LANI ROSE R DIZON

DOHA THE International Academy for Intercultural Development (IAID) celebrated its 10th anniversary with a glittering talent extravaganza at the Qatar National Convention Centre on Friday.

About 1,500 guests flocked to the venue to watch over 200 students from 60 different nationalities showcase their talents in music, dance, arts, and fitness.

IAID Director Rajesh Jadhav said, “We are the first local organisation to stage a talent show at the Qatar National Convention Centre.

We are very proud and delighted. Ten years back, we started with only 15 students.

Today, we have more than 800 students enrolled in various programmes at the academy.

“This year we’re targeting to cross a thousand and become one of the biggest talent academies in the Middle East. To contribute to the cultural landscape of Qatar is a dream come true.” The talent festival showcased colourful stage productions which kept the audience enthralled and cheering.

Students enrolled in the dance department displayed their engaging moves in conga, ballroom, fusion and modern dances.

Traditional cultural dances were also performed by the students during the event. It was a feast for the eyes to see various nationalities perform cultural dances of countries not their own, such as the famed Korean fan dance and the Indian classic thilana dance.

Performers in the music department also rendered powerful song numbers.

Among the highlights of the show was the students’ impressive delivery of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony to the accompaniment of guitar instruments. Electronic keyboards were also used by another group of students to deliver a soothing instrumental performance of the hit Disney song ‘Go the distance’.

On the spot abstract painting, taekwondo demonstrations, and dance aerobics were also some of the other treats which kept the audience glued to their seats.

Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Ahmed Elsayed, an Egyptian and father of one of the participants, said, “My five-yearold daughter joined the conga dance. We are very happy to see her in this programme. It gave all of us the chance to share in the culture of people from other countries.

Hopefully, when she finishes this course, we will enrol her in another course at the academy to enhance her talent.” Ten-year-old Marianne Joseph Tablanza, who played the keyboards, said, “I’ve been taking piano and keyboard lessons at the academy for over a year now. It was like a dream come true to perform in front of so many people tonight. I practise playing the keyboard for 30 minutes every day and I hope to become a professional musician someday.” With a commitment to quality training, IAID runs integrated courses that meet international standards and certifications. The academy is affiliated to the London College of Music (LCM) - University of West London and Nalanda Dance Research Centre in Mumbai, India, among others.