Five things to do this weekend in Qatar (May 29-31)

Dancing from three continents are on offer in Qatar this weekend, along with craft markets, a designer abaya sale and the world premiere of a new musical piece by Rami Khalife.

Here are our picks for what to do over the next few days:

Spanish fiesta

Spanish food, music and dancing are all on offer at the W Doha hotel this weekend. Tickets are sold out for the event on Thursday, May 29, but some are still available for Friday, May 30. The fiesta runs from 8pm to 1:30am, and there will be a Spanish Tapas buffet, a performance from the Spanish band “Calle Botica,” and a master class given by flamenco dancers.

A raffle will be held during the evening, with prizes including stays at the W, a trip to Spain and dinners for two at the hotel. Female guests are also encouraged to dress in traditional Flamenco costume – the best dressed will win a prize.

Tickets are QR200/person and can be purchased online. Only adults over the age of 21 will be admitted. For groups of more than 20 people, a special ticket of QR180 per person will apply, which will need to booked through [email protected]. To find out more, check out this Facebook page.

Argentine tango festival

Keeping with the dancing theme, the Intercontinental Doha the City will stage an Argentine Tango Festival on Saturday, May 31 at its Al Jawhara Ballroom, from 8pm to midnight.

Tickets are priced at QR200 per person, and include a gala dinner, live music by the Doha Community orchestra and 10 performances by tango dancers from Greece, Argentina and France.

Tickets are available online here and here. Only adults aged 21 and above will be admitted. Guests are advised to “dress to impress.”

Bazaar of Hope

The Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) will hold a handicraft exhibition at the Souq Waqif Art Center from Thursday, May 29 to Saturday, May 31 from 8:30am to 9:30pm.

Collections on display include artwork produced by Syrian women in the Zaatari Refugee camp in Jordan. All money raised will help generate funds for the women and their families. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

Bus 174

The Doha Film Institute (DFI) will screen Brazilian film Bus 174 at the Museum of Islamic Art auditorium on Thursday, May 29 and Friday, May 30 at 7pm.

This 122-minute film, directed by Jose Padilha, is part of the Years of Culture Brazilian film showcase.

Subtitled in English, it portrays the real-life story of 21-year-old Sandro do Nascimento, who took an entire commuter bus hostage in June 2000.

Tickets cost QR35 each and can be bought online here. The film is open only to those aged 18 years and above due to mature subject matter.

Designer fashion

The “Laha Trunk Show,” a ladies-only event, will be held at the Torch ballroom today and tomorrow (May 30) from 11am to 10pm. Here, you’ll find luxurious abayas and jalabiyas along with accessories and handbags on sale.

The exhibition features 14 designers from the Gulf and one designer from Europe, including Ashghal Kuwaitia, Samar Secret Abaya, Amina Al Jassim, Agmarat, and Joli Design.

Qatar Red Crescent Ladies Forum will also be debuting at the Laha Trunk show by selling handmade bracelets made by Palestinian women and handcrafted date boxes made by Syrian women to raise money for their cause. Admission is free of charge.

Bonus:

Indian Ballet: Danseuse Mamata Shankar and her 16-member troupe will perform Classical Contemporary dance at the DPS-MIS auditorium on Friday, May 30 at 6pm. Multi-lingual singer Raghav Chatterjee will also person. To buy tickets, contact 55865042 or 33242318. More information about the event can be found here.
Watren Moda: This event, which aims to increase awareness of Qatari culture, will be held on Friday, May 30 from 4pm to 10pm at the Katara South Village, beach side. It will include dhow exhibits, henna designing, a fashion show of traditional dresses, and an exhibition of cultural souvenirs. Tickets are available from Stenden University and at the gate, and are priced at QR20 for adults and QR10 for kids. An additional QR10 credit will be provided toward food bought on site. For more information, contact [email protected].
Aqua Park weekend fun: A pirate-themed party for kids will take place at the Aqua Park Qatar from 10am to 10pm on Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31, as a respite from the summer heat. Tickets are priced at QR115 for adults and can purchased at the gate or online. Kids under three go free. For more information, contact [email protected].
‘The Zone’ by Rami Khalife: The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing a world premiere of a new work by Rami Khalife, The Zone, on Saturday, May 31 at the Katara Opera House from 7:30 pm. The concert will also feature Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 in E minor. Tickets are priced between QR75- QR200 and can be purchased here.
Wadi El Safi Concert: The Qatar Music Academy’s Arab Music Department will perform songs by legendary Lebanese composer Wadi el Safi on Saturday, May 31 from 5pm to 6:30pm in Auditorium 3 at the Qatar National Convention Center. The event is free for all, and children are welcome. Doors will open at 4:45 pm and seating is based on first come, first serve basis. For more information, see here.
Al Thakira Mangrove Clean-up Campaign reminder: If you’ve registered for the mangrove clean-up campaign organized by I Love Qatar, don’t forget to arrive at the petrol station on the way to Al Khor at 7am sharp on Friday, May 30. Registered volunteers are requested to bring their own hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable shoes and a towel. Please note that registrations for the event are now closed. To find out more, check out the Facebook page.