Theatre: Hats off

Theatre: Hats off

Emirati filmmaker and playwright Mustafa Abbas hosts his second stage play, Hats, on Sunday. The production is set in the ’50s and is a murder mystery that revolves around two detectives, Harry ‘Hats’ O’Loughlin played by Dylan Dolan and Joey De Leo, who are brought in to investigate the murder of an old tycoon.

The one-off production brings a new kind of experimental theatre into play according to Abbas. "It will feel like watching a ’50s movie, but on stage," said the 23-year-old filmmaker. The cast features an all Dubai-based group. Abbas has been making films since he was 12. He said he got the idea of making movies when he started using handycams to shoot films with his friends on weekends.

• Where: Wellington International School, Dubai.
• When: Sunday, June 15, at 8pm.

Art Exhibition: Modern Living

The concept of contemporary living will be reflected in an exhibition opening at a new art gallery next week.

• Where: Basement Gallery, Al Quoz
• When: June 16-July 7
• Contact: 04-341 4409

Shirt Art: Young and talented

A group of talented young students from Wellington International School have put up an impressive display of shirt art.

• Where: JamJar, behind Dubai Garden Centre
• When: Until June 14
• Contanct: 04-431 7303

Movie: Contemporary Iranian Fare

Popular filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami’s contemporary Iranian film Ten will be screened this Saturday. The story focuses on the intimate conversations of a young Iranian woman, Farideh, with her son and the other passengers in her car.

Ten was shot with just two mini-DV cameras attached to the dashboard of a car. Seats are limited and on a strict advance RSVP-only basis.

• Where: Third Line
• When: June 14
• Tickets: Free, doors open at 7pm, movie starts at 7.30pm.
• Contact: 04-341 1367

Health: Pranic healing

Are you stressed out? Try pranic healing with Suzie Wonder. She’ll be holding a free healing session this Friday. Pranic healing is a highly developed method of energising the body using prana (energy) to balance and transform the body’s energy processes. Pranic healing was widely practised as an art and science in ancient civilisations.

• Where: The Healing Centre, Flat No 310, JVC Building (next to Sana Boutique), Karama
• When: June 13
• Contact: 050-466 9551 for bookings or check out www.pranichealing.com

Dance workshop: Shiamak Davar brings summer FUNK to Dubai

Top Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar’s five-week dance workshop gets under way in Dubai from tomorrow.

The Summer Funk 2008 workshop is a unique programme initiated by Shiamak in 1994 to provide budding performers a platform to showcase their talents.

Dance enthusiasts who enrol for the workshop will be trained in a variety of dance styles and in the finer nuances of professional stage performance.

Jazz, rap, rock ’n’ roll, Afro jazz, Indo jazz, Bollywood jazz and salsa are some of the styles which will be taught at the workshop.

Summer Funk 2008 will kick off in India, Canada, Dubai and Australia simultaneously. The show celebrates Shiamak’s motto: Have Feet Will Dance.

Where: Hayya Club, Lamcy Plaza, Wafi City, India Club, Astoria Hotel, Marriott Hotel Apartments and Body and Soul Club.

• When: June 13
• Contact: 050-708 6488

Talent: Art from special kids

START, a UAE-based charitable programme, is holding a one-day viewing of the work of special needs children at JamJar on June 17. On display will be figurative and abstract paintings and collages of flags.The START workshop for special needs children was conducted by Mona Al Gurj who worked with the kids for over nine weeks and helped with their creations.

• When: June 17
• Where: JamJar, Al Quoz

Paintings: Hrair in search of light

Lebanese artist Hrair will be displaying his works at an exhibition titled In Search of Light.

Hrair has done paintings for Queen Elizabeth II of England, King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, Prince Rainier of Monaco, Liza Minnelli and Kirk Douglas. Trained at the Academie Libanaise des Beaux Arts (ALBA) in Lebanon, Hrair was just 24 years old when he was awarded three gold medals for the tapestries he painted for the Presidential Palace in Beirut.

• Where: Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi
• When: Until June 21

Exhibition: Echoes from Cairo

Egyptian painter Hani Rashed will be presenting his first solo art exhibition later this week. The 33-year-old Hani trained at Mohammad Abla’s workshop for a decade before venturing on his own creative path.

Hani is known for his collages and work on wood panels and his paintings are reflections of social issues that confront Egyptians.

• Where: B21 Gallery, Al Quoz, Dubai
• When: June 18-22
• Contact: 04-340 3965

Art display: Inspired by motifs

Iran Today, an exhibition of paintings by Elham Moaidnia, is on display at the Showcase Gallery. Moaidnia uses Iranian symbols, figures and script in her works which can be best described as post-expressionist. Her paintings focus on the plight of women in Iran. Elham’s inspiration came from her hometown Esfahan where Iranian motifs heavily influenced her work.

• Where: Showcase Art Gallery, Jumeirah Beach Road
• When: Until June 15

Dance workshop

If you’re one of those parents who plan on staying back in the UAE for the summer holidays then you should consider sending your kids to the Etisalat Academy for the 8th eSummer camp. Being held from June 22 to July 31, the camp is designed for children aged between 6 and 12. A variety of facilities are on offer including swimming pools, playgrounds, library and computer labs. Daily activities include learning computer basics, arts and crafts, story telling, basketball, tennis and martial arts.

• For details call 04-264 4444.

Cinema: Independence day

A group of patriotic and enterprising young Filipinos have joined hands to celebrate the Philippines Independence Day with the screening of the film Ploning on June 13, at the Grand Cineplex.

Ploning is the story of a beautiful girl from a small town, her hopes and aspirations, all narrated from the point of view of a young boy. The story is set in Cuyo, Palawan and begins when a man comes to a town in search of a girl named Ploning. The story then flashes back 25 years, when Ploning, the town beauty, is at her prime.

The movie revolves around her relationships with the people of the town and her family.

• Where: Grand Cineplex
• When: June 13