MUSCAT -- Day-long adventure, sports and entertainment programmes, which unfolded at Shatti al Bahja in Seeb, spread the cheer of Muscat Festival 2007 to far corners of the city yesterday. The beachfront venue, earmarked for exciting week-end activities of the festival, hosted numerous programmes, which simultaneously got under way, catering to the interests of various segments of society. While youngsters sought supremacy in a number of beach games, including traditional Omani games, children had their fun at the amusement corner.
Those with a yearning for adventure motor sport were treated to display of some spectacular driving skills by amateur and semi-professional drivers, who revved up their modified car engines to the limits around a track set up with challenging hurdles. Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA), publishers of the Observer and its sister Arabic daily Oman, is a media sponsor of the touristic and cultural extravaganza, which ends on February 2. A large crowd watched the daredevil drivers setting the track ablaze with screeching tyres and roaring engines for achieving the best timing.
The evening crowd was treated to some spectacular dance performances by Yussara Dance Company from Brazil and the Children's Music Theatre from Kyrgyztan. The Yussara dance troupe comprising 23 accomplished dancers enthralled the crowd with a variety of brilliant performances, to the accompaniment of thumping Brazilian and African music. While the male dancers displayed their athletic and acrobatic prowess on stage, the female dancers were full of verve and graceful steps.
The brilliantly choreographed dances came in succession, featuring the dancers in colourful and fabulous costumes. Some of the male dancers in particular were simply superb with their performances, gyrating, somersaulting and literally spinning on the stage in all directions.
"All these dancers are professionals who perform around the world," Marcus, Manager of Yussara Dance Company, said. "This is the first time the group is performing in Muscat Festival," he said adding that "the group had a wonderful show at Al Bustan Palace Hotel to usher in the New Year. The crowds here are very appreciative and we are enjoying every moment of our stay in Muscat," he added.
Markus's wife Yussara is the soul of the dance company. All dances are choreographed by Yussara, who also is responsible for designing the costumes and stage-setting. Besides the week-end performances by the group at Shatti al Bahja, Yussara also brings alive the stage daily at the Festival Plaza in Athaiba.
© Oman Daily Observer 2007
