Showcasing skills on stage and TV

Two of the island's leading educational establishments have joined hands to offer the kingdom's hidden talents and performers a chance to appear on stage and TV, reports Shilpa Chandran.

Ahlia University and the New York Institute of Technology are organising Stand Up Step Up a show which will take place on April 23 and will later be broadcast on American television.

Art Jones, director of the media centre at Ahlia University, said: 'The show's significant as it provides a platform for young Bahrainis and others to be seen, heard and appreciated locally and internationally.'

Mr Jones is a filmmaker and through his connections the show is to be broadcast on Colours TV in Colorado, which has a subscriber base of 17 million viewers, a few weeks after the performance.

Mr Jones added: 'Bahrain Television has also contacted us and we have been having talks on possibly airing the show on Channel 55 as well.'

As well as the local talents who will be appearing on the night the show will be MC'd by Lebanese Egyptian Tony Attalla, American Triss Braggs and Marta Magdalene from Poland.

Triss said: 'The Stand Up Step Up show is essentially the art of self-expression however you choose to express yourself.

'Our role is to keep the show moving. We will be introducing the various talents of our society to the public for them to enjoy.'

Tony added: 'There is no age limit for talent. We mentioned 18 years in our promotional campaign but we are open to younger people.'

The collaboration between the two establishments began at the Poetry Festival at the NYIT campus.

Mr Jones, 58 from Juffair, said: 'During the NYIT Poetry Festival I heard many poems, a couple of which stood out. Attalla's piece was a riveting recitation and midway through I began to have visions of the American programme Def Poetry Jam that introduces young poets who put on an engaging show.

'The idea then occurred to me and I spoke about this to NYIT Dean Reginald T Braggs and we thought we could begin something.'

Marta said: 'We have Ahlia University taking care of the TV production and assisting with all the technical and organisation reports.

'The NYIT interior design students are building the set for the whole production.

'Also students have been busy working with the posters, flyers and promotional materials. Lot of people are involved and giving all they can.'

Mr Jones, who will be doing the post production of the show for the television broadcast, said: 'It will open people's eyes in the US about the Middle East aside from the region being only about Jihad, Osama and terrorism.

'I really hope that this will begin to expand the view as there's a rich culture here that no one sees.

Know the MCs

Tony, 22, from Arad: 'I was born in Kuwait and had been living there before moving to Bahrain, where my sister lives, five years ago.

'My passion for poetry began 11 years ago and I eventually began to write songs too. This practice evolved into me wanting to make my own music.

'Two years ago I opened my music composing company cigAwet Production in Arad and I am really proud of myself that I made all this on my own, I am self made man.'

Triss, 21, lives with his Bahrain-based family who are originally from Sand Diego, US. He said: 'After I graduated high school I went to the US but I realised after a while that living on your own wasn't fun and I felt lonely and decided to come back and be around my family.

'When I reached Bahrain around three years ago I joined the NYIT to pursue a degree in Business management. I got the degree to facilitate my interest in music. Professionally however, I would say I am a sound perfectionist.'

Triss has a production and recording company called CA which he began in Budaiya nearly a year ago.

Marta moved to Bahrain to find a safer and more comfortable haven where she could concentrate on her true passions rather than just paying taxes.

She said: 'I became a flight attendant. But now I am trying to find a place in my life to pursue my dreams.

'I do a bit of sound engineering and editing work and am right now building up possibilities like photography.