Experience an intimate evening of poetry, music, and dance with Hekayah | The Story
Get ready for an evening of storytelling, music, and dance as The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi celebrates Eid Al Etihad with the 11th edition of Hekayah | The Story.
Taking place on Thursday, 27 November, at 7.30pm in The Black Box theatre, this intimate performance promises to explore what “home” really means, with poets, singers, dancers, and musicians from across the UAE sharing personal stories that celebrate heritage, belonging, and family.
Hekayah is one of the Arts Center’s most-loved annual events, and this year it’s part of the 11th season, Stories of Our Communities, which highlights identity, heritage, and connection.
Inspired by the UAE’s Year of Community, the season invites audiences to explore memory, transformation, and the shared human stories that link us across generations and geographies.
Bill Bragin, Executive Artistic Director of The Arts Center, says: “Hekayah has always reflected The Arts Center’s mission to celebrate the voices and stories that make up our shared community.
“This year’s edition deepens that spirit by bringing together artists who make their homes in the UAE, whose personal narratives echo the collective story of the nation itself – one of connection, diversity, and belonging.
“It’s a moment for reflection and celebration, reminding us how the arts can bridge cultures and generations through empathy and creativity.”
The evening will be emceed by Shahad Alsaqqaf, an Emirati writer, poet, and multidisciplinary artist, and will feature 12 amazing performers, including:
Adel Awad – Spoken word (India)
Kenan Adnawi – Music (Syria)
Maha Alkindi – Spoken word (UAE)
Maisoon Mubarak – Music (Egypt)
Malavika Suresh – Spoken word (India)
Nathalia Khawand – Spoken word (Lebanon)
Nima Elnour – Spoken word (Sudan/USA)
Nurzy – Music (Lebanon)
Omar Awbu – Music (Palestine/USA)
Rei Co – Dance (Philippines)
Rosan Reodica – Spoken word (Philippines)
Sandra Ivette – Music (Cuba)
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These performers were carefully selected through a collaborative curatorial process, working with some of the UAE’s top literary and performing arts leaders, including Ali Al Dhiyebi (STR8UP Entertainment), Jennah Fakhouri, Lana Goliath, Rawad Raidan, Reem Allam, and Trixie Danielle. The result is a truly diverse lineup that reflects the rich cultural mosaic of the UAE.
And if you’re feeling inspired before the main event, there’s a special workshop too. Poetry in Motion: Crafting Stories for the Stage, led by poet and curator Jennah Fakhouri, will take place on Sunday, 23 November, at 3pm at The Arts Center.
Open to poets and performers of all levels, this session invites participants to explore how words can come alive on stage, helping everyone bring their stories to life with voice, presence, and performance.
Whether you attend the workshop or just come for the show, Hekayah | The Story is a celebration of creativity, community, and culture; an intimate, moving experience that reminds us why storytelling remains such a powerful way to connect.
This Eid Al Etihad, immerse yourself in stories that celebrate the UAE’s communities—through poetry, music, dance, and a shared sense of home.
Poetry in Motion: Crafting Stories for the Stage: Sunday, 23 November, 3pm, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi. Hekayah | The Story: Thursday, 27 November, 7.30pm, The Black Box, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi. For further information, visit nyuad-artscenter.org
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