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TALENTED members of staff at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa are stepping out in style with a series of shows highlighting the multi-cultural community of the kingdom, writes May Al Mousawi.
Recent Bollywood glitz and glamour will be followed after Ramadan with the fabulous Philippines being placed under the spotlight.
It follows the earlier summer spectacular where an Indian fashion and dance show enthralled audiences sipping on their masala chai at The Lobby Lounge.
Employees from different departments of the hotel came together and collaborated to produce the themed afternoon where they performed a cultural dance as well as held a fashion show for guests.
Event co-ordinator and restaurants’ manager Concepcion Cruz also helped create the perfect atmosphere. Dressed in traditional Indian clothing and accompanied by traditional Asian music, the team served masala chai before they prepared for their performance.
Concepcion said: “We thought it would be a good idea to enlist all the staff of the hotel and put on an interesting fashion event and show off our dance moves.
“We wanted to put on a display for the people sitting down having their tea and show them the richness of our various cultures.
“We borrowed colourful saris from the Indian Embassy and from colleagues to show an extravagant and different side of India.
“There are plenty of staff members from India so it was a good way to learn more about their culture, and have fun while doing it.”
The staff met up and choreographed the dance routine and the catwalk presentation. With a pool view and the summer sun shining through the windows, the show had everything needed to reinforce the beauty and culture of the country.
The sparkle of the outfits left the audience enchanted as they gathered around the lobby to watch the employees take to the stage. Claudia Hardt, the hotel’s director of public relations, said: “At the hotel we are always trying to create special experiences. It was an excellent theme, colourful and vibrant. The staff provided entertainment and gave the afternoon tea a little kick. Living in this part of the world, it is important to embrace different cultures.”
Many of the staff members who took part in the show were not from India, but were taken under the wing of their Indian colleagues, helping them get dressed and ready to perform. The 20-minute production was an array of colour, tradition and energy.
Many people agreed that the fun-filled event was a great way to show unity amongst the kingdom’s diverse population.
“I may not be Indian, but Filipinos can dance no matter what music is playing! We are all happy to take part no matter where we are from.
“I think the fashion show was a good way to show off the Indian culture as well as the many different types of bright coloured saris,” said Chona Garcia, one of the models and a member of The Lobby Lounge staff.
She will be able to return the favour shortly as the hotel continues with another set of ‘cultural tea-time journeys’.
This time, the team is planning to take a ‘trip to the Philippines’ by showcasing cultural dances with different costumes and styles.
The staff are now working on four dances focusing on different regions of the Philippines and the first instalment is likely to offer a glimpse of the national dance called Tinikling which promises to be vibrant and colourful.
The dance is similar to rope jumping, but instead of a spinning rope, two bamboo poles are hit against raised blocks on the floor and then together. Tinikling actually means ‘bamboo dance’ in English. The dance requires one person to operate each end of the poles, and one or more dancers to move in and out of them.
The performances will be accompanied again with a special high tea matching the theme, starting from the first week after Ramadan, added Claudia.
