Upcoming Events
September 2022
Theater from the UAE
Al Raheel | Departure From Reem Almenhali & Joanna Settle
Commissioned by The Arts Center and Cultural Foundation and presented with official support of the US Mission to the UAE
A contemporary performance examining identity, womanhood, and potential futures.
October 2022
CinemaNa
Contemporary Arab Cinema
Daughters of Abdul-Rahman by Zaid Abu Hamdan
Presented by the NYUAD Film and New Media Program
A live conversation with Jordanian filmmaker Zaid Abu Hamdan, accompanied by his film, Daughters of Abdul-Rahman
UAE Debut
Cosmic Music: A Contemporary Exploration of the Music of John and Alice Coltrane - Ravi Coltrane
GRAMMY award nominee
Acclaimed saxophonist Ravi Coltrane reimagines the spiritual and ecstatic music of two jazz pioneers.
UAE Premiere - Contemporary and Urban Dance
What The Day Owes To The Night (Ce Que Le Jour Doit A La Nuit) - Cie Hervé Koubi
With the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels
An extraordinary whirlwind of movement blending contemporary and urban dance with martial arts
November 2022
UAE Debut - Soul, Jazz, and Latin Pop concert
Raul Midón and Alex Cuba
Part of Abu Dhabi City of Music
An evening of soul, jazz, and Latin pop sounds with two dazzling singer-songwriters and instrumentalists, featuring solo and duet sets.
CinemaNa
Contemporary Arab Cinema
Huda’s Salon by Hany Abu-Assad
Presented by the NYUAD Film and New Media Program
A live conversation with Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad, accompanied by his film, Huda’s Salon.
A Celebration of Culture and Heritage
Hekayah | The Story
UAE National Day Celebration
Hekayah | The Story brings together poets, singers, and musicians to celebrate UAE National Day
February 2023
Barzakh Festival 2023
A World Premiere and a UAE Debut
Arooj Aftab | Lemma
Boundary shattering global sounds
GRAMMY® Award winning jazz and minimalist music that draws from ancient Urdu poetry meets propulsive Algerian Saharan rhythms in an exciting cross-boundary musical conversation.
Barzakh Festival 2023
Two UAE Debuts
Sahra Halgan | TBD
Boundary shattering global sounds
Psych rock infused traditional songs of Somaliland crosses boundaries in an exciting showcase of cultural traditions.
UAE Debut
Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre: The Last Ward
Contemporary Dance - With the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels
Dance blends with theater in this highly-visual performance that reflects on the universal experience of facing death.
Piano Recital - Rachmaninoff 150th Anniversary Celebration
Rachmaninoff et.al - Ioannis Potamousis
Presented in partnership with the NYUAD Music Program
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of composer Sergei Rachmaninoff
April 2023
UAE Debut
FIQ! - Groupe Acrobatique de Tanger
Acrobatic Circus
An otherworldly collection of acrobatic feats, figures, colors, music, sketches, headspins, and choreography explode in a colorful visual world created by Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj.
Past Events
September 2022
Spoken word, poetry, live music
Rooftop Rhythms
11th Season
Speak your truth from the roof!
UAE Debut
Set and Reset/Reset and Last Shelter - Candoco Dance Company
Presented with the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels
Intimacy, virtuosity, and precision embodied in movement by the world’s foremost inclusive dance company.
UAE Debut - Co-commissioned by The Arts Center
MOVEMENT Live | Meklit
with guests Cromwell Ojeda, Freek, and Ghaliaa
International and local stories of migration collide in a multimedia live music concert.
June 2022
UAE Debut
Kinan Azmeh CityBand
Music Concert
An enthralling fusion of Syrian sounds and rhythms with Western classical and jazz
NYUAD Music Recitals Series
Piano Recital
From Romantic to Disney - Ioannis Potamousis with Elizabeth Yoonjung Han
Presented in partnership with the NYUAD Music Program
A musical journey from Romantic to Disney for piano solo and two pianos
Abu Dhabi Choral Group’s summer revue
Little Shop of Horrors
Theater for all
Experience the cult classic favorite musical, Little Shop of Horrors, as it was meant to be seen
World Premiere
The Main Circle: 7.83 - Philip Rachid
Commissioned by The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
A live cinematic B-Boy performance celebrating art, self-empowerment, resilience, family and collaboration.
May 2022
Middle East Premiere - Co-commissioned by The Arts Center
The Storyville Mosquito - Kid Koala
A family friendly show.
Live animated graphic novel performed, filmed, and scored in real time
April 2022
Ramadaniyyat
Suhoor Music Event
Simon Shaheen
Virtuoso Arabic Classical oudist and violinist
Internationally acclaimed oud and violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen dazzles listeners with classical Arabic sounds.
Ramadaniyyat
Suhoor Music Event
Boom.Diwan x Nduduzo Makhathini x Jean-Michel Pilc
Global Collaboration - Supported by the US Mission to the UAE
Khaleeji rhythms and sounds in musical conversation with global jazz featuring Boom.Diwan (Kuwait/UAE) in a two-part collaboration with guests Nduduzo Makhathini (South Africa) and Jean-Michel Pilc (France/US/Canada).
CinemaNa , Ramadaniyyat
Contemporary Arab Cinema
Before We Forget by Nawaf Al Janahi
Presented with Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and the NYUAD Film and New Media Program
A live conversation with Emirati filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi, accompanied by his film, Before We Forget.
March 2022
Third Edition
ElectroFest 2022
Presented by the NYUAD Music Program and curated by Clare Lesser
Cutting-edge electronic music, video and sound art, and improvisation.