Sharmila Dance Gala
January 5 @ DUCTAC
One of the leading dance companies in the UAE, Sharmila Dance presents an evening of ballet, contemporary, jazz, salsa, tango and hip-hop with international and local dance stars. Stars from the Stuttgart Ballet Company and the Estonian Ballet Company will be performing the classical Pas de Deux from the timeless Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker ballets, respectively, as well as cutting-edge contemporary pieces.
Also on the bill is locally based ballerina Loredana Elena Teodorescu, formerly from the National Bucharest Opera House, performing a Pas de Deux from Swan Lake with Columbian artist Jose Luis Quiceno. Finally, the BNF Dance Company, who are the World Champion title in Latin Dance, will perform tango and salsa routines.
Tickets begin from Dh145, shows tonight are at 6pm and 8.30pm. Further details at www.sharmiladance.com.
Ujala Asianet Film Awards 2012
January 6@ Dubai Festival City
Malayalam TV channel Asianet Middle East will hold its 14th annual film awards ceremony in Dubai. The event is presented annually to honour the artistic and technical excellence in Malayalam film; expect to see plenty of Keralite stars in the country.
Tickets priced between Dh50 and Dh1,000 are available at Lulu hypermarkets around the UAE as well as Salkara and Calicut Paragon Restaurants in Dubai.
The King's Singers
January 12@ Madinat Jumeirah
One of the world's most celebrated ensembles, the King's Singers are a class act with a delightfully British wit. From Bach to the Beatles, from György Ligeti to Michael Bublé, the band is known for their spot-on intonation, their impeccable vocal blend, the flawless articulation of the text and incisive timing. The event is organised by the Dubai Concert Committee and includes a welcome reception, concert, three-course gala dinner with performances between courses and participation in a silent, live auction.
Tickets are priced at Dh790. For details visit www.dubaiconcertcommittee.com.
Rocking all overthe world
January 11-14@ First Group Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah
After a hugely successful run at the First Group Theatre last year with Rock on Beethoven, the First Group Theatre presents a musical journey that whisks audiences from New York to Johannesburg, Sydney to London, Paris to Vancouver and all around the globe. This talented 11-piece cast pays tribute to musical icons including Celine Dion, U2, ABBA, Edith Piaf, The Gypsy Kings, Madonna, Bon Jovi and Michael Jackson, just to name a few. Hosted by comic actress Bronwyn Evans the show is linked with hilariously funny characters including Captain Aravantinos from Greece, Emmanuella from Spain, Olga from Sweden and Maria Conchita from Brazil. A family fun show for all nationalities.
Tickets are priced at Dh175 or Dh185, depending on the day. Show begins at 8pm. To book your seats call +941 4 366 6546.
New Year concert
January 13 @ DUCTAC
Violinist Mohammad Hamami and the Dubai-based Sharq Orchestra present their interpretations of Arabic classics and their own compositions. Hamami and his orchestra will be joined by special guest performer Charbel Rouhana, who is regarded by many as Lebanon's finest oud player.
The Sharq Orchestra, created in 2008, brought together 45 musicians from 22 nations with the aim of bringing music in general, and Arabic music in particular, to a wider audience.
Tickets range from Dh50 to Dh500. To book your seats call +971 4 341 4777.
'Ello 'Ello TheDinner Show
January 17-21 @ Cucina, Green Community
An onstage recreation of a TV parody of a wartime drama. That's what this little entertainer is about, which is loosely set in a small-town café in Nazi-occupied France. From hiding British airmen to the imminent fear of being discovered by the Gestapo, the show promises endless fun all round.
Organised by Dolphin Creative, tickets priced Dh395. To book your seats call +971 4 311 6536.
Ismat Apa Ke Naam
January 20-21@ DUCTAC
Catch veteran thespian Naseeruddin Shah and his wife, comic actor Ratna Pathak Shah in this Hindi play based on three short stories by the famous Urdu writer Ismat Khanum Chughtai. The Shahs play excellently opposite each other and are a treat to watch — as much for the material they work with as for their sparkling chemistry.
Tickets for the two-hour show, which begins at 7pm, are priced from Dh150. To book your seats call +971 4 341 4777.
Misery
February 1-11@ Madinat Jumeirah
From the pen of the master of horror, Stephen King, comes the critically acclaimed stage version of Misery, starring TV and West End stars Darren Day (Hollyoaks) & Yvonne O'Grady (Coronation Street). Presented by Popular Productions, the show tells of how a famous author is crippled in a terrible car wreck and wakes up in a house by his "Number One Fan", a schizophrenic woman who is not the angel of mercy she first appeared to be.
Tickets are priced from Dh140 and are available from madinattheatre.com
Billy Ocean and The Christians
February 3@ The Irish Village
In keeping with the new trend for multiple artists on the same bill, the Irish Village will fly in Billy Ocean and Liverpool's finest soul band, The Christians, for a night of back-top-back hits. If you're old enough to remember tunes such as Caribbean Queen, Love Really Hurts Without You, Harvest For The World and Hooverville, you're probably salivating already.
Organised by Jump Media, tickets cost Dh120 for a show beginning at 8pm. For more details visit www.dubaicalendar.com
Swiss Days
February 3-4@ Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC
Over two nights, it's comedy and music from the heart of Europe. With a sense of humour rooted somewhere between New York and Effretikon, performers Henry Camus and Gaby Schmutz, who make up Full House, explore cultural clashes, polyglot puns, improbable balancing acts and the juggling of everything from clubs to furniture.
Day two will see the vocal group Phenomen - Voci d'Oro belt out classic hits from all eras. With powerful voices matched to years of performing experience, the four tenors that make up Phenomen — Erwin Schneider, Stefan Baumann, Patrick Heller and Yves Jaquillard — deliver more vocal passion, emotion, pride and power than you would have thought possible.
From 8pm on each day, tickets are priced Dh100. To book your seats call +971 4 341 4777.
