The 19th Abu Dhabi Festival, to be held under the theme ‘Crafting the Emirates State of Mind: Creation, Innovation and Joy’, and in partnership with the Italian Embassy, presents Roberto Bolle and Friends, a UAE premiere ballet gala at the Emirates Palace Auditorium on January 9, 2022.

 

Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) as well as Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo said: “For nearly two decades, the festival has been a home of the leading stars in ballet. At this edition’s line-up, we are proud to present Bolle in a ballet gala, including The Nutcracker, Dorian Gray and The Talisman, and share the beauty of this dancer’s talent, his technical skill and artistic expression to Abu Dhabi’s audience.”

 

Italian Ambassador Nicola Lener said: “Ballet traces its origins to the Italian Renaissance and continues to be part of our cultural life. Bolle, the first dancer in the world to be both Étoile of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan and Principal Dancer of the American Ballet Theatre in New York, has been indeed the first artist to turn dance into a tool to foster dialogue and mutual understanding among people from different backgrounds and social classes.

 

"Thanks to the collaboration with ADMAF, the Embassy of Italy is glad to offer to the Abu Dhabi public a Ballet Gala performed by Bolle & Friends. This event will provide the occasion to enjoy the performance of some famous dancers in the world, who will feature a selection of beautiful ballets from the 19th and 20th century. I am sure that it will be an amazing evening for the Abu Dhabi cultural life.”

 

In this performance, taking place at the Emirates Palace Auditorium in Abu Dhabi, Bolle has invited five famous étoiles to dance with him on the Abu Dhabi Festival stage. The gala will feature nine ballet dances including: Two, The Talisman, Kazimir’s Colours, The Nutcracker, Waves, Giselle – Pas de deux from Act II, Thaïs, Don Quixote – Pas de deux Act III, and Dorian Gray.

 

Bolle said: “It is a great honour to represent Italy with my gala 'Roberto Bolle and Friends' here in Abu Dhabi, a great pleasure to be here for the first time! I am happy and proud to bring Italian art and culture once again beyond the borders, and to be able to show the beauty and communicative power of the dance, universal language that unites people and cultures all over the world.”

 

The Abu Dhabi Festival 2022 will be held under the patronage of Sheikha Shamsa Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan and supported by Lead Partner Mubadala Investment Company and Energy Partner GS Energy. With more than 1,000 participating artists from around the world to present more than 300 performances and events, the 19th edition will also include two world tours and 17 world premieres.

 

The Festival programme is part of the contribution that ADMAF makes to the UAE capital’s designation as a UNESCO City of Music.-TradeArabia News Service