Lifestyle Features Monday, May 4, 2020

Established 1961 15 Lifestyle Features Monday, May 4, 2020 Artist Reem Ali Adeeb works in her studio apartment in Los Angeles, California. Artist Reem Ali Adeeb gestures while pointing out the Netflix produc- Artist Reem Ali Adeeb works in her studio apartment. —AFP photos tion of “Green Eggs and Ham” on which she worked, in her studio apartment in Los Angeles. t was during a phone conversation with her sister is to make their screen time interactive and inspiring to be able to hold work meetings online without being UNICEF in Lebanon. Iback in Qatar that the idea clicked for Hollywood by drawing with them, reading them a story or doing interrupted or just have some time for themselves. In a “Suddenly their own world has disappeared — no animation artist Reem Ali Adeeb. Like other regions crafts.” region often wracked by war, and where children faced more school, no more play with their friends and no across the world, young children in the Middle East Ali Adeeb said her sister’s 7-year-old son Omar has a harsh reality even before the pandemic, experts say more human interactions except with their family,” she were confined at home because of the COVID-19 pan- even joined in the fun, offering origami tutorials to his such tutorials offer kids a reprieve whether in the com- added. “It’s a lonely reality that makes it difficult to demic, but there was not nearly enough original con- peers. “He’s been the best. He’s done the most among fort of their homes or even in refugee camps. dream, that confines their imagination to the walls of tent online in Arabic to keep them entertained, such as us with three videos recorded already,” she said. Ali “Nowadays, children worldwide are confined in their their room — if they are so lucky to have one.” Soha fun tutorials and other activities. So Ali Adeeb, a Adeeb herself is using some of the characters from homes and children in the Middle East are no excep- Bsat Boustani, a UNICEF consultant based in Beirut, Syrian-born animation artist who works at Warner “Green Eggs and Ham,” notably Chickeraffe, a chick- tion,” said Annamaria Laurini, the former head of said the YouTube tutorials are much needed in a Bros. Entertainment in Los Angeles, and her sister en/giraffe hybrid, to draw young viewers into her region where such material in Arabic for children is Sandi, a university lecturer of pharmaceutics in Qatar, world. Sandi for her part keeps her young audience lagging in terms of creativity and innovation. decided to take matters into their own hands. focused and allows their imagination to travel by read- “And so, initiatives like ‘Susupreemo’ can only be The pair set up “Susupreemo,” a YouTube channel ing them children’s books. seen in a positive light as it gives children a healthy designed to help Arabic-speaking kids — and their “I thought I would read for kids during a time way out of confinement and a sense of normalcy.” So stressed-out parents — weather the coronavirus lock- where buying or lending a book is very challenging, far Ali Adeeb, her sister and nephew have produced downs through basic tutorials on drawing, making especially for some disadvantaged kids in some Arab seven videos and they hope to continue with their origami or simply reading children’s books, all in countries,” she told AFP in an email. “I started with a project even after the pandemic. “I’m thinking now of Arabic. “The idea is to create videos to engage the book suitable for children aged 3 to 6 years old and teaching kids how to draw popular cartoon characters kids,” said Ali Adeeb, who at Warner Bros. has worked now I am selecting more books that can engage the ... and I’m hoping to open this space for other artists,” on children’s shows including “Green Eggs and Ham,” a kids for longer periods,” she added. she said. “I have a friend who is a dancer and I would Netflix animated series based on the Dr. Seuss classic. love for her to teach kids how to dance. “There’s a lot “There’s tons of content on the web in English for kids A new reality more we can do.”—AFP but there is not enough original content in Arabic,” The response, so far, has been overwhelmingly pos- added the 34-year-old who is now working from home itive with children enthusiastically sharing their draw- Artist Reem Ali Adeeb points to the words “Let’s Draw” on the second season of the Netflix show. “So the aim ings via email and parents thankful for the opportunity in Arabic while working in her studio apartment. n the middle of their bedroom, Bolshoi ballet tion,” says Tsvirko. “That’s what we perform- anticipates such a timeframe. “I doubt any- Idancers Margarita Shrainer and Igor Tsvirko ers are doing: finding linoleum, barres.” one will start working before September or have placed a linoleum mat and a barre. Normally dancers do not train at home so do anything will open so I’ve steeled myself for Since the start of the lockdown, the couple, not have such equipment, Tsvirko says. As such long holidays.” Meanwhile both are both soloists in the legendary troupe, have they spoke, the theatre brought round rolls of developing hobbies. largely used their own initiative to keep up black dance linoleum, a special type with a Tsvirko is learning to play the guitar while In this file photo Ronnie Woods, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, and Keith Richards per- their dance skills at home. The Bolshoi held its strong grip. Even their ballet shoes are “wear- Shrainer has got into cooking, pilates and form onstage as The Rolling Stones bring their ‘NO FILTER’ Tour at NRG Stadium in first online classes only this week, more than a ing out” as they cannot collect new supplies, learning English. She says she misses the bus- Houston, Texas.—AFP month after lockdown began. Yet Tsvirko and Tsvirko says. The theatre’s general director tle of the theatre: “There’s not the usual pace, Shrainer still look toned and Tsvirko pulls at Vladimir Urin told Kommersant daily in early rhythm, constant rehearsals, meeting col- his waistband. “I don’t think I’ve got fat, that’s April that it was unfeasible to hold online leagues, sitting in the cafeteria.” Tsvirko says the main thing,” says the 30-year-old dancer, a classes for the 250-strong troupe. he misses the anticipation ahead of going on leading soloist at the Bolshoi who has per- stage. “That atmosphere when you come in formed lead roles in “Ivan the Terrible” and and warm up and you talk to your favorite “Nureyev”. wardrobe masters, your makeup artists — that he Rolling Stones on Thursday going to work and some of it was a bit Shrainer, a first soloist who has performed process of going in, the slight butterflies, that’s Treleased their first new original weird and a bit too dark,” Jagger said. major roles in “Coppelia” and “Carmen Suite”, probably what I miss most.” Going back will music since 2012, a single aptly “So I slightly rewrote it. I didn’t have to massages her leg with a tennis ball and moves not be easy, they acknowledge. named “Living in a Ghost Town.” rewrite very much, to be honest. It’s very into the splits. Together for more than a year, “After such a long time of strict precaution- Frontman Mick Jagger announced the much how I originally did it.” The 76- they are living in a studio flat owned by the ary measures, how will men even shake surprise release on Twitter, saying, “The year-old sings of chaos and destruction theatre. The same block is home to several hands? I think everyone will be keeping their Stones were in the studio recording new and the seemingly infinite loneliness of other dancers and it was outside this building distance a bit,” predicts Shrainer. Physically material before the lockdown & one isolation. “Life was so beautiful / Then that the notorious acid attack on then-artistic there will also be “a tough comeback period song — Living In A Ghost Town — we we all got locked down,” Jagger sings. director Sergei Filin took place in 2013. Their for the performers, of regaining strength,” she thought would resonate through the “Please let this be over / Stuck in a Zoom class is led by a teacher doing steps in says. Theatre-goers will be changed too, says times we’re living in.” Speaking to Apple world without end.” Also speaking to his bedroom to a piano accompaniment. There Tsvirko. “Audiences will definitely observe Music moments later, Jagger said he and Apple Music, Richards said the song was are leaps and energetic dance routines. At the precautions: probably they’ll sit in masks and Keith Richards wrote the song over a cut in 2019 at a Los Angeles studio and end, Shrainer sits with her legs stretched out in gloves.” Beyond the virus, the economic reali- year ago, but that it was uncannily fitting re-worked for release recently. “It’s sort front of her. “We got some cardio,” the 26- Lockdown has forced dancers Igor Tsvirko ties have changed, he adds. “Russia for sure is to current times. “It wasn’t written for of eerie when suddenly it’s coming to year-old says. Afterwards they goof around, and Margarita Shrainer to use their small flat also in an economic crisis, like the whole world now, but it was just one of those odd life,” he said, adding that he’d been think- Tsvirko performing lifts with Shrainer.

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