QF’s D’reesha performing arts festival helps to unlock creative potential

Performance art is a niche genre. Typically acted out live in front of an audience, it is a movement within the field of performing arts that is gaining momentum in Qatar.

Amira Radhi – a graduate of Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar)– is part of a small community of performance artists in Qatar. Last year, she debuted her solo act, BAYT, at QF’s inaugural D’reesha Performing Arts Festival.

And, as the second edition of D’reesha – which will take place from December 11-17 at QF’s Education City – approaches, Radhi says there need to be more opportunities for artists to perform to help grow the unique movement.

What is performance arts and why does this type of art interest you?
Performance arts is the portrayal of a concept or feeling, like an abstract painting, but with acting. It doesn’t always tell a story that entertains people – it can be noisy, or it can be something that no one understands. And like other types of art, it invites people to ask questions.

I experimented a lot with contemporary art at university. Performance arts was discussed in my classes, and for my graduation project, titled “Resurrection”, I created a video montage depicting how I view myself, using nature and the environment around me, as well as different visuals, through performance art. Most of my work is like that – I like to use these types of performances to connect me to the outside world.

What’s the story or inspiration behind BAYT?
BAYT means home in Arabic, and the performance is about finding yourself and reliving childhood memories. In the piece, I portrayed a scene from my childhood, of me playing with cushions and building a pretend house. There was no story, no music, no dialogue. I did my performance on the grass because I didn’t want to be on stage or on a platform as it wasn’t a theatrical piece. Also, I love Arabic – it’s my first language – and that’s why I called the piece BAYT.

The performance also talks about the joining of cultures and identities, which is important for me as I’m from two countries – Bahrain and Qatar. When I’m doing my performance, I’m not focusing on the difference between my house and the house of others. For me, performance art is all about how the audience can be a part of the act. I wanted to connect with the audience through a very distinct childhood memory. I encouraged people to come closer, to interact with the performance.

How did you find performing in front of an audience for the first time? And why did you choose the D’reesha as your platform?
Performing in front of people is very nerve-wracking. It’s not an easy thing to do, it takes time to be comfortable. Unlike memorizing a script, when doing a piece of performance art, you don’t necessarily have a plan. For example, sometimes I will aim to spend two minutes interacting with the audience, but other times I will engage with something else entirely.

My BAYT performance was mostly improvised. I planned about 20 percent of the scene, such as choosing the cushions. And then I’d see how the performance would unfold – maybe the act would remind an audience member about a certain memory, so I would then engage with that person. I was at QF for four to five years, so Education City, and the community, are very familiar to me. I’m comfortable in these surroundings, and I feel like there is less judgment from others here. People within this community are open to different kinds of arts.

I also found it to be a good opportunity to try something new. Doing performance art wasn’t too out of my culture, and I was further encouraged when I heard that there were other artists participating in the festival, too.

How did the audience react to your performance?
Most of the acts in the D'reesha Performing Arts Festival fell within the sphere of performing arts – like musical theater. I was the only person who did a performance art act, so it definitely stood out. A lot of the people were confused and were afraid to watch or ask questions. I would see mothers walk by with their children, and I could see by their faces they thought it was quite odd. But once they understood what I was doing, they would tell their children to join in.

What would be your advice be to aspiring performance artists in Qatar?
In general, being an artist in Qatar is hard, especially when you put yourself and your work out there. Although in performance art you are more exposed to people’s immediate reactions – it’s a great feeling to be able to sit and interact with your audience, letting them see your hard work and dedication, and receiving their support.

D’reesha was a great opportunity for me. Performance art opportunities are rarely found in Qatar, and so a lot of people don’t understand this genre. My advice to aspiring artists or students in performing arts is to try it, because who knows you might like it. We really need more artists in Doha.

QF’s D’reesha Performing Arts Festival will take place at Education City from December 11-17, during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, under the theme ‘Travel and Adventure'. Open to everyone, it will showcase a variety of performances in Arabic and English, from music and poetry to visual arts and theater, with the new D’reesha of Invention and Innovation showcasing scientists, scholars, and researchers from the Arab world. To find out more, visit www.qf.org.qa/dreesha where you can also register to sign up as a performer for the festival, with registration closing on September 11.

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