Louvre Abu Dhabi Launches Annual Rain of Light Festival on 11 December
Bring the whole family out for this week-long performing arts festival to celebrate Louvre Abu Dhabi’s architecture and the second cultural season of the museum, “A World of Exchanges.” The inaugural and annual festival will run from 11 – 15 December and will include both free and ticketed concerts, traditional dance and music, street dance battles and street art performances.
The performing arts festival will have everything from ballet to breakdancing to a wandering museum creature. A series of performances will showcase intangible heritage and styles from different continents, create artistic encounters between performers and the collection, and provide opportunities for visitors to have new experiences with family and friends across the many social spaces under the dome. There will be both free and ticketed events for guests to enjoy.
“Shortly after our one-year anniversary celebrations, the Rain of Light festival aims to extend the cross-cultural dialogue that Louvre Abu Dhabi promotes within its galleries, by bringing this dialogue to life through a series of performances taking over various spaces under the dome,” said Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi. “As a museum, we do not only celebrate ancient cultures, but also contemporary creativity from around the world and across art forms.”
ThroughThe Ghost Project performance, Etienne Saglioestablishes a link with a translucent shape that comes to life before visitors’ eyes. Minimalist yet spectacular, The Ghost Projectplunges the spectator in the heart of a fantastical universe. The free performances will start at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm on 11 and 12 December and 7:30 pm on 13 December at Louvre Abu Dhabi Park on the Concrete Beach.
On 13 December, the Battle of Styles performance will see ballet, contemporary and break dance collide together under the museum’s iconic dome. The concept conceived by Carmen Mehnert together with ‘The Saxonz’ group dancers is based on the principle of breakdance battles where different dance styles ‘battle’ each other in one arena. The event will take place at 8 pm at Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Auditorium Plaza, and the minimum recommended age is 12+. A free workshop will take place on 12 December in the Auditorium Plaza at 11 am.
Franco-Moroccan artist Hindi Zahra will perform at Louvre Abu Dhabi on 14 December, singing an award-winning mix of contemporary jazz and blues from her latest album Homeland, an ode to her homeland Morocco. The concert will start at 8 pm at Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Auditorium Plaza, and the minimum recommended age is 12+.
The Medhat Fawzy Centre will be performing The Nile Men in the Circleon 14 and 15 December, a traditional ancient Egyptian dance from the time of the Pharaohs. The show will start at 6 pm at Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Auditorium, and the minimum recommended age is 8+. A free workshop will take place on 15 December in the Auditorium at 11 am.
Also on 14 and 15 December, La Transumante performance will make its way through the museum city. Created by the co-founder of Circus O, brilliant innovator Johann Le Guillerm, La Transumanteis a moving wooden creature that will come to life and transform every hour. No nails, no screws, no bolts, no glues, no ropes: pressure alone holds this dynamic piece together. The performance is free as part of the museum entry ticket and will take place between 12 and 6 pm under Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Dome and in the Park.
For more information on the Rain of Light Festival, or to buy tickets and register for events, please visit www.louvreabudhabi.aeor call Louvre Abu Dhabi at +971 600 56 55 66.
For a full list of events in Abu Dhabi, check out our Events Diary.
