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 . “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, , , and 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 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 , 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. “As for for ballet practice.—AFP basically, so the question is the cost of tickets.” things,” he said. ing the pandemic was an appropriate dancing as a duo, yes we probably are lucky Urin told Kommersant that he fears opening “It was written about being in a place time for release. “Then Mick called me that we can keep up this form,” Shrainer says. Tsvirko suggests the management did not later than September could mean financial dis- which was full of life but is now bereft of and said the same thing and that great The dancers had to find their own ways to initially see how online video conferences aster due to planned premieres. But the life so to speak... I was just jamming on minds think alike.” The iconic British create a lockdown routine and find equipment. could be used. “I think it’s primarily due to dancers are ultimately optimistic the revered the guitar and wrote it really quickly in rockers have spent much of the past two the fact that some people weren’t familiar troupe will return with renewed energy. “I like 10 minutes.” Before releasing the decades touring, though the coronavirus ‘Only stronger’ with technical innovations that exist now.” hope people won’t get weaker over this time moody song heavy on twang, Jagger halted those plans.—AFP As lockdown began, “the Bolshoi gave very General director Urin has said his “good” but only stronger,” says Tsvirko.—AFP tweaked some of the lyrics to fit the con- important and worthwhile advice: keep your- scenario is for the theatre to reopen for the temporary moment. “Some of it is not self fit and find a way to do ballet in self-isola- new season in September and Tsvirko says he

he Eiffel Tower joined other global half hour later, the lights on the 20th cen- Tlandmarks Saturday in capping a tury Montparnasse Tower, another tall he coronavirus pandemic might have Konchalovsky, who has earned multiple inter- Hollywood movies include “Tango and Cash”, sparkling tribute launched by the landmark in the French capital, transi- Tbrought the film industry to a halt but national awards and worked with renowned also asked aspiring filmmakers to reflect on Empire State Building in New York to tioned from white to red “to show its Andrei Konchalovsky, one of Russia’s filmmaker Andrey Tarkovsky, has already the nature of the quarantine in Russia and how those battling the coronavirus. At 8:00 support even more intensively, like a most renowned film and theatre directors, is received thousands of video clips and photos it may be different from lockdowns in China or pm (1800 GMT), when people in France beating heart,” the company added. as busy as ever. He wants to make a docu- to choose from. “They shoot them from their Europe. The film director said his countrymen have been clapping daily from windows The nine-day #HeroesShineBright mentary about daily life under quarantine, room, a decrepit window sill or a favorite old might adapt better to crises than people in the and balconies to thank health-care work- initiative started on April 24 in New York exploring the poetic side of the mundane, and sofa,” he said. Sometimes contributors read West. “Specifics of life in Russia have fostered ers, the Paris landmark lit up in “sparkling and each night a different color is used he has invited ordinary Russians to work with out a text or wax philosophical about in man an enormous ability to resist sanc- white” to hail “the unfailing courage of there to salute various groups including him on the project. “All of us have ended up Russians’ coping mechanisms. tions,” he said. “That is why we will be able to care workers confronting the coron- health care staff, transit workers, and on a desert island and that’s the most inter- Scenes have included Russians sharing a tough it out.” avirus pandemic,” said SETE, the com- police or military personnel, SETE esting thing,” the 82-year-old told AFP in a vodka bottle at a makeshift table connecting Konchalovsky is not the only filmmaker to pany that manages the Eiffel Tower. A added. Other landmarks that have sup- video interview. In late March, Konchalovsky two nearby balconies or riding a bike to a have found new inspiration during the lock- ported the initiative are the Euromast in issued a call on social media to his fans to neighbor’s door. Konchalovsky, who lived in down. Director and producer Timur Rotterdam, 360 Chicago, the UAE’S Burj make short videos for a project he has called the United States for many years and whose Bekmambetov, who is regarded as one of the Khalifa, the world’s tallest structure, the “Quarantine Russian Style”. inventors of the “Screenlife” format, in which CN Tower in Toronto, the Macao tower “Take your smartphones, film your new movies take place entirely on computer in China, the Busan Tower in South routines, your favorite spot at home, or even screens, wants to produce a film about the Korea, the Ostankino TV Tower in your work web conference. And we’ll make lockdown in the new genre. Like Russia, the Tallinn TV Tower in Estonia movies!” he said. Every week the celebrated Konchalovsky, he has invited Russians to con- and the OVNI Tower in Slovakia.—AFP filmmaker, who is followed by more than tribute short videos and script pitches for a 400,000 people on Facebook, asks his co- project he has called “Tales From The creators a number of questions. He wants them Quarantine”. The crowd-sourced stories A picture shows a bronze statue to speak about their fears or new rituals or could be real or fictional.—AFP wearing a face mask with the even tell him about the “craziest” thing they Eiffel Tower enlightened in back- have purchased during the lockdown. Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky ground in Paris.—AFP