The final DSS week under the theme of "Colour Surprises" was launched yesterday (Thursday) at a spectacular opening ceremony that was held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Attending the ceremony was Khalid Ahmed Al Sheikh Mubarak, Acting Director-General of the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), the organizers of the "Colour Surprises" week from August 19-27, Saeed Mohammed Al Nabouda, Chief Executive Officer of DSS 2004, Hala Lootah, Head of the "Colour Surprises" Committee and members of the DSS office and the "Color Surprises" committee.
The opening ceremony hosted a great swirl of colours which was designed specially for the "Colour Surprises" and consisted of a kaleidoscope of magical entertainment underlined by symphonic music, fire works and accompanied by special effects and a huge screen which transported the audience into a trip across colours in two languages - Arabic and English.
There was also Peru the Color Master, the master of ceremonies, who with his colorful magic wand made out of laser beams, took charge of the proceedings of the entire show.
A Psychedelic dancer participated in Ballet Dancing to showcase the main colours of the spectrum - blue, green, red and yellow, can be used to produce different colours. During the ballet, Peru did a masterful trick on the screen by generating a special atmosphere on the stage set up at the venue, using coloured smoke and sounds created through a variety of electronic and mechanical gadgets.
The Psychedelic dancer came on stage again, as part of the sound and colour sequence of the dance act to showcase different colors and give the audience an opportunity to see how sound and color moves and blends to create different effects, which culminated in a grand blast of colours.
Acrobatic characters took the spotlight later wearing colourful costumes and engaging in comical skits that brought out different colours in an entertaining way against a white backdrop.
High above the stage hung a wonderful rainbow that formed the perfect backdrop for the event and also allowed performers to make use of the rainbow for their own shows. The ceremony ended with a fantastic performance by the Psychedelic dancer and members of the dancing team "Modhesh Show" featuring the lovable mascot of DSS.
Holograms, cartoon characters and lights were used to dramatically enhance the colourful appeal of the ceremony while colourful confetti was also showered to step up the excitement.
To celebrate "Colour Surprises", the Department of Health and Medical Services has organised a calendar of more than 20 colour-related activities and performances at the city's malls, key DSS venues and other special sites. Highlights include the Fantasy Forest, located at Hall 6 of the Dubai World Trade Centre; a Rainbow Train Carnival and Photo Exhibition at BurJuman Centre; fun Rainbow and Wonderland competitions at the Wonderland amusement park; Rainbow Workshops around the city malls; a Rainbow Doll workshop, colour events tied to world cultures, and performances including puppeteers and other artists.
The Fantasy Forest, for example, is complete with trees, animals, birds and waterfalls in rainbow colours, and is open from 5 pm to 10 pm daily.
The Rainbow Train and Carnival, a mini-train running through the BurJuman Centre, will be decked out in multicoloured streamers and driven by a clown. Children are welcome to ride the train, which will run from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm daily. BurJuman will also host a photo exhibition daily from 5 pm to 10 pm.
The Oasis Centre will host the The Rainbow Doll activity, featuring a huge statue of a doll that kids can paint. In the Mercato mall, a puppet show will take place from 5 pm to 10 pm tonight, and the Al Bustan Centre in Ghusais will host the circus school show.
The Rainbow World workshop, taking place at the BurJuman Centre, Deira City Centre, Oasis, Bin Sougat Centre, Al Bustan Centre and Al Ghurair City malls from 5 pm to 10 pm daily, takes children to a rainbow-coloured garden where supervisors will teach them how to mix colours and make the best use of colours in different situations. Other activities during the week including colouring competitions at the Al Futtaim Centre from 5-8 pm today and fun competitions at the Wonderland amusement park from 5-10pm.
Even patients at the Dubai hospitals have not been left out of the fun. Modhesh, the cheerful yellow DSS mascot, will be making trips to each of the city hospitals and taking along a string of performers and a bag of entertaining activities with him.
All the DSS venues, including the member malls of the Dubai Shopping Malls Group, hospitals and other locations will be gaily decorated with bright and beautiful colours to match the theme week and to showcase the brighter side of life to residents, visiting children and their families.
Dubai Summer Surprises 2004 is currently in the Colour Surprises week organised by the Department of Health and Medical Services from August 19-27, 2004.
-Ends-
For further information, please contact
Hessah Sultan Aurbaya,
Corporate Communication Coordinator,
Dubai Summer Surprises
Tel: +971-4-202 0510;
Fax: +971-4-222 1110
Email: haurbaya@mydsf.gov.ae
© Press Release 2004
