From ballet at Cultural Foundation to independent UAE music at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi, the emirate has a varied cultural calendar this weekend.
Running from Thursday to Sunday, the line-up includes museum tours, family workshops, classical ballet and new performances from musicians in the UAE.
While the World Cup will surely dominate conversation, there are still plenty of the highlights to see.
Mande Maqamat at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi begins its weekend programme with Mande Maqamat, a new performance by percussionist and NYU Abu Dhabi artist-in-residence Yahael Camara Onono.
The work brings together West African folklore, Mande rhythms, Arabic maqamat and live improvisation, exploring musical connections between West Africa and the Arab world.
Thursday, 7.30pm; The Black Box, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island
Olfactory Experience at Louvre Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi is offering a different way to move through its galleries with Olfactory Experience – Art in Scents, a 90-minute guided experience built around scent.
Rather than focusing only on what visitors see, the tour uses fragrance to draw out another layer of the museum’s collection, making it one of the more unusual cultural experiences in the city this weekend.
Thursday and Saturday, 3pm to 4.30pm; Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island; Dh170
Maya Plisetskaya gala ballet concert at Cultural Foundation
Cultural Foundation marks the 100th anniversary of Maya Plisetskaya, one of the defining ballerinas of the 20th century, with a gala concert dedicated to her legacy.
The evening celebrates Plisetskaya’s six-decade career and influence on ballet, with works from her celebrated repertoire, including Carmen Suite, The Dying Swan and Don Quixote, as well as excerpts from classic ballet productions.
Friday, 8pm; Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi; from Dh250
Architectural Experience at Louvre Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Architectural Experience shifts attention from the museum’s collection to the building itself.
The 90-minute guided tour explores the story behind Jean Nouvel’s design, including the museum’s dome, its relationship with light and water, and the way the building has become one of Abu Dhabi’s most recognisable cultural landmarks.
Saturday, 10.30am to noon; Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island; Dh170
The Magic of Ballet Fairy Tales at Cultural Foundation
Families can step into the world of classical ballet at Cultural Foundation with The Magic of Ballet Fairy Tales, a stage production built around excerpts from The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty.
Set to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the performance is designed as an introduction to ballet for younger audiences, bringing together familiar fairy-tale characters, storytelling and classical choreography.
Saturday, 6pm; Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi; from Dh275
Fatima/Fafa and Minova at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
The Arts Centre continues its focus on independent music in the UAE with a double bill featuring Fatima/Fafa and Minova.
The performance brings together R&B, soul, Arabian jazz and indie-electronic folk, reflecting the breadth of the country’s independent music scene and the artists shaping it now.
Saturday, 7.30pm; The Black Box, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island
Free Family Weekends at Louvre Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Free Family Weekends continue this month, offering families a gallery-based activity followed by hands-on art-making.
The sessions are designed to make the museum more accessible to younger visitors, giving children a way into the collection through play, storytelling and making.
Saturday and Sunday; Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island; workshop free with museum admission
Kid Koala’s Space Cadet at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
The Arts Centre closes the weekend with the Abu Dhabi premiere of Kid Koala’s Space Cadet, a family-friendly animated feature film based on the artist’s award-winning graphic novel.
The music-filled story explores memory, connection and family bonds.
Sunday, 3pm; The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island
