Rooftop Rhythms - The Throwback Edition

Rooftop Rhythms is back in person at Manarat Al Saadiyat

Spoken word artists, poets, and musicians presenting original material on Friday, Feb 25 @ 8pm. Abu Dhabi will come to life for a one-of-a-kind evening centered on themes of nostalgia and memory. Also, attendees will enjoy a live music set by The Once, a Canadian folk-pop trio (who will be presented by Canada’s National Art Centre).

Rooftop Rhythms founder, Dorian Paul Rogers, will be the event’s emcee, and Jaysus Zain will provide soulful, throwback grooves as the DJ for the evening.

Rooftop Rhythms is presented in partnership with The Arts Center at NYUAD and Rooftop Rhythms with official support from The US Mission to the UAE. This special edition is also presented in partnership with Manarat Al Saadiyat.

This special event features a pre-selected lineup of performers. Rooftop Rhythms and The Arts Center at NYUAD are committed to providing a platform for locally-based artists to share their original creative work in front of a supportive community. In an effort to foster local talent, all performers will share original material. Note: Additional performance slots will not be available on the night.

“A great night of poetry filled with passion…” – BBC

The theme for this edition of Rooftop Rhythms builds off of Manarat Al Saadiyat’s current exhibition: Zemanna. Zemanna is a visual exploration of reinterpreted memories from the 1990s— dissecting, reflecting, and responding to a time of change, flux, and expansion. In this exhibition, artists were commissioned to present nine interactive installations that address the remnants of the 1990s and how they have contributed to this present time. Through these installations, the exhibition reflects the vibrancy and density of this time, showcasing the surfacing of a community undergoing rapid transformation. This multiroom experience highlights key characteristics of that time such as the Volcano Fountain, the re-rooting of migrating families into the UAE, and the role of pop culture, media, and play. What led to the 1990’s and what did the 1990’s lead to?

“…the go-to open mic night for poets in Abu Dhabi” – Abu Dhabi World

Manarat Al Saadiyat are offering a 50% discount for the Zemanna Exhibition for the day of the Rooftop Rhythms performance. Click here for more info on the exhibition.

About Rooftop Rhythms

Rooftop Rhythms Poetry Open Mic Night was founded in 2012 by Dorian Paul Rogers, Ed.D. In less than a decade, this event has gone on to become the Middle East’s largest and longest running event of its kind. With its main event presented as part of The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi’s annual season since 2015, Rooftop Rhythms also hosts Arabic poetry open mics as well as a variety of culture, arts and nightlife events from live music to silent discos. Rooftop Rhythms counts The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Warehouse 42 and Jameel Arts Centre as a few of its esteemed collaborators.

The Once are presented by Canada’s National Arts Centre in the context of Canada’s participation at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Presented with official support from the US Mission to the UAE and in partnership with Manarat Al Saadiyat.