DOHA: The Urban Playground Team — the UK’s original and premier performance parkour company — will give six free public performances in Doha starting Thursday as part of British Festival 2014.
The team blends authentic parkour — an urban art form also known as free running — with urban and contemporary dance for a unique act it calls performance — parkour.
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 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 shows will take place on Thursday at 7pm and 8.30pm and Friday and Saturday at 5pm and 7pm.
While in Doha, the team will also work with youth and community partners to offer workshops on parkour – from basic parkour movement skills for young participants to an advanced breakdancing masterclass.
Martin Hope, Director, British Council Qatar, said, “This year the 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.
“Their performances and workshops will introduce this fun and engaging genre to a new audience in Qatar.
“Through performances such as these, the festival has cemented the council’s reputation as a source for high-quality cultural and educational initiatives that appeal to a wide audience,” Hope added.
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 the family,” O’Loughlin said.
“It’s exciting for us to be working once again with the council and to bring the team for the first time to beautiful Doha.”
During the Friday performances, the team will be joined by the internationally renowned artist, Rachel Gadsden, who will create a “live” performance artwork based on the team’s show.
The Peninsula
