Numoo - The Arts Center’s professional development accelerator

Ananya Murali is an Rnb/Pop/ Carnatic singer-songwriter, composer, musician, vocal director, and audio engineer based in Dubai, UAE. Raised with a rich Tamil heritage, she began her musical journey at age six, training in Indian Carnatic music while developing a deep passion for Western music. Her passion for music grew when she started writing music in high school, and has since written, composed, and produced albums spanning Folk, Pop, House, and RnB for both herself and other artists. Notably, her debut single Homesick, written as a part of the NOMAD campaign in 2019 (a composition bootcamp hosted at SAE for local artists), was featured in the Khaleej Times. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wollongong and a Bachelor of Audio from SAE Dubai, which helped her expand her skillset into recording, producing, and mixing. With years as a studio engineer at MangoJam Studio and now as a freelance producer and engineer, she continues to carve out a sound that’s uniquely her own.

Today, Ananya has shared the stage with acclaimed Tamil playback singers and global artists alike, both as lead and backing vocalist - having performed at local venues like The Fridge, Sole DXB, Etisalat Academy, Vinyl Souk and The NYUAD Arts Center (as a part of Hekayah | The Story in 2024, and recently, the Tasting Session Live: Reunion); in India, at G5A in Bombay (on the ukulele, synth, and backing vocals for indie music act TV Dinner), at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan in Chennai (performing solo Carnatic Concerts at age 13), and recently at AJK College in Coimbatore (as a part of Indian playback singer Haricharan’s band). She is a regular feature in Dubai’s ‘Ponmalai Pozhuthu’, a Tamil stage singing group performing Tamil film songs; videos featuring her performances have amassed millions of views on YouTube. She has also lent her voice to major ad campaigns like Damac Islands (featuring Amitabh Bhachchan, Ranveer Singh, and Sara Ali Khan), Danube Diamonds, and ads for Aldar and Motorola. She also plays the guitar and ukulele, having learned from India’s ‘Guitar Prasanna’ in high school.

Whether as a freelance engineer or as an artist, Ananya’s journey is just beginning, and there’s no doubt that her music will continue to inspire and move listeners everywhere.

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Dalia is a Lebanese-Brazilian interdisciplinary artist, maker, and creative producer working across time-based media, film, contemporary performance, and installation. Holding an MA from Central Saint Martins and a filmmaking degree from the London Film Academy, her practice moves fluidly between the cinematic, the immersive, and the live, dissolving the boundaries between screen and body, audience and performer.

Dalia’s work has been supported by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), 392Rmeil393 Gallery, EVA London, and Cinephilia Productions, and her research has been published by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. Her work has been presented in Beirut, London, Athens, and Italy, with installations and performances that actively invite viewers into open dialogues with the work itself. In April 2025, Dalia curated and produced Cycles of Change, a performance journey showcased at Bayt AlMamzar (Dubai).

From live bodily presence to intimate screen-based aesthetics, her work is intended to transport her audience into an intimate, all-encompassing, and multisensory environment while transcending into the surreal, the haunting, and the uncanny. Through collaborations with creative communities, Dalia weaves projects that combine hybrid and experimental techniques, narrative-driven content, and embodied performance, creating spaces for participation, reflection, and playful seriousness.

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Doris Tao started dancing in 2007 and was trained in Hong Kong for 10 years in street dance styles and choreography, during which she gained experience in stage performances, competitions, commercial events, and studio shootings. From 2017 to 2018, she was based in London and choreographed for University College London in several competitions and theater performances, and participated frequently in freestyle cyphers and battles. Since 2019, she has been based in Abu Dhabi and continued training, studio teaching, and participating in competitions. Doris co-founded the Abu Dhabi Free Flow Dance Community in 2022 in partnership with Berklee Abu Dhabi. The main mission of Free Flow is to host regular freestyle dance, practice, and knowledge sharing sessions; to provide a free, safe, and supportive space for street dancers; and to enable the growth of the dance community in Abu Dhabi.

With her dedication to continuous improvement in her dance skills, Tao travels frequently to obtain knowledge and experience in major street dance cultural hubs such as France and the Netherlands.

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Ibrahim Ustadi is an Emirati performer, presenter, and storyteller whose career spans more than two decades across theater, television, and radio. Known for his commanding stage presence and natural connection with audiences, he has established himself as one of the region’s versatile creative voices, seamlessly moving between live performance, broadcast media, and cultural storytelling.

Ibrahim’s artistic journey began in theater, where he spent years honing his craft and building a reputation as a dedicated and expressive performer. His work on stage has seen him take on a wide range of roles, allowing him to explore diverse characters and narratives with depth and authenticity. Through theatre, he developed a strong foundation in performance and audience engagement—skills that continue to define his work today. His contributions to the stage have earned him numerous acting awards and recognitions, reflecting both his talent and his long-standing commitment to the performing arts in the UAE.

Transitioning into television, Ibrahim brought with him the depth of a seasoned performer and the instinct of a storyteller. As a presenter, he is known for his warm delivery, cultural awareness, and ability to connect with a wide audience. He has hosted and contributed to a variety of programs that highlight untold stories, media history, and regional identity. One of his notable works includes Media Memory, a program that explores archival content and celebrates influential figures and milestones in the region’s media landscape. His work in television has also been recognised with multiple presenting awards, further cementing his reputation as a distinguished media personality.

In radio, Ibrahim has expanded his storytelling voice, engaging listeners through compelling segments and conversational formats. His presence on air reflects his versatility as a communicator, using voice and narrative to create meaningful connections with audiences. Whether on radio or television, his style remains authentic, engaging, and rooted in a genuine passion for storytelling.

Beyond broadcast media, Ibrahim is a sought-after Master of Ceremonies (MC), bringing the energy and confidence of a performer to live events. His background in theatre gives him a distinct advantage on stage, allowing him to adapt effortlessly, read audiences, and deliver impactful experiences. He has hosted a wide range of events, from cultural festivals to high-profile corporate gatherings, consistently combining professionalism with creative presence.

Throughout his career, Ibrahim has received numerous awards in both acting and presenting, recognising his excellence across performance and media. These accolades reflect not only his talent but also his dedication to his craft and his ability to leave a lasting impression on audiences.

With a career defined by performance, recognition, and continuous creative exploration, Ibrahim continues to shape his path as a storyteller who brings authenticity, passion, and excellence to every stage and platform he steps onto.

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Isaac Tbazz is a world renowned virtuoso musician who is known for his versatility in many genres of music, including Jazz, Pop, Blues, R'n'B, and Bollywood, to mention a few. He is known for his bass techniques, his rolling notes, and modes played over the fretboard. With experience that spans over a decade of performance with several leading artists across the UAE and internationally, he is noted for his professionalism and positive attitude to work and projects in which he has been involved. As a prominent member of the music community in the UAE, he also hosts music collective events in DIFC, bringing together and elevating local and international talent in the region.

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Ksenia Klubova is a UAE-based dancer, choreographer, and aerialist. She is one of the pioneering graduates from Sharjah Performing Arts Academy in the UAE. As a freelance performer and choreographer, Ksenia worked for multiple productions in the UAE and abroad, including UAE National Day productions, Al Zeer Salem, Fujairah Monodrama Festival, Al Basheer Show, Scarlet & Lacasa Performing Arts theatres, and Short and Sweet Festival, among others. Ksenia also teaches contemporary and aerial workshops internationally and founded a theater camp for refugee teens, launched in the Shatila refugee camp in October 2025.

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Maitha Ali is an artist and theater maker living between Abu Dhabi and London. Her work existentially investigates urban angst, human and non-human conviviality, and erasure/silence in the collective memory of domestic and built environments. She works with creative methodologies, performance art, text, photography, videography, and installation art. Her practice is a synthesis of studies in political science at NYU Abu Dhabi and in visual, material, and museum anthropology at the University of Oxford.

Maitha’s practice is rooted in creating socially & politically engaged theater that is multilingual and highlights stories and voices from the Global Majority. Her current project, Winter Solstice, an extension of long-term autoethnographic research, is a play set in a desert during the winter solstice and the Ursid meteor shower. It invites five characters, sitting in darkness and accompanied by a celestial sky, to tell stories of friendship, departure, return, and marginality. 

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Ram Farha is a Syrian musical theatre actor, singer, and MC based in the UAE. A graduate of the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, he was part of the first cohort of musical theater graduates in the Middle East.

Ram has been working as a freelance performer across the UAE, with a strong focus on musical theater, acting, and singing, alongside hosting and puppeteering. His work spans stage productions, live entertainment, and large-scale events, where he has performed as both a singer and actor, as well as an MC. He has appeared at venues such as Dubai Opera, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and major festivals across the region.

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Samir El Kawas is a 27-year-old filmmaker and artist born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. He nurtured his passion for storytelling and film from a young age and moved to Dubai in early 2023 in hopes of reaching his full potential. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in TV and Film from the Lebanese American University, he explored the realms of visual effects and video editing early on.

An internship at the Lebanese Film Academy during university propelled his career, leading to roles as a junior VFX artist on Morine and later directing his acclaimed debut, Jabbara.

Samir contributed his editing skills to esteemed post-production companies, serving clients like Leo Burnett and Saatchi & Saatchi. He unveiled his award-winning independent shorts, The Hurl, a sci-fi short, and The Giant Taro Root, a musical film, showcasing his creative vision and his ability to tell stories through not only visuals but catchy musical theater-inspired lyrics.

Collaborations with industry giants like MBC enriched his portfolio, earning recognition in programs such as Cinema for Peace and Filmmakers x NGOs. Transitioning to Dubai in 2023, Samir seized opportunities with leading companies like BeIndependent and ITP Media Group, leaving a mark with viral campaigns. Samir has also recently delved into writing his own music under his artist name ssssamké as a form of self expression and creative freedom, allowing himself full creative control through autobiography. Dedicated to addressing social, environmental, and humanitarian issues through his work, whether through music, film, or content, Samir is committed to elevating the Arabic creative scene as he aims to make a lasting impact on the industry.

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Sreeja Chakra is a Bengali R&B/Soul singer-songwriter based in Dubai, UAE. Her musical journey began at the age of 12, where she quickly found herself captivating audiences at open mics, social gatherings, school events, and talent competitions. In 2014, she stood out among over 100 applicants to perform at the Winter Wonders Concert hosted by City 101.6 FM at Global Village, Dubai—marking an early milestone in her performance career.

In 2017, Sreeja further honed her craft at Berklee College of Music in Boston through their prestigious Five Week Summer Program. Her commitment to music led her to relocate to Denver, Colorado, in 2018, where she pursued a BSc in Music Business at the University of Colorado Denver. Immersed in the city’s vibrant music scene, she began shaping her artistic identity and refining her sound.

Sreeja’s distinctive style is a seamless fusion of South Asian musical influences and alternative R&B, brought to life through a series of singles and her debut EP, released in 2022. Her work reflects a deeply personal and culturally rich sonic palette, positioning her as a compelling and evolving voice in contemporary music.

In June 2025, she released her latest single, Green Smoke, the first offering from her upcoming EP Three of Swords, set for release in June 2026. The project explores three distinct love stories from her life, each representing different emotional chapters. Through this body of work, Sreeja channels vulnerability and introspection, using music as a tool for release, healing, and growth—ultimately moving toward healthier and more grounded relationships.

Beyond her work as an artist, Sreeja is deeply embedded in the regional music ecosystem. She currently works as a music coordinator at Honeycomb Hi-Fi, one of Dubai’s leading music venues, where she curates the record store and manages DJ bookings across both local and international scenes. Her dual role as both artist and curator allows her to contribute meaningfully to the culture she is simultaneously shaping.

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Stephanie Tadros is a multidisciplinary performing artist, director, filmmaker, and dance educator based in Abu Dhabi. She holds a double major in Performing Arts and Marketing, along with additional studies in filmmaking from the Lebanese American University (LAU). A musical theatre triple threat, she integrates singing, acting, and dance to create work that moves fluidly between stage and screen.

Her training spans classical opera and contemporary voice under renowned instructors, including Lara Jokhadar, Maestro Salvatore Scinaldi, and Yasmina Sabbah, alongside extensive movement training in modern dance, contemporary dance, hip-hop, and jazz with Dr. Matthew Henley, Dr. Nadra Assaf, and Beirut Physical Lab, among others. She has performed as a soloist and lead performer on some of Lebanon’s most prominent stages, including the Baalbeck International Festival, Casino du Liban, Byblos Castle, Gulbenkian Theatre, and Sunflower Theatre, with notable appearances as a featured soloist in large-scale productions.

Beyond performance, Stephanie’s work as a director and filmmaker focuses on amplifying underrepresented narratives through interdisciplinary storytelling. Her thesis project, Peter Pan’s Lost Shadow, is an original play she wrote that completely reimagines the classic story through a psychodynamic lens, combining shadow puppetry, movement, and film. Her documentary My Body Eats Me follows Marina Farhat’s experience living with scleroderma in Lebanon, and has been screened at ABC Grand Cinemas and selected for international festivals, including the 10th edition of Lebanon Cinema Days in Canada (2026) and the Beirut International Women Film Festival (2026), with additional selections forthcoming.

Since returning to Abu Dhabi, where she was raised, Stephanie has created and presented original choreographic and vocal works exploring themes of identity, belonging, and societal dynamics. These include You at the Cultural Foundation, Baggage at 421 Arts Campus, and Everything’s on Fire at Alserkal Arts Foundation. She has also performed with the Abu Dhabi Choral Group (ADCG) in several productions, most notably Sister Act, where she was both a performer and dance captain for a cast of 80 at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi. She has actively contributed to grassroots artistic initiatives as a singer and dancer at Bayt Al Mamzar Cycles of Change and at Rizq Art Initiative. She was also selected to participate in government-led cultural initiatives, including the Public Art Biennale.

As an educator, Stephanie teaches at Emirates School of Dance, where she has led the musical theater program for the past three years, fostering a creative community for young performers in the UAE. In addition, she teaches a range of styles including ballet, hip-hop, and jazz. She has been invited as a guest instructor at Cranleigh’s BSME 2024 Dance and currently serves as the choreographer for the musical Matilda Jr. at the American Community School. Through both her artistic and educational work, she is committed to building opportunities for the next generation of artists in the region.

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Yousif Hassan is not just a singer-songwriter; he’s a musical storyteller shaped by movement, culture, and emotion. Born in Saudi Arabia, raised in Sudan, and now performing across the UAE, Yousif’s identity as an artist reflects a fusion of experiences that continue to influence his sound and perspective.

Over the past decade, Yousif has committed himself to developing his craft, both vocally and creatively. His foundation lies in R&B and funk, genres that allow him to express soul, groove, and feeling, and naturally explore beyond boundaries, blending styles and influences to create something that feels honest and personal. For Yousif, music is not about fitting into a single category; it’s about expression, connection, and authenticity.

On stage, Yousif focuses on more than just delivering songs. His aim is to create a full experience, one that draws people in emotionally and energetically. His performances are built on presence, interaction, and storytelling, allowing the audience to not only hear the music but feel it. Whether performing for an intimate crowd or a larger stage, Yousif brings the same intention to connect, move, and leave something lasting.

Yousif’s journey has taken him to perform across Sudan and the UAE, with each stage adding depth to his artistry. These experiences have shaped his understanding of diverse audiences and strengthened his ability to adapt while staying true to his sound.

As he continues to grow, he remains focused on evolving his music, expanding his reach, and creating moments that resonate beyond the stage.

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