DUBAI: A group of Dubai-based youth has embarked on a mission to spread good cheer in the UAE with the help of their art: magic. Comprising mostly school-goers, the youngsters have formed a club, called The 7th Delusion (T7D), and are out to surprise people with their card tricks, cardistry, coin tricks, ring magic and more. And yes, they also want to reach out to young aspiring magicians in the country and promote the art – their passion.
Tremendous response
Initially the members of the club, which was formed in May this year, started with randomly approaching people at malls and showing their tricks but soon found themselves performing at corporate houses including the Microsoft office in Dubai Internet City and a popular radio station in Dubai. Although they now get a stream of requests to perform at organisations, they are particularly keen to hold shows in hospitals and for charity to bring a smile on the faces of people of the UAE.
“The tremendous response we have received has taken us by surprise. There is a lot of interest in magic in the UAE,” said 16-year-old Patrick Ghazal, Lebanese-French, who started the group along with Zohair Kidwai, 19, and Siddharth Ezio, 15, both Indians.
“As of now most of our members are less than 19 years old, with the youngest only eight. They all want to learn new tricks and the joining the club has given them a chance to enhance their skills. We are now providing a common platform for all young aspiring magicians in the UAE to exchange ideas and tricks.” The club currently has 20 members.
Sharing his journey that led him to form the club, Zohair said it was a magic show on television that drew him to the world of illusion. “I mainly relied on books to learn the tricks, and experimenting and practising all along. A single trick that an artist shows actually has months of practice behind it. And as I wanted to learn more, I began sharing tricks with other like-minded guys. That is how we got into the group.”
Asked if they get nervous or are struck by self-doubt before a performance, Daniel Nassif, 16, replied: “It happens all the time. But the hours of practice we have put into a trick help us pull it off.”
And there is no substitute for practice, the youngsters said in unison. “Now when I see a pack of 52 cards, I look at 52 tricks I could possible create out of those. It is not as if you devote an hour or two every day. When you love something, it becomes a part of you. I always carry my cards with me,” said Assem Rajab, a grade 11 student.
Giving an insight into their art, Zohair said: “It’s all an illusion, a trick that is played out right before your very eyes – usually ‘it’ has already happened before you even realise it has happened.”
The group now wants to use their art, or should we say tricks, to spread happiness. “The reactions and smiles we get from others keep us motivated and now we want to do charity shows and perform in hospitals to experience more of this,” said Zohair.
