Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for April 15, 2017, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. Ellen Fortini rounds up 10 things to do today in the UAE.
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Abu Dhabi
Kids’ fun
Visit the Pre-Loved Stories & Book Festival as part of the Wanna Read? charity initiative. Activities include cosplay shows, performances, puppet-making, calligraphy workshops, cultural sessions and book readings from Emirati authors, plus a book sale with proceeds going to Wanna Read?, which aims to provide books for children in UAE hospitals.
Today, 3pm to 8pm, The Mall at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, www.facebook.com/wtcad
Dubai
Film screenings
Catch the final day of screenings at the Korean Film Festival, presented by the Korean Cultural Center and Korean Consulate in Dubai. Kim Seong-hun's Tunnel is about a father who is on his way to his daughter's birthday when a tunnel collapses, causing him to be trapped inside his car. Lee Joon-ik's Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet (pictured) tells the story of the renowned Korean poet who was imprisoned in Japan for having participated in the Korean Independence Movement. Both films are in Korean with English subtitles.
Tonight, 7pm for Tunnel; 9pm for Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet, free with registration, Vox Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, register at k-filmfest.com
Abu Dhabi
Art event
Attend today’s events at Galleries Week, featuring six international galleries presenting works priced to suit most pockets. There are also family workshops for watercolours and collage, a workshop for adults on drawing and painting, and performances by contemporary dance company Sima Dance Group and soul musician Adam Baluch (pictured). There will be food trucks and a marketplace with products by local designers.
Runs until Wednesday, 3pm to 10pm daily today and tomorrow (closed Monday); 4pm to 10pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, Warehouse421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, www.warehouse421.ae
Abu Dhabi
Family fun
Yas Waterworld Springfest 2017 has an egg hunt around the park today, plus a range of fun activities for the whole family, including live music, games, a maze and even a show featuring two mermaids who children are invited to meet and interact with, too. Enjoy a limited-edition ice cream – Yas Twister – plus all of the park’s rides, slides and attractions.
Today, 10am to 6pm, from Dh250, Yas Waterworld, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.yaswaterworld.com
Dubai
Film screening
Watch the Academy Award-winning film Mary Poppins, presented by Cinema Akil at d3, and take part in a kite-making workshop in collaboration with Tashkeel. Learn how to construct geometric kites, drawing inspiration from the characters and colours in Mary Poppins before seeing the 1964 film that combines live-action with animation to tell the story of a magical nanny who flies in with her umbrella to care for the Banks children.
Today, 4pm for the workshop, Unit 5 in Building 8; 6pm for the film, staircase between Buildings 9 and 10, free on a first-come, first-seated basis, Dubai Design District (d3), Dubai, www.cinemaakil.com
Abu Dhabi
Art workshops
Take part in today's art workshops as part of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi exhibition The Creative Act: Performance, Process, Presence, which runs until July 29. Children ages 6 to 12 can enjoy Pose | Photo | Paint, which sees them posing for a photo in a glowing outfit made of lights and creating a semi-abstract painting from the image. Adults and teenagers can take part in Sound Making | Sound Mixing, a workshop led by a professional musician and DJ in which they mix, make, record and sample their own sound pieces.
Today, 10am to noon for children; 2pm to 5pm for adults and teenagers, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 02 657 5800, www.saadiyatculturaldistrict.ae
Dubai
Family fun
Visit Legoland Dubai and take part in The Egg Hunt, which challenges families to use a treasure map and solve riddles and clues to find six hidden Lego eggs. Prizes from the hunt include tickets to Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park as well as a Lego box set. Visitors will receive Lego-themed bunny ears to wear in the park and are invited to participate in a Lego building experience in Miniland – creating a spring garden with eggs, bunnies and flowers.
Daily until Monday, 10am to 6pm, from Dh165 for water park; 10am to 7pm, from Dh210 for theme park; prices are for UAE residents when booked online, Legoland Dubai, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Dubai, www.legoland.ae
Dubai
Comedy classes
Last chance to sign up for a comedy course with Dubomedy. Hone your stand-up skills in the course of eight classes over six weeks, which begin today, and ends with a final performance on May 20. Comedians of all skill levels are invited to take part in stand-up and improv classes, which are conducted in English and Arabic.
Starts today, noon for The Graduates 102: Stand Up Coaching; 2pm for Stand-Up Comedy 101; 4.30pm for Improv Comedy Course; 7pm for Arabic Stand-up Comedy, from Dh850, Dubomedy, JLT, Dubai, register at lol@dubomedy.com
Nationwide
New movie
Their Finest tells the story of a British film crew who, during the Battle of Britain and the London Blitz, attempt to make a feel-good propaganda film based on the Dunkirk evacuation of allied troops during the Second World War. Comedy drama, directed by Lone Scherfig, starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Jeremy Irons and Jack Huston.
Screening at cinemas across the UAE. (PG-15)
Dubai
Concert
Buy tickets for the Justin Bieber concert in May in Dubai. The Canadian pop star returns to the UAE with his Purpose world tour. Hits include Baby, Boyfriend, As Long as You Love Me and One Time. Additionally, ticket holders will get to attend a free concert starring American pop singer Bebe Rexha (pictured) on April 29 at Autism Rocks Arena.
May 6, gates open at 4pm, from Dh335, Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai Outlet Mall, Dubai. www.800tickets.com
