Partner Content: Flamenco, Arabic music, poetry and contemporary performance come together for the production’s Arab world premiere.
Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar is heating up. This November, Algarabía will make its Arab world premiere, bringing Arabic and Spanish artistic traditions together for a dramatic evening of music, dance, poetry and theatre.
Taking place at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental on Thursday, 26 November, the performance forms part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2026. The newly commissioned production is co-produced by Khawla Art & Culture and Museo Universidad de Navarra, and arrives in the UAE following a sold-out world premiere in Pamplona, Spain, earlier this year.
Rather than focusing on a single discipline, Algarabía moves between different forms of storytelling. Flamenco, Arabic music, spoken word, choreography and drama intertwine throughout the production, exploring the connections between two cultures shaped by centuries of shared history and artistic exchange.
Lebanese singer and actress Cynthya Karam leads the cast as Farah. She is joined by Spanish dancer and choreographer Jesús Carmona as Florencio. Regarded as one of the most prominent names in contemporary flamenco, Carmona has built an international career through performances that combine traditional technique with a modern approach to movement.
Lebanese actor, director and writer Rafic Ali Ahmad takes on the role of the Spirit of the Garden, while Spanish flamenco dancer Lucía Campillo completes the principal cast as Candela.
The cultural exchange extends across the wider ensemble. The University of Navarra Symphony Orchestra and Choir will perform alongside flamenco guitarists, percussionists and vocalists, while the oud introduces a distinctly Arabic sound into the musical landscape. Spanish dancers will also share the stage with four dancers from Sharjah Performing Arts Academy.
Music plays a central role in Algarabía. The score features work by Emirati composer Ihab Darwish alongside compositions by Manuel de Falla, Josema García Hormigo and Manuel Masaedo.
Poetry adds another layer to the performance. Texts draw from figures including Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, Spanish poet Miguel Hernández, Andalusian poet Ibn Zamrak and Spanish mystic Saint John of the Cross. Their words span different periods, languages and perspectives, reinforcing the production’s exploration of cultural connection.
The story unfolds through a succession of encounters that move from conversation and conflict to contemplation and reconciliation. Rather than simply presenting Arab and Spanish traditions alongside one another, Algarabía uses music, movement and language to explore how they can interact and influence each other.
Where: Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi
When: Thursday, 26 November 2026, from 8pm to 9.30pm
Contact: www.abudhabifestival.ae