The HIBA Art Project is a non-profit cultural initiative which strives to make the art form of dance and movement an integral part of the cultural life of the UAE.
It was founded in 2020 by three cultural managers of dance and performing arts Heike Watts (Switzerland), Ines Perreira (Portugal) and Beata Stankevič (Lithuania). The initiative is committed to promote and advocate this art form and aims to bring dance and movement to all ages and social groups of society: children, adults, seniors, dance enthusiasts and professionals, people of determination and others.
Our vision:
HIBA Art Project effectively contributes to the art form of dance and movement becoming an integral part of the cultural landscape of the UAE.
Our mission:
HIBA Art Project feeds to the growth of dance and movement as an art form in the UAE by fostering local talent, presenting artistic work, using dance as a tool for social cohesion and acting as an agent for promotion and advocacy.
Our goals:
- to foster UAE-based dance talent
- to present diverse local and international artistic works
- create a contemporary dance presence
- to establish a consistent program of Theatre for Young Audiences
- to create opportunities for artistic exchange and collaboration
- raise awareness about dance and movement
- We aspire to fill in the current gap in access to dance performances and activities in Dubai and UAE, offer a broad spectrum of creative expression and stimulate community’s development through art.
About our name: HIBA Art Project
The name of our initiative encompasses three elements: the idealistic aspiration, the connection to Arab daily life and a personal connection to the founders. We found all three in the word HIBA: it is a popular female Arabic name which means “a special gift given from the heart” and at the same time it is an acronym of the founders’ names. Together with Art as a concept of our collective passion and Project as a reference to the nature of our activity, the full name HIBA Art Project was born. We feel that it successfully expresses the essence of who we are and what we stand for.
Image Credit: HIBA Art Project
