As a student on the verge of graduation, I am about to embark upon a new journey. Many in my situation leave college with an internship or job offer but the life of an actor is not quite as stable. I will be graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and with a vast knowledge of my “ability” as an actress, however, that knowledge does not always pay the rent. Finding work as an actor in the United States has become a more increasingly difficult problem. With reality television programs increasing in number, many dream of fame and fortune. The only issue is that many of these dreamers have no right being involved in theater, film or television. This is a large part as to why many talented students leaving acting schools are forced to find jobs as waiters, etc. Trying to determine which road to take is difficult but I recently came across an option that I found intriguing; one of the upcoming places "to be" is located in the United Arab Emirates—Dubai. Over the past few years, Dubai has begun the construction of their new gimmick, which they have called The World. The World is a group of 250 to 300 man-made, private islands. Here they will build private homes, estate homes, dream resorts and community islands. What is so unbelievable about this project is that it is shaped like the continents of the world. American actors are being sought out bring a different culture to this "world." Could Dubai become the new theater capital of the world?
While doing research about The World and what Dubai city has to offer, I found the Dubai Theatre Community & Arts Centre website. DUCTAC deals with not only theatre events but other forms of art too—painting, sculpting, singing, and dance. They hold concerts and performances as well as conducting classes and workshops. They are the “first modern, non-profit, cross-community creative centre in the Gulf, built to international specifications. This flagship project was the brainchild of local theatre-lovers and business people who recognized the need for an entertainment and educational centre for the community and f
uture generations of Dubai.” They are always looking for people to be a part of their community and it could be a great opportunity.
Lastly, DUCTAC’s most recent production was a sellout hit this summer. Disney’s “High School Musical On Stage” found rave reviews and is back by popular demand. According to Timeout Dubai, the actors in HSM On Stage are “more than just all right. Dubai’s got serious talent.” Who knows, maybe America has yet to see real talent from Dubai.
The Ruler and Prime Minister of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, once said "Most of people talk, we do things. They plan, we achieve. They hesitate, we move ahead. We are living proof that when human beings have the courage and commitment to transform a dream into a reality, there is nothing that can stop them. Dubai is a living example of that." I believe if the people of Dubai can think that, maybe Americans living there could consider it true for themselves as well. As someone captivated by the beauty of Dubai city, it would be great to work there. One of the best ways to learn about oneself is through other cultures and societies. What I want to do is all about expression and telling a story. By living with a completely different group of people who have a distinct philosophy of life, I can learn about the world. And the only way theater can help shape society is by understanding everyone’s point of view and communicating it for everyone to hear. Actors are here to transform our dreams into realities- Dubai may just be the place to start.
1 comment:
Thank you, Alexandra for a very informative post. For the last few years Dubai has been attracting and gaining the interest of industry professionals on a massive level. I personally found this article particularly interesting because a very close friend of mine who graduated last year recently moved there. While he is not part of the “artistic circuit” he works in a very challenging industry in the United States right now, Real Estate. He graduated with a similar dilemma and came to the conclusion that Dubai’s booming economy was the best place to start his career. As a real estate major I am fascinated by the idea of The World Islands and can’t believe that it is now a reality. This project is typical of Dubai as for the past decade it has spent its vast wealth on gimmicks putting their countries future in the hands of one industry tourism.I know through my own research that Dubai is currently struggling to find a way to become a lasting force in the world after their dominance over natural resources, primarily oil, comes to an end. I recently read a book called Rigged by Ben Mezrich, which tells the story of the formation of the Dubai Mercantile Exchange. This was the first step Dubai made to become a lasting power and I think a dominance of the arts would be another important step. Do you think it is possible for Dubai to persuade famous artists to settle in Dubai? Is that already happening? Your comments are focused and provide excellent insight into the rising power of Dubai. Your writing style immediately spurred my imagination as to what Dubai may do next. I probably won’t be traveling to Dubai anytime soon, however I am definitely intrigued with everything that is going on over there.
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