Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
CHILDREN will be given a chance to develop their dancing, acting and singing abilities at a new performing arts centre set to open in January.
The Seventh Wave (TSW), a collaborative creation between Joseph Tito, chief executive of film, documentary company JEO Productions, and Dr Lesley AlJishi, an arts enthusiast and mother-of-two, will offer after-school classes, plus weekend and summer workshops.
The Bahrain-based school, for pupils aged six and 16, will offer sessions in both English and Arabic covering theatre, music, design, dance and film production. It will also act as an events space to host different shows and exhibitions.
Joseph and his chief operating officer, Josie Houpt, had always wanted to get more involved in the community. “At JEO, we always had an ultimate goal to establish an educational facility to support the next generation of filmmakers and to broaden the industry here,” explained Joseph.
A chance brunch conversation with a friend led to the school suggestion. Lesley, a medical director of a private hospital in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, whose sons, British School of Bahrain pupils Badr, 10, and Yousif, eight, were looking for opportunities to develop their artistic talents.
Lesley said: “Joseph wanted to make a difference through his passion for film and art while I wanted to do something for my children and others. Instead of opening a school concentrating on a specific element of the performing arts we thought it would be best to cover several forms like in a ‘house of the arts’.”
TSW’s mission is to inspire creative confidence in the young and enhance their self-esteem in an ‘inspirational and welcoming space’.
“Encouragement, technical advice, healthy self-esteem, self-expression and teamwork are just some of the products offered,” explained Joseph. “It’s not just about learning how to play the guitar, for example.
“What if the child loves music and discovers he or she is also passionate about producing? We will offer in-depth courses to help these young minds find other aspects of the things they like and perhaps want to develop a career out of it.
“We want to help create a professional performance group that will one day represent Bahrain in art festivals.”
The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities is also on board and has offered the Bahrain Arts Centre facilities to be used as a temporary base for TSW’s classes.
The school’s first series of summer workshops will run until August 25, providing two hours of theatre and dance, with poetry readings during the lunch break, and a chance to meet guest artistes.
Joseph said: “We have some talented teachers coming to Bahrain from Italy, as well as the local theatre and movie director Khalid Rowaie helping out.”
International choreographers Afshin Varjavandi and fellow dancer Debora Renzi are on-board alongside experienced theatre teacher Valentina Renzulli.
Joseph and Afshin got the ball rolling earlier this month hosting classes at the Nakhool Tent for free as part of the Bahrain Summer Festival. Afshin said: “I think The Seventh Wave is an incredible initiative and is in perfect harmony with the vibrations that are moving the rest of the world.
“I would like to tell Bahraini and expat parents that the journey of the arts is not only about abilities but to help children build identity, character and discipline.”
After the workshops are completed a gala will be staged at the Cultural Hall on September 2. During the event, the school will showcase a video presentation from its workshops as well as feature two dance performances from INProgress Collective which is Afshin’s international professional dance troupe.
There will also be a theatre performance, poetry reading with live musical accompaniment and the children’s recitals.
An experimental short film called Ayam Zaman, a collaboration made by us at JEO and new Bahraini female director, Summer Ameen and oud, guitar, sitar and flute musician Ibantuta, will also be premiered at the event.
Tickets will go on sale shortly. TSW school curriculum, timetable and tuition costs are still under development.
For further details follow it on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/the7thwave or on Instagram @theseventhwaveartscentre
The current workshops are priced at BD100 per week or BD260 for all three weeks. A discount will apply if parents register more than one child.
