The Power of the Arts

The arts are often much maligned, feeling under-funded and underrepresented in education and society at large. However, I feel this is changing in the UAE. We are seeing recognition through developments like the Arts District on Saadiyat that the arts are a force for good and worth investing in.

Take dance, for instance. It provides opportunities for self-expression. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or have just dipped your toe into dance now and again, we all know that dance offers a world of possibilities and benefits that extend beyond the dance floor.
For those who partake in dance, it not only has the obvious physical benefits of building flexibility, strength, control, and stamina, but it also has wider benefits in wellbeing and communication. It is a unique celebration of movement, allowing young people to connect with their bodies, express themselves through fluid motions, and experience the sheer joy of being in tune with music through movement. Every step, spin, and jump becomes an opportunity to experience freedom while being connected to others and the music.

At BSME Dance Festival last weekend, our students did just this. They worked together to create a sequence of moves that conveyed a message to the audience about cultural identity using structure and form. Inspiration was drawn from the amazing architecture we experience in the UAE. Their performances were outstanding.

The forms of drama and song were also explored in more depth at the Nord Anglia Performing Arts Festival in Dubai. Students were given the wonderful opportunity to create, compose, collaborate, and co-construct pieces of music, dance, and drama with experts from the fields on hand. The students worked tirelessly and gave their all. Seeing the outcomes just shows how much potential they have. Watching them return on Friday and Saturday evening, full of smiles and chatter about their achievements, further confirmed the importance of the arts for our broader success in life, the confidence it brings, and the boost to our well-being.

In art too, we are striving to deepen the value we give to our students. In the coming weeks, look out for information about our upcoming art exhibition at Yas Mall, which will showcase some of our talented students’ work and give them a wider audience to celebrate their achievements and gain recognition.

At BIS Abu Dhabi, we value the arts and will continue to grow the opportunities for our students to experience the difference the arts can make to us all.

Alan Cocker
Principal

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