Michael Jackson's Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil: A review

Cirque du Soleil's highest-grossing show (Dh1.25 billion since the premiere in 2011) started a 16-night run at the Dubai World Trade Centre Monday night. The National's Arts&Life photo editor, Olga Camacho, was there

What do you get when you combine a mime, a pole dancer, a one-legged basketball player and a dancing chimp? The Cirque du Soleil tribute to Michael Jackson, of course.

The show debuted at the Dubai World Trade Center last night to an almost sold-out crowd. It quickly builds momentum and is its best when combining the two things you’d expect: the high-flying acrobatic moves of Cirque with the high-energy songs of Michael Jackson.

However too-often it has a TV variety show-feel to it, with simple dance moves that seemed miniscule on an arena stage.

A mime dressed all in white, who seems to portray the visiting spirit of Jackson, kicks off the production and makes appearances throughout the two-hour show (with a twenty minute intermission.) While he’s very good at what he does, the bits seemed out of place in a tribute to the King of Pop.

When Jackson is projected larger than life as a young boy singing I'll Be There it's a sad reminder, not only of his amazing talent shut down too early, but of how he looked before countless surgeries made him almost unrecognisable.

A highlight in the second act comes when dancers dressed in silver robotic outfits, with flashing LED breastplates, fill the stage for "They Don't Care About Us. It's reportedly the same choreography that was approved by Jackson and would have been used in his This Is It 2009 London concert series.

The high energy Scream, with it's five flying acrobatics, Smooth Criminal, Thriller and Billie Jean seemed to excite the crowd the most.

For those true Michael Jackson fans who were looking forward to what he was calling his final concert tour, this may be as close to seeing the real thing as you can get. The show tries to put Jackson in the arena by using voice-overs and flashing his image on up to nine video screens and at times it does almost feel like he's in the room.

It’s been four-and-a-half years since Michael Jackson died, but his legacy lives on through the show. If you’re a fan of the gloved one you’ll probably love it. If you’re more of a Cirque fan, the show could disappoint because too often it’s more about the music than the acrobatics.

*Michael Jackson The Immortal Tour by Cirque du Soleil continues at the World Trade Center in Dubai until January 14. Tickets through Ticketmaster, prices start at Dh221and go up to Dh2,295.

Notable salonnières of the Middle East through history

Al Khasan (Okaz, Saudi Arabia)

Tamadir bint Amr Al Harith, known simply as Al Khasan, was a poet from Najd famed for elegies, earning great renown for the eulogy of her brothers Mu’awiyah and Sakhr, both killed in tribal wars. Although not a salonnière, this prestigious 7th century poet fostered a culture of literary criticism and could be found standing in the souq of Okaz and reciting her poetry, publicly pronouncing her views and inviting others to join in the debate on scholarship. She later converted to Islam.

Maryana Marrash (Aleppo)

A poet and writer, Marrash helped revive the tradition of the salon and was an active part of the Nadha movement, or Arab Renaissance. Born to an established family in Aleppo in Ottoman Syria in 1848, Marrash was educated at missionary schools in Aleppo and Beirut at a time when many women did not receive an education. After touring Europe, she began to host salons where writers played chess and cards, competed in the art of poetry, and discussed literature and politics. An accomplished singer and canon player, music and dancing were a part of these evenings.

Princess Nazil Fadil (Cairo)

Princess Nazil Fadil gathered religious, literary and political elite together at her Cairo palace, although she stopped short of inviting women. The princess, a niece of Khedive Ismail, believed that Egypt’s situation could only be solved through education and she donated her own property to help fund the first modern Egyptian University in Cairo.

Mayy Ziyadah (Cairo)

Ziyadah was the first to entertain both men and women at her Cairo salon, founded in 1913. The writer, poet, public speaker and critic, her writing explored language, religious identity, language, nationalism and hierarchy. Born in Nazareth, Palestine, to a Lebanese father and Palestinian mother, her salon was open to different social classes and earned comparisons with souq of where Al Khansa herself once recited.

CREW

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THE APPRENTICE

Director: Ali Abbasi

Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 3/5

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)

Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai

Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

On Women's Day

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)

Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)

Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)

Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)

Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)

Sunday

Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)

Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)

Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)

Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)

Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)

Monday

Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)

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PAKISTAN SQUAD

Pakistan - Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Azhar Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Aamer Yamin, Rumman Raees.

The specs

Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor

Power: 320bhp

Torque: 605Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh219,000

On sale: Now

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Almnssa

Started: August 2020

Founder: Areej Selmi

Based: Gaza

Sectors: Internet, e-commerce

Investments: Grants/private funding

COMPANY%20PROFILE

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Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

FA Cup quarter-final draw

The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March

Sheffield United v Arsenal

Newcastle v Manchester City

Norwich v Derby/Manchester United

Leicester City v Chelsea

The view from The National

The fate of Libya should be in Libyan hands

Libyan migrants must not be left to die at sea

ISIS cannot be allowed to regroup in Libya

Coronavirus: Lessons in online learning from the experts

All male Emirati pupils due to graduate this year must enrol in National Service

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If you go

Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.

The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company

Guide to intelligent investing

Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:

Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.

The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre