Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center Qasidah par Coeur Competition Winners announced at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

Dubai, 6 March, 2013: The finals of the first Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center Qasidah par Coeur Competition were held today at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, with students from nearly 40 schools in the UAE performing poetry in Arabic, English and a variety of international languages.

Qasidah par Coeur, meaning ‘Poetry by Heart’, is a new children’s competition added to the 2014 Festival. The 20 finalists of the performance-based poetry competition were tested on their ability to perform the spoken word as well as the 50-word explanation behind their choice of poem. Each student recited two poems, chosen from lists assembled by the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center. At least one poem performed had to be in either English or Arabic, whereas the other could be in any other language.

Winners were awarded certificates, a trophy and books. They will also have the opportunity to appear on the Dubai Eye radio show ‘Talking of Books’, which is co-hosted by Festival Director, Isobel Abulhoul and broadcast every Saturday on Dubai Eye 103.8 fm.

The competition was conducted in three rounds - an inter-school round from which 60 semi-finalists were chosen, following which the top 20 progressed to the finals.

Mr. Ibrahim Abdulrahim, director of Events at Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Center, said of the competition: “We are very pleased with the turnout for the first Qasidah par Coeur competition. The enthusiasm and performance of the finalists was mesmerising.

“Our aim has always been to spread awareness of the UAE’s national heritage and to encourage the public, especially the youth, to do the same. Thus, we are especially delighted to have had such an encouraging response in the Nabati poetry category. Nabati is an important part of our heritage and it is wonderful to see these students keeping that tradition alive,” he added.

Commenting on the finals, Festival Director Isobel Abulhoul said, “We have been thoroughly entertained by the performances at the first Qasidah par Coeur. Many people believe that poetry as a literary genre is dying away but the participants today have proven that poetry is alive and well.

“We are very grateful to the Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Center for sponsoring this competition. Their values and ideals were akin to our own and their help in promoting literacy and a love for reading is invaluable. We look forward to working closely with them in the future.”

The Festival is taking place in Dubai from 4 to 8 March under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and in partnership with Emirates and the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage. The Festival is now part of the Emirates Literature Foundation, which was established last year by Royal decree.
 
Tickets for the Festival are available on-line at emirateslitfest.com and also at Festival Bookseller WHSmith’s selected outlets in Dubai Mall (lower-ground floor), Oasis Centre Mall, Marina Mall and Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Ticket prices start at AED45 and there are also many events and activities on offer free of charge.
 
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