Red Crescent to benefit from local dance event

Eleven different performances offered in Rotary Club of Jumeirah-Dubai fund-raiser.

The UAE dance community is bringing together a diverse mix of skills to raise money for the Palestine Red Crescent Society on Saturday.

Organised by the non-profit Rotary Club of Jumeirah-Dubai (RCJD), Dance My Community will offer 11 different performances, of genres ranging from jazz, hip-hop, Emirati to African, Indian and street dance during a 90-minute show at the American University of Dubai.

The community committee director for the RCJD, Khadra Osman, hopes the event will raise at least Dh50,000.

"It will be a very exciting event. It's a community event that is all about showcasing local talent and one that also raises money for charity," says Osman. "We also wanted to include types of dance inspired by the different cultures here."

Performers include a popular UAE-based Michael Jackson impersonator, Mike Jack, who will perform a collage of the King of Pop's songs. A female group will also perform the dabkeh, a Palestinian dance; Dubai Drums will take on African rhythms; the performers Hani Katib and Ed Hooligan will present a rap about Palestine; and the actress Dana Dajani will offer a melodrama melding song and dance.

Last year, theRCJD organised an event that brought together emerging UAE fashion designers, and raised Dh35,000 for the Senses School for children with special needs.

"In the past two to three years, we have helped raise more than Dh1 million for charities. With such events, we have a zero budget and depend on sponsors to offer venues, equipment and furniture otherwise an event such as this could cost us up to Dh65,000," says Osman.

Dance My Community starts at 7.30pm on Saturday at the American University of Dubai. Tickets cost Dh150 and are available at www.timeouttickets.com

* Maey El Shoush