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Culture Culture Dubai's cultural life comes a distant third to making money and having fun, with cultural activities limited in scale when they are available. With such a small population there are no major indigenous orchestras or dance companies, although it is possible to find localised groups who occasionally put on public performances. A hive of cultural activity is the Creative Art Centre, Al-Jumeira Road (tel: (04) 344 4394), which runs from Saturday to Wednesday. Mornings are reserved for young children, afternoons for older children and, in winter, evenings are set aside for adult classes. A wide range of cultural and handicraft activities are covered. The Dubai International Arts Centre, off Al-Jumeira Road (tel: (04) 344 4398), offers a similar range, as well as art displays with work for sale. Music: Opportunities to hear classical music performed in Dubai are extremely limited. The Dubai International Congress Centre (tel: (04) 331 4200) and The Crowne Plaza Hotel (tel: (04) 331 1111) are the main venues that host visiting orchestras and musicians from around the world, although performances are far from regular. Many hotels employ a pianist to spice up their lobby, which is often as near to classical music as Dubai gets. Arabic nightclubs (see the Dance section) are the main venues for traditional Arabian music. Theatre: There is only one permanent theatre company in Dubai. The Indian Playhouse, the Intercontinental Hotel (tel: (04) 222 7171 or 205 7333), features performances by Burjor Patel Productions and hosts the travelling British Airways Playhouse, which makes frequent visits to Dubai. Dance: There are no real dance companies in Dubai, but there are a number of dance schools including the renowned the Ballet Centre, behind Jumeira Plaza (tel: (04) 449 776), with ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance. In addition, belly-dancing and traditional dances are a mainstay in Arabic nightclubs, such as Al-Diwan, Metropolitan Palace Hotel (tel: (04) 205 1336) and Escoba, Al-Khaleej Palace Hotel (tel: (04) 223 1000). Film: Going to the cinema is very popular in Dubai. There are currently five cinemas, including Al-Bustan, Bustan Centre (tel: (04) 2633 444) and Lamcy (tel: (04) 336 8808) providing English-language films, with many larger multiplex ventures planned. The programmes are currently full of big-budget Hollywood films with little arthouse content. Cultural events: Dubai's dominant culture is founded around the Muslim religion, with most of the main cultural events deeply religious with little opportunities for tourist to participate. The year's major event is the feasting of Ramadan, a month-long Muslim celebration of the truth of the Holy Koran. Directly following Ramadan is Eid Al-Fitr, a three-day celebration. Eid Al-Adha is the four-day celebration that follows the main pilgrimage to Mecca (the Haj). Dubai Summer Surprises is an attempt to attract more visitors during the slump summer months, with a wide range of cultural events, including henna tattoo painting and traditional handicraft making, in many of the city's shopping malls and big hotels. UAE day on 2 December is a public holiday celebrated in all of the seven Emirates and is increasingly becoming a cultural celebration also. Literary Notes There is not a great deal of English-language material on Dubai and many of the best local authors do not translate their work from Arabic to English. To get right to the heart of Dubai, Graeme Wilson's Father of Dubai: Sheik Rashid Bin Saeed al Maktoum, is a detailed tribute to the founder. Arabia Through the Looking Glass by Jonathon Raban, covers the region as a whole, but also has an illuminating section on Dubai. A local perspective comes from the English translation of Muhammed al-Murr's Dubai Tales, with his famed short stories fleshing a bit of colour into the place. Muhammed al-Murr is one of the most revered local writers and it also worth trying to get a copy of his other famous book, The Wink of the Mona Lisa. There are two good pictorial looks at Dubai: Ronald Codrai's mid-twentieth century Dubai - An Arabian Album and Noor al-Rashid's Dubai Life and Time: Through the Lens of Noor al-Rashid. Rashid's detailed work spans over four decades, illuminating the eclectic faces of Dubai. |