Deira City Centre has something for everyone this DSS!
Choirs, culture and camera work are central themes for participants at Deira City Centre’s DSS programme this summer. The popular shopping mall is hosting numerous DSS events to present a wide range of activities to celebrate its involvement in this year’s annual festival and is serving up an eclectic menu that promises something of interest for everyone, regardless of age.
Edutainment is first on the cards at the mall in the form of The Modhesh Discovery Centre, a unique mobile interactive learning exhibition that will be at the centre until 9 July. Activities on offer here that are aimed at stimulating inquisitive young minds include the Weaving Exhibit and the Building Blocks of Learning. A dose of unadulterated fun is added into the mix, as the children get the opportunity to learn some special magic tricks.
The first choral offering comes courtesy of Dubai Voices. The organisation is a professional group of singers comprising eight men and eight women from across the globe who have made Dubai their base. Performing songs in English, Arabic and other languages, the group will be singing their hearts out for all members of Dubai’s community from 25 to 27 June.
For good fun with an added attraction of potential big winnings, simulator enthusiasts should make a note in their diaries for the 10 and 11 July, as they will get a chance to pit their skills against each other at the first qualifying round of the World Gaming Championship. Winners will be promoted through to the subsequent rounds and ultimately get the chance to walk away with top prizes at the finals.
Kids’ trendy clothing gets an airing from 24 till 30 July, when the best in children’s spring/summer collections will be paraded by young muses along a special ramp set up as a part of the Kids’ Fashion Week, a DSS signature event. During this time, talent scouts will be out looking for the next catwalk stars and will be selecting ‘the best kiddie model in town.’
Next comes performances by the African Children’s Choir, whose young members offer an inspirational message of overcoming incredible adversity to create great music. They will be at the mall from 27 July to 28 July.
For the third consecutive year, Deira City Centre will host the DSS Photography Exhibition, another DSS signature event that will happen in collaboration with National Geographic- an event for all camera enthusiasts that provides a platform for professional and amateur photographers to showcase their creativity.
As in previous years, visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to experience the photographs on display as a ‘real-life adventure.’ In addition to this, a whole new section will be introduced this year – the ‘Emirati Cultural Heritage’ section, which aims to showcase the artists’ best images of local culture, something which will contribute to the efforts in educating people about the UAE’s rich heritage. The exhibition will be on from 6th August till 13th August.
Of course DSS wouldn’t be the same without the festival’s principal character, Modhesh, whose cheerful demeanor around Dubai heralds the start of the the 65-day event. Modhesh will be on hand to meet and greet children in person every Monday at the mall to spread his infectious summer cheer. In addition, balloon benders and roaming characters such as jungle stilt walkers and acrobatic jugglers will add to the festivities.
Fuad Al Najjar, Vice President, Deira City Centre, believes that the program of events that is being laid on at the mall this year reflects the wealth of interests that can be found within the city. “We’re hosting a rich range of activities through DSS this year to cater for every sector of society,” he said. “From fashion to photography, music to magic, there will be something for everyone at this year’s DSS festival at Deira City Centre,” he added.
