How do you perform amid flying acrobats and a shapeshifting stage? Focus on the score and listen to the director's instructions through an earpiece, says Nesrine Belmokh.
As a cast member of Cirque du Soleil’s extravagant production Amaluna, which toured the world in 2012, the production was just one in the French-Algerian artist's oeuvre, which includes being a singer, songwriter and classically trained cellist.
Moving on from the circus and orchestral performances, Nesrine, who performs under her first name, has also built a solo career and is back with her most personal musical album to date. Out last month, Kan Ya Makan is a dynamic collection of multilingual songs fusing everything from classical music and Arabic folk to North African Gnawa music.
Translated to Once Upon a Time, Nesrine tells The National the eclectic album is a personal statement of intent. "I wanted to make an album that reflects who I am and really talks about my own creative journey and heritage," she says ahead of her concert at Sharjah's Jazz at the Island festival on Friday.
"The truth is, I am a bit of a nomad. I was born in France to an Algerian family, but I have travelled a lot and lived in Spain, the US and Switzerland. I have always viewed myself as a bit of a traveller, and that has always been reflected in my music. But with this album, I wanted to show that and be more personal at the same time."
Indeed, Kan Ya Makan is a vibrant listen that speaks of an artist with a restless muse. The sauntering Bonnie and Clyde combines elements of Cello Suite No 1 by Johann Sebastian Bach, while Leila's spiralling cello and vocal harmonies are a tribute to Egyptian songstress Umm Kulthum's Alf Leila Wa Leila.
However, it is in Dunia where Nesrine emerges from her influences to lyrically and musically summarise her life’s journey. Over the rumbling bass line of the gimbri (a North African three-stringed lute), North African percussion, and moody cello lines, it also marks the first time Nesrine blends English and French in one song.
She describes her freewheeling approach to songwriting as partly a reaction to her seasoned career as a classical musical soloist, where she performed in prestigious locations such as the Konzerthaus Berlin and Cello Biennale Amsterdam.
"I think the album came from a growing and subconscious urge to do something that is rooted in the present," she says. "And to be anchored in the present, you have to really look at the world around you and, of course, within to transcribe all these thoughts and emotions."
Then again, some of the lessons learned in those rarefied halls remain inspiring today. One of them was performing with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, founded by the Argentine-born Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim with the late Palestinian-American scholar Edward Said. "What left an impression on me was that the message of the orchestra and the music played was so powerful and important," she recalls. "It shows the possibilities that come with music and how it can transcend all kinds of barriers, whether they're genre or nationalism."
Which brings us back to her Cirque du Soleil performance. Did she learn anything during her time with one of the most popular circus companies?
“Sure: that everything is possible,” she says. “When you spend time with people who are the best at what they do – whether they are performers or technical crew – you learn about discipline, adaptation and how to multi-task. I feel that I have been doing that for a lot of my career. It’s more satisfying that way.”
Nesrine will perform at Jazz at the Island on Friday. The festival runs on Friday and Saturday at Al Noor Island, Sharjah. Doors open at 4pm and tickets start at Dh100
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Short-term let permits explained
Homeowners and tenants are allowed to list their properties for rental by registering through the Dubai Tourism website to obtain a permit.
Tenants also require a letter of no objection from their landlord before being allowed to list the property.
There is a cost of Dh1,590 before starting the process, with an additional licence fee of Dh300 per bedroom being rented in your home for the duration of the rental, which ranges from three months to a year.
Anyone hoping to list a property for rental must also provide a copy of their title deeds and Ejari, as well as their Emirates ID.
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFirst%20match%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2020%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%2016%20round%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%203%20to%206%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuarter-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%209%20and%2010%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2013%20and%2014%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The years Ramadan fell in May
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Results
57kg quarter-finals
Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.
60kg quarter-finals
Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.
63.5kg quarter-finals
Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.
67kg quarter-finals
Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.
71kg quarter-finals
Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.
Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.
81kg quarter-finals
Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
