Colour Surprises begins at Airport Expo

A rainbow of colourful national children danced and sang their way into the third week of Dubai Summer Surprises last night, at the opening ceremony for Colour Surprises at the Airport Expo centre.

Close to a hundred children from four government schools enacted a mini-play about the origin of colours in the world, with guest appearances by DSS mascot Modhesh, two dragons from the Filipino School and a battalion of special effects. The six- to 16 year-old boys and girls ended the 40-minute performance with a show of unity to the song "We are the World."

Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the opening ceremony, along with Khalid Al Sheikh, General Manager of Finance and Administration for the Department of Health and Medical Services, organisers of this themed week. Saeed Al Nabouda, DSS chief executive officer; Ibrahim Saleh, DSS chief operating officer, and Laila Suhail of the DSS panel were also present.

Dr. Salah Al Qassim, head of the DOHMS Colour Surprises Committee, said the team spent the last two months brainstorming for ideas for the opening and getting organised.

"We wanted to make this entirely a local production, without importing any ideas from abroad," he said last night. "We contacted the schools, used a Dubai-based choreographer and effects team, and proved that we could do it and do it well."

The opening was just a teaser for upcoming colour events, he said, listing a range of educational, recreational, cultural and special needs events at malls.