First of all, Saudi Arabia opened its doors to Western raves and music festivals. Now, he turns to long -term Saudi traditions as she seeks to attract tourists and reshape his national identity.
In “Terhal”, a sumptuous stage show in Riyadh, an actor in a red and white hairstyle gallops on a white horse, exploring the heritage of the kingdom and the best tourist sites.
The evolution towards healthier and inspired entertainment of the Arabian occurs after noisy scenes at previous music festivals in the capital.
This year’s Riyadh entertainment program, which still includes MDL Beast, will be “almost entirely made up of Saudi musicians and the Gulf,” said Turki Alashikh, president of the General Entertainment Authority.
“The characteristic of the 2030 vision (the project of economic and social reform of Saudi Arabia) is still to test the borders,” said the Sonbastian sons of the German reflection group Carpo.
“And if perhaps two steps are too much, you take a step back.”
Terhal – Arabic for Journey – Mixture of traditional Saudi songs, songs and a national dress with advanced shows and high -tech equipment.
He tells the story of Saad, a young Saudi exploring his country of origin, with 55 Saudis among his troop of 100 acrobats, trapeze and dancers.
“ Reframing and renowned ”
The kingdom now adopts its traditions to help shape a less austere national identity.
“This cropping and the fame of Saudi identity align modern arts and culture with the traditional heritage and the legacy of Saudi Arabia,” said the sons.
Terhal “captures both the beauty of the Saudi landscapes and the depth of its traditions, making them accessible to a large audience,” said the spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Abdulrahman Almotawa.
The artistic director Filippo Ferraresi said that he had conducted “in -depth research” on Saudi culture, collaborating “with Saudi professors, teachers and writers”.
“I discovered the different regions, their traditions, their dances, their music,” he said.
Until 2018, concerts and dance were prohibited and women had to bear head blanket. The opening under the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has since brought Formula 1 races, stars concerts such as Jennifer Lopez, and the end of the prohibition of women leading.
The objective is to make Saudi Arabia more attractive to tourists and international affairs, helping the world’s largest oil exporter to reduce its gross dependence.
‘Unexploited potential’
Entertainment was “at the link of social and economic components” of Vision 2030, said Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of the Baker Institute of Rice University in the United States.
It is “considered not only a sector of great unexploited potential which can contribute to economic diversification, but also as a means of presenting the changes in progress in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
For the Saudi dancer Talha Mas, 23, playing Terhal was a “dream come true” – spinning with his hair that flows freely, only a few years that the heads were mandatory for women.
Spectator Servia Saleh, 37, said he felt “proud” to see this caliber’s performance in the Saudi capital.
“Before, you had to go to Europe or the United States to see this type of show,” said the Egyptian.
