Lebanese dance company Mayyas is taking the US by storm thanks to their star turn on America's Got Talent this week.
For those in the Arab world, however, their success on the show is unsurprising.
Before wowing celebrity judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara with their golden buzzer-worthy performance, the ensemble had been capturing attention in the region for years with their spectacular routines informed by Middle Eastern culture.
"We aspire to offer a different take on the art of movement," choreographer Nadim Cherfan told The National in a previous interview.
"We aim to break the current stereotype in some parts of the region that dance is lowly or indecent, as it is the oldest form of expression and is inherent to the fabric of human folklore."
Here are five other noteworthy performances from Mayyas over the years.
Fiba Asia Cup (2017)
Prior to the television fame and acclaim, Mayyas were renowned within the Lebanese live events industry as a hard-working group.
In one of their earliest major shows, the group were chosen to perform as part of the opening ceremony for the 2017 Fiba Asia Cup, a basketball tournament held in Lebanon.
The footage shows how Mayyas refined their raw talent to become a world-class act.
'Arabs Got Talent' debut (2019)
It was the Arab world's introduction to this amateur dance company in Beirut.
Appearing as part of the sixth season of Arabs Got Talent, the crew made an immediate impact with a startling routine inspired by Arabic folkloric dance traditions.
When introducing the group to the celebrity judging panel comprising Lebanese singer Najwa Karam, Egyptian comedian Ahmed Helmi and Dubai television executive Ali Jaber, choreographer Nadim Cherfan described the group's approach as a "fusion of different styles".
"Practicing this kind of dance requires technique and patience as many mistakes will be immediately spotted," he said.
"We came to this programme because we wanted to dream. It has been a while since we had a cause to dream."
'Arabs Got Talent' finale (2019)
Mayyas emerged victorious out of a competitive line-up of 10 finalists, winning the television talent quest, which was broadcast live to millions across the Mena region on pan-Arab broadcaster MBC.
The win, which was decided solely through television audiences texting their votes, marked the first time a Lebanese act took home the title in the competition's six-season run.
In a dance routine that can be best described as "Beirut meets Las Vegas", the more than two dozen dancers of Mayyas were split between those wearing all-green, to resemble a peacock, and those with their bodies painted in gold as they took on the roles of warrior women.
The peacocks had dance moves straight out of the 1950s and 1960s, while the gilded women were front and centre with regional choreography, from belly dancing to hair-swaying.
In a particular prescient comment, Helmi said: “I don’t mean to be in any way disrespectful to the show, but in a way you guys are bigger than this programme… you are ready to take the next step and you can do great.”
'Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions' (2019)
It takes something special to elicit praise from the cantankerous Simon Cowell.
Mayyas achieved this when appearing in Britain's Got Talent: The Champions, an international spin-off of the British talent show.
Mayyas were one of 45 acts that competed in a pool that featured talent hailing from the UK, India, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Singapore and other countries.
As the Middle East's sole representative, the troupe did brilliantly.
Performing in front of a pyramid backdrop, they engaged in a fluid routine that created an enchanting vibe.
It was only two minutes long, but it was enough for the crowd and judging panel to be impressed.
"That was absolutely genius and inventive," Cowell said. "I’ve never seen a dance act like this ever on any of these shows."
El Gouna Film Festival (2020)
In 2020, Mayyas became the toast of the Arab film industry with a sparkling performance at the El Gouna Film Festival in Egypt.
As part of a televised ceremony, the group performed an energetic routine paying tribute to the golden age of Arabic cinema, with plenty of evocative handwork and belly dancing.
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
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The Internet
Hive Mind
four stars
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Match statistics
Dubai Sports City Eagles 8 Dubai Exiles 85
Eagles
Try: Bailey
Pen: Carey
Exiles
Tries: Botes 3, Sackmann 2, Fourie 2, Penalty, Walsh, Gairn, Crossley, Stubbs
Cons: Gerber 7
Pens: Gerber 3
Man of the match: Tomas Sackmann (Exiles)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
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