Qatar opens its doors to the performing arts

In the past, Qatar has taken a cautious approach to performing arts such as dance.

But as host of the 2022 football World Cup, the country laid on a wide range of public events.

And now, from aerial arts to street jazz, visiting musicians, and Bollywood musicals, Qatar is opening up to a vibrant dance and performance scene.

The Festival in Motion was conceived as a celebration of dance, music, art, and architecture by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums.

Performances were organised in ten different iconic places around Doha and Qatar, drawing inspiration from the public spaces and heritage sites. 

Acclaimed composer Nico Muhly  teamed up with world-renowned choreographer Benjamin Millepied to co-curate the festival.

In one of the events, the entire outdoor courtyard of the National Museum of Qatar, was taken over by dancers, for a performance titled 'Anthem'.

"Essentially, if you look at the way this building is put together, it's a series of interlocking gestures, and it's physically impossible to see it all at once," said Nico.

"And you always have to reframe everything as it's as your brain is processing it. And musically, that to me was really exciting, to create a sense of harmony that's constantly shifting or a sense of rhythm that's both steady and unpredictable. So, the music and the dance and the building are in a near-constant conversation."

Tapping into that conversation was something Nico and Benjamin wanted to do with every space used.

"Initially," says Nico. "We were thinking about… 'Oh, we should find a bunch of performance venues'... And then we thought, well, actually, what would be amazing is to take advantage of the incredible architecture, not just in