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More than 40 young people take part in annual talent show started by mother of girl with Down syndrome
FAME has a variety of entertainment programs provided by determined young people.
Last week, more than 40 determined young people took to the stage for the country’s largest inclusive talent show in Dubai.
In the FAME show, they danced to the tunes on the runway of the Dubai World Trade Centre. “These young people are amazing,” said the show’s creator, Rosy Ahmed, whose 26-year-old daughter Hana has Down syndrome. In 2016, she founded FAME — an acronym for Fashion, Art, Music and Entertainment — as a free, fun-filled event. “I wanted to create a platform for kids to showcase their talents,” she said. “Since then, the show has grown from strength to strength, increasing the number of performances every year.”
From fashion shows to music performances to dance performances, FAME has it all. This year, the show did a strong anti-bullying move, encouraging students to speak up when they are being bullied. “Every year, we have kids from all ages and backgrounds come to our program,” said program director Rebecca Shamji. “We start rehearsals at least three months in advance so the actors have enough time to bring out their best.”
Music performances and dance performances are part of the annual event.
Rebecca splits her time between London, Uganda and the UAE, and makes sure she gets to Dubai on time every year for FAME, and this year, even having a baby didn’t stop her from traveling here. “This show is very close to my heart,” she said. “I have a 7-month-old so I’m a little concerned about how I’m going to cope, but I’m not going to miss out on the show in this world.”
man of the hour
The fashion show for participants is one of the most anticipated for FAME Verano, a 28-year-old from Dubai who has been a regular at the show for three years. “She really enjoyed going to fashion shows and dancing,” said her father, Tony. “She really likes to dress up and dance. If we go to a party with a dance floor, I can forget about her for the next two or three hours. As a child, she and her brother would always dance at home. Her brother now Teach salsa dancing.”
Verano is an active athlete and has previously won the Female Resolution Athlete of the Year award. However, it wasn’t until she met FAME that she was able to express her love for dance. “When she was in school, she had a lot of extracurricular activities,” Tony said. “However, after school, there were only so many activities she could do. Through FAME, she met people like Rosy who went far beyond the call of duty to help Verano and others truly bloom and thrive as performers .”
Verona performing at FAME
According to Tony, the platform has boosted Verano’s confidence. “One of the reasons people with determination don’t gain self-confidence is that they don’t have the opportunity to show their talents,” he said. “But with the opportunities that FAME gave her, Verano became very confident. She had interned in banks and hotels. She also worked in a coffee shop in Mawaheb, an art center. She was very independent and took public transport to and from the city center.”
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FAME Talent Center
Buoyed by the success of the talent show, Rosy has now started a weekly talent center that provides a safe space for those determined to perform to their heart’s content. The center hosts drama and dance classes with Step Up Academy and volunteer teachers, as well as mini performances at various locations.
“In addition to our annual stage show, we wanted to provide participants with an avenue to perform,” Rosy said. “Since we started these courses in February this year, we’ve had a steady interest. Now, we even have a waiting list of people who want to enroll. For me, it’s great to see all these young people interested in their abilities. It’s been an amazing experience getting more and more confident.”
Annual events planned for people of determination also help boost their confidence. – Photos provided
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