. The fest takes off with an open-air concert at The East Plaza, NYUAD (7pm to 10pm), featuring two performances that aim to push the boundaries of musical conversation. Afro-Cuban sensation Cimafunk will perform his signature blend of Afro-Cuban funk and hip-hop music that draws experience from his heritage as a 'cimarron', or Cubans of African descent who resisted and escaped slavery. Joining Cimafunk is KOKOKO!, an electrifying electronic duo from the Democratic Republic of Congo who challenge traditional musical perceptions of African bands with experimental electronic sound, built on DIY instruments made from repurposed materials. The second concert takes place in The Black Box from (10pm till midnight), where pioneering Egyptian DJ Abosahar will take centre stage. Often referred to as the 'King of Trobby Music', Abosahar will share his passion, creativity and cultural heritage, through a fusion of electro shaabi (mahraganat) and personalised soundscapes. Rounding out the lineup will be Aïta Mon Amour with their updated interpretation of ancestral Moroccan popular music. The act is composed of Widad Mjama, a pioneer of female rap in Morocco and a member of the duo N3rdistan, and Khalil Epi, a major figure in the electronic and contemporary Arab music scene. Bill Bragin, Executive Artistic Director at The Arts Center, highlighted the festival's broader significance: 'Tamaas Festival embodies our mission to bring artists from diverse backgrounds to our stage, fostering cross-cultural exchange and celebrating artistic innovation. These performances are not just live shows; they are also conversations between cultures, and the communities who live in the UAE, reimagined through music.' The festival also features the NYUAD Night Souk (4-10pm), with 40 retail vendors offering locally made artisan products, including handmade soaps, candles, local artwork, jewellery, home décor, and pottery. Offstage events include Artist Talk: Finding a Voice Between Tradition and Contemporary (Feb. 11); and Music Workshop: The DIY Approach of KOKOKO! (Feb. 12); and Music Workshop: Afro Cuban Workshop with Cimafunk (Feb. 12). 'I can't wait to arrive in Abu Dhabi and share my music with the people of UAE. My band I have prepared a very special set and we're bringing some really special Cuban Funk to the Tamaas Festival. This is my first time performing in the Middle East and I know it's going to be life-changing experience,' said Cimafunk, whose real name is Erik Alejandro Iglesias Rodríguez. 'I'm excited to debut in the UAE and bring the sound of Trobby to a new audience. My music is more than just sound; it's my life-story translated into melodies and rhythms. Performing live is where I feel most at home, and I'm eager to see how the energy of the UAE will blend with the spirit of Trobby. I can't wait to create a connection that transcends borders and makes people feel good,' Abosahar said. Cimafunk is a Grammy-nominated, Afro-Cuban rock star, whose live show is a celebration of groove and unforgettable sonic and bodily experiences. His name refers to his heritage as a 'cimarrón', Cubans of African descent who resisted and escaped slavery, as well as to his music that subverts classical Cuban rhythms with innovative mixes of funk, afrobeat and hip hop. Cimafunk has received overwhelming praise as one of today's reputed showmen, performing an electric live show with La Tribu, his 9-member band from Havana, redefining contemporary Cuban music as well as Afro-Latin identity and the fusion of Black cultures. His latest album, El Alimento, was nominated at the 2023 Grammy Awards for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. KOKOKO! exploded onto the electronic music scene in 2018 and quickly rewrote the usual Western narrative of what electronic music is and, more importantly, what 'world music' isn't. The band's colourful approach through wild, uncontrollable sounds and instruments, rapidly tore through any perception, pre-condition, and performance of African bands of the past. They currently focus on the nighttime atmospheres of Kinshasa, pushing everything from the equipment to the sound system, to their limits. Abosahar from Egypt, often referred to as the King of Trobby Music, is a celebrated musician and award-winning DJ. From the heart of Upper Egypt to international stages in Europe and beyond, Abosahar's music draws inspiration from his upbringing in El Minya. Embedded in Egyptian DIY culture, his pioneering approach led him to utilise unconventional methods, such as an outdated computer and cracked software, to pioneer Trobby Music - which established him as a leading innovator in Arab music. Aïta Mon Amour from Morocco offers a new interpretation of an ancestral Moroccan popular music. Aïta is rooted in the country's rural areas, sung by women singers who are the custodians of a centuries-old tradition. Widad Mjama is one of the first rappers in Morocco. Tunisian-born producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Khalil Epi is classically-trained (Arab music and Jazz), and learned heritage popular and traditional sounds from different cultures with his father, curator of Tunisia's national sound archives. Presenting music, theatre, dance, film and interdisciplinary performances, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi is a performing arts centre that presents professional artists from around the world alongside student, faculty, and community productions.
