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Free public parkour shows at Souq Waqif
Free public parkour shows at Souq Waqif
The British Festival 2014 organisers have announced that The Urban Playground (UPG) Team – the UK’s original and premier performance-parkour company – will give six free public performances in Doha starting on April 10. |
The Urban Playground Team’s performances will be the latest opportunity for individuals and institutions in Qatar to experience the unique cultural offering of the UK, as British Festival 2014 nears its finish.
The Urban Playground Team blends authentic parkour – an urban art form also known as free running - with urban and contemporary dance for a unique act the group calls performance-parkour.
The show mixes parkour, hip-hop and contemporary dance to tell the story of inner city workers rebelling against their environment in a show the whole family will enjoy. Audiences will also be invited to try some of the moves after the performances.
The group will perform its show, The Inner City, at Souq Waqif (Al Souq Street near the main Souq Waqif car park) over three days. The show will take place at 7pm and 8.30pm on April 10 and at 5pm and 7pm on April 11 and 12.
While in Doha, the Urban Playground Team will also work with a number of different youth and community partners to offer workshops on parkour – from basic parkour movement skills for young participants to an advanced breakdancing master-class.
Martin Hope, director of British Council Qatar, said: “This year, the British Council is celebrating 80 years of bringing the UK’s unique cultural offering to the world. The Urban Playground has performed at many festivals in the UK and overseas and we are delighted to be able to bring them to Qatar for the first time as part of the British Festival.”
UPG Team co-director Alister O’Loughlin added: “Our work brings together the best elements of contemporary and urban dance with authentic parkour in a slapstick show for all the family. It’s really exciting for us to be working once again with the British Council and to bring the team for the first time to beautiful Doha.”
During the Friday performances, the UPG Team will be joined by internationally renowned artist Rachel Gadsden, who will create a “live” performance artwork based on the UPG Team’s show.
For the latest updates on British Festival 2014, follow the British Council Qatar (@qaBritish) and the hashtag #BritFestQA on Twitter.