Using classical music with a modern twist to celebrate different seasons of the year proved to be the perfect draw for children at BurJuman.
The musical, named the Four Seasons, used 18th century composer Antonio Vivaldi's seminal work of the same name to present a tale about how spring, summer, autumn and winter came to be.
From the moment dancers came out on rollerblades in striking futuristic outfits, crowds gathered around to watch the Dubai Summer Surprises spectacle unfold.
As part of Nature Surprises last week, 26 dancers from the Lebanese company Kids in Motion gave an energetic performance with acrobatics and numerous costume changes. The show was staged twice a night, first in Arabic and then in English.
The story
Children gathered at the front of the stage to watch as Father Sun asked Daughter Earth to choose a season to last forever. To help her select, a prince from each season is presented to her one by one with a violinist on hand to provide the corresponding melody.
Eventually, the Sun decides to spread the year into four so that Earth can have her share from each season.
Children watched, enthralled by the fast-moving choreography which combined classical dance with funky moves to remixed versions of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Among the many onlookers enjoying the show was Lona Al Moataz, from Bahrain, who was on holiday in Dubai with her family.
Her 5-year-old twins, Mohammad and Yousuf, and 3-year-old daughter, Yara, were right at the front of the stage for a perfect view of the musical. "I think they now know the difference between the four seasons," she said.
"My daughter likes dancing so I think she was impressed by that. It was a very nice show and it is good that we can walk around and see different shows in different malls."
Concept
Marie Christine Tayah, from Kids in Motion, said it had taken two months to prepare the 35-minute show, which featured 5 to 22-year-old dancers from the Ukraine and actors from Lebanon.
"It is introducing the concept of classical music to children through Vivaldi's Four Seasons," she said.
"It's a cultural and entertaining show and it's a mixture of classical music and rock music. The audience response has been very positive."
Following the show, kids were encouraged to go up to the floor above to take part in nature workshops to tie in with the theme.
Art and craft
Using natural products, such as beans, rice and wheat, children created images of flowers, leaves, animals and insects during the workshops. And different colours of crepe paper were used to reflect the seasons which, of course, the children knew all about having just watched a musical on the subject.
Geeta Bhamare looked on as her two children, Deepali, 8, and Yamini, 6, took part in a craft session around little tables and benches set out for the sessions. The mum, from Bur Dubai, said: "They like to do this and we come here every day otherwise they would get bored at home. Art and craft is good for the children and they like taking their creations home."
As well as being a welcome distraction during the hot summer months, Tayah said: "The workshops help us tell the kids the importance of the connection with nature because it has been lost as children are spending more time in malls."
What better place to spread that message than in a mall itself?
What's next
Nature Surprises is being staged in two venues this week.
The stage events will be performed at Mercato and the activities and workshops will be held at the Bin Sougat Centre.
The new theme, Insectitoonzzz, will focus on insects between 5pm and 10pm from now until Wednesday.
