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    Candlelight Concerts by Fever’s Middle East team lead shares her musical journey

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    Life

    by Sarah Joseph
    2 hours ago

    Candlelight was initially conceived as a classical music series with concerts featuring works by renowned composers, such as Vivaldi, Mozart, and Chopin.
    Now, the ever-growing list of programs includes a wide variety of themes and genres, including tributes to contemporary artists like Queen, ABBA and more. This innovative format provides a unique live musical experience, offering a variety of programs to meet all tastes.
    The Candlelight Concerts Middle East team lead Lina Oudghiri has been passionate about the arts for most of her life.
    Her role as the Candlelight Team Lead in the Middle East allowed her to merge her business acumen with her passion for art. Bringing a fundamentally modern vision to the classical music experience, they have reached a broad audience of age, nationality, and social background, thus promoting diversity in the region’s cultural landscape – a feat she credits as one of her proudest achievements. Under her leadership, Candlelight has seen much success in the Middle East, with the community expanding with each new concert.
    To delve further, Emirates Woman spoke to Candlelight Concert by Fever’s Middle East Oudghiri to learn how her journey began.
    Talk us through your background.
    My background is quite diverse. I was born and raised in Morocco, where I developed a passion for the arts early in life, particularly ballet and contemporary dance. Later, I moved to France to pursue studies in Literature and Business. After university, I entered the world of television and advertising as Client Director for France Televisions Publicite, where I focused on high-quality television and digital programs that positively impact the brands through advertising and sponsorship. I joined Fever in April 2022 to spearhead the Candlelight Concert Series in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where classical music events were often aimed at a niche audience. As the Candlelight Team Lead in the Middle East, I’ve been able to combine my strategic mindset with my love for the arts.
    You learned ballet and contemporary dance early on – tell us more.
    This passion is the foundation of who I am today. Ballet taught me discipline, to fight for what I loved, to never give up, and to work hard until I become the best version of myself. Discipline allowed me to acquire a certain technique that later would be the basis of my fulfillment in contemporary dance.
    Your role as the Candlelight Team Lead in the Middle East allowed Lina to merge her business acumen with her passion for art – how do you balance both?
    My love for art has given me the demand for excellence. I am immensely proud of what we produce. I have a great affection for the artists we work with, and I consider that each one has contributed to the great structure of Candlelight Middle East. But to ensure Candlelight’s success, we must not forget that it is a business. It is necessary to understand the desires of our audience and the trends, and to manage all the teams involved in this project to ensure its expansion. There is a fine line between artistic intuition and the public’s taste. Fortunately, and this is where the Candlelight model stands out, we benefit from a vast database based on concerts that take place in more than 150 cities worldwide and which alternate between more than 100 musical programs. There is no crystal ball, there is just data that tells us what to play, when, where, for whom, and how!
    Classical music is seen with its innovative format – talk us through the journey of each concert.
    One of our goals at Fever is to inspire our users with innovative experiences by creating new ‘Fever Original’ ideas that we know will interest them. We launched the Candlelight Concerts in 2019 after realizing the need to make classical music accessible to a wider audience, reaching beyond the core demographic of classical music enthusiasts. We started by testing different concepts and quickly found that the audiences who attended were keen on more intimate experiences. They also shared concerns about the length of traditional classical concerts being too long and not knowing how to dress or behave at events which had always seemed more “grand and elite”.

    Candlelight Concerts by Fever offers a variety of programs to meet all tastes – what are some of the most interesting concerts so far?
    We develop Candlelight concert programs by combining recommendations from our dedicated in-house music curation team, the data received by analyzing global metrics, and feedback from audiences and musicians. So far, in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, we have already presented some of our global best-selling programs, including concerts featuring works by renowned composers such as Vivaldi, Mozart, and Chopin and tributes to contemporary artists like Queen and Coldplay. We are also always looking to meet our local audiences’ expectations and create programs that cater to varied tastes. For example, we’ve presented performances in Dubai and Abu Dhabi featuring A Century of Iconic Arabic Music and Indian Music Night which is exclusive to the region.
    The Candlelight Concert Series in the UAE and Saudi Arabia – How did it all begin?
    At Fever, our mission is to democratiSe access to culture and entertainment in the regions where we are present. Classical music is very niche, so the essence of the Candlelight concerts is to bring a fundamentally modern vision to the classical music experience to reach a broad audience of age, nationality, and social background, thus promoting diversity in the cultural landscape. We had seen the experience’s success in many cities worldwide, so thought bringing it to the ever-evolving cultural scene of the Middle East was a step in the right direction. With this in mind, we started with our first concert – Best of Chopin performed by Aldo Dotto. We were sold out after a few days of sales. 1.5 years later we are still sold out to almost all our Chopin’s shows and Aldo is still one of our best artists. And as they say, the rest is history. We had the pleasure of celebrating the UAE with an incredible public concert in the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi. Over 1,600 attendees immersed themselves in an exclusive musical program, combining piano and traditional Arabic instruments for a rediscovery of the region’s musical legends.
    Candlelight has seen much success in the Middle East, with the community expanding with each new concert. – What lies ahead?
    Our success in the Middle East has been wonderful, and we are looking forward to the exciting possibilities the future holds as we continue to expand our community. We want to diversify our programs further, reach even wider audiences, and contribute to the region’s cultural richness. The journey involves continued innovation and collaboration to make classical music a vibrant and integral part of the Middle East’s cultural landscape.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
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      An interview with India’s first certified Pilates instructor, Yasmin Karachiwala

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      After training her first celebrity client, the Bollywood actress, Kareena Kapoor in 2006, Yasmin Karachiwala has made a mark for herself in the fitness industry.
      As a personal fitness instructor for all the big names in Bollywood such as Deepika Padukone, Ali Bhatt, Hrithik Roshan and more.
      Known to always prioritise her wellness routine, even while travelling, Karachiwala always emphasises on the transformative power of healing through exercise by practicing consistency and a strict regimen after first visiting the gym at the age of 18 years old.
      By bringing her love for Pilates to Dubai, her niece and her husband launched the PAD Fitness six years ago. Situated in the heart of Dubai in Onyx Tower 1, this fitness studio has revamped the workout game in Dubai with various classes such contemporary dance, Pilates dance, wedding choreography and more.
      To see her journey as an instructor, Emirates Woman sat down to chat with her and understand how it all began.

      Talk us through your career.
      When I was younger, I was a tomboyish, free-spirited young girl flitting through life aimlessly when fate intervened, starting my journey on a fitness pathway that I had never envisaged for myself. My best friend Namrata enrolled me in an aerobics class at the gym, and I assumed it would be really easy. To my utter shock, I made it to being “the worst student in the class.” But I worked really hard and ended up being the “best student.” So much so, that one day my instructor asked me to take the class as she was sick, and that was my turning point. I fell in love with teaching. So I attained my fitness certification from India, and started teaching aerobics and weight training, but I knew I was missing something. That’s when I found Pilates. I travelled to the US and was the first certified Pilates instructor in India. From there, I got my first celebrity client, Karena Kapoor and there was no looking back from there. Today, I’ve been teaching Pilates for over 20 years and I am a teacher trainer with a goal to get everyone in the world to try Pilates at least once.
      How do you begin your morning routine?
      My morning routine begins with meditation, followed by my Butter Coffee. I spend time with my husband and kids as they eat breakfast, and play with my little dog Enzo, who has all of our hearts. And then I head to the gym to train my clients.
      You always manage to incorporate fitness into your routine while travelling – how do you stay disciplined?
      If anything is a priority for you in life, you will make time for it. We make time for our kids, for our holidays, for our meals, right? Similarly, at least 30 minutes of movement a day is a non-negotiable for me, so I always plan my days around it. If we’re starting early on a holiday, I will ensure I’ve done my steps by going for a walk or to the gym in the evening.

      How has it been to break the stigma for men who’ve now incorporated pilates into their fitness journey?
      It feels good when men start to wince and scream when they’re on the reformer because they’ve started to use muscles they’ve never used before! Once a man tries Pilates, I can guarantee they will stand corrected about it being an exercise form only for women.
      Diet is an important part of any fitness routine; tell us about your overall diet?
      I eat what I feel like it, but I have certain rules. I stay away from gluten, and I completely avoid sugar. Sugar is like poison for our bodies, and I never take my body for granted. I love my meats, fish, and grilled vegetables. It’s funny because it sounds boring, but whenever my nieces come home to eat, they always want to eat my food instead of the food that’s made for everyone; it’s really yummy.
      You’ve always trained a host of Bollywood celebrities – name a few and how did your journey with them begin?
      My journey began when Kareena Kapoor started training with me way back in 2006. She really transformed for a song she was doing back then, and then word spread, and today I regularly train Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone and Sophie Choudry. I’ve also trained Hardik Pandya and Hrithik Roshan, both of whom are Pilates fans!
      The PAD Dubai celebrates five years since its launch. What are the key workouts offered at the studio?
      Yes indeed, and I am so proud of my niece Shaazia and her husband Abbas. They have really built a community that is thriving and pushes one another to stay fit. What’s unique about the studio is that they offer both Pilates and Dance classes. In Pilates they offer Private, Group and rehabilitation Pilates, and in Dance they offer Bollywood, Bollyfit, Bhangra, Jazz and Ballet. They also specialise in wedding sangeet choreography and corporate wellness sessions.

      How has the fitness industry evolved since you first started?
      The fitness industry has transformed! When I started 30 years ago, people barely understood the importance of health and fitness, it was a struggle to find clients and an even bigger struggle to find a training institute to get trained properly. Today, especially after COVID people have realized the importance of health and wellbeing, they are seeking out good fitness professionals to guide them and walk the through their issues. In addition, you now see a gym or a Pilates studio on every street! That to me is a really positive sign. And it’s trending upwards.
      With a busy schedule and always being on the go – how do you unwind on a daily basis?
      My workout time, family time, and dog time are my unwinding times.
      What’s the biggest myth you’ve seen when it comes to exercising?
      That you need to have an hour every day to workout. In my new book that releases next month, called The Perfect 10, I show you that 10 minutes a day is more than enough to stay healthy. This may not be enough to achieve your goals, but it is enough to stay fit.

      As celebrities are always on the move, how do you manage to maintain their fitness levels?
      Most of the celebrities are very conscious of their own fitness regimens, so it’s not very hard to keep them accountable. Either I travel with them, or I give them a workout schedule for while they’re away. And we always manage to keep them looking amazing!
      Many people believe in calorie counting – what are your thoughts on this?
      I believe in eating healthy. Don’t eat food out of a packet, eat local produce made fresh, and if you are counting, count the right amount of protein, good fats and fibre. All calories are not the same, don’t just count calories, fuel your body with good nutrition.
      What’s next for you?
      We already have our presence in India, Dubai and Dhaka (Bangaldesh), and now we want to expand more internationally, both in the Middle East region as well as beyond.
      – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
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      in fitness and body

      The Exact Science Behind Dancing Workouts – And How To Do Them

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      TikTok has taught us many things: how salads can become more popular than celebrities, the historical accuracy of Bridgerton costumes and that nothing catches on faster than a dance. There’s something about watching people move joyfully to some juicy tune that just makes you want to get off your butt and do the same dancing workouts. What’s uncanny is how long you’re bouncing around before you realise your quads hurt. “You don’t even notice that you are doing jumping jacks and jump squats and whatever it might be because you’re so focused on the enjoyment of the song,” says Kirsten Johnson, former dancer and founder of the Find Balance Kindly workout app, a series of dance-inspired functional workouts. 

      And right there lies the beauty of dancing workouts: you’ll be working hard without even knowing it, all while having the time of your life. 

      If joy – and sticking to a workout, any workout – is what you’re after, dancing could be the key. But there’s a caveat: just swaying along for hours like a dandelion in the wind isn’t going to cut it. Not least because swaying around indicates that you’re not having much fun at all. We’ve dug around to find what you should be doing instead. 

      Dance ‘till you drop 

      As a teenager, professional dancer Kelly Ernstzen danced constantly. In the hallways between classes, in the bathroom, while chatting to friends. It’s no wonder, then, that she was incredibly fit and slim. “You enjoy it so much that you don’t think about how tired you’re getting,” she says. Now that she’s in her thirties and dancing professionally, she’s realised just how fit her dancing has kept her fit for so long. Science backs it up: a Los Angeles study found that just 20 minutes of hard dancing is also the equivalent of running for 20 minutes but is a more balanced workout, engaging the core, upper and lower body all at once. 

      “A Los Angeles study found that just 20 minutes of hard dancing is also the equivalent of running for 20 minutes but is a more balanced workout, engaging the core, upper and lower body all at once.”  

      But in order or gain the benefits, you’d need to be going hard. That means dancing to a faster song and using more vigorous movements than say, simply bobbing your head. While you can take your pick of the kinds of dances you’d like to try (there are many), know that each kind affects your body in different ways. 

      Ballerinas have long, slim lines because they’re lifting their legs and arms constantly, working against gravity. As a student, Kelly needed to study various forms of dancing – and felt the different muscle groups from class to class. “African dancing is much more grounded, so I felt like my legs – or the bottom half of my body – were developing much faster,” she says. “My upper body and my core were developing much more when I was doing contemporary [dance]. And with hip-hop, it’s more cardio-based, fast, keeping with the rhythm and the tempo.” 

      Boost your brain  

      A study in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise found that when dance class participants were at just 60% of their maximum heart rate, cognitive function improved. That’s because dance class is a little more than jumping up and down to Drake on a Friday night – there’s choreography to learn. And since dancing incorporates your entire body, you need to pay attention to cross-body movements, coordinating the left side of your body to move in sync with your right (like rubbing your tummy and patting your head at the same time). Research has found that dance promotes brain plasticity – that is, it’s as much a workout for your brain as it is for your body. The results are exciting: because of the cross-body movement, the connection between the hemispheres of your brain is strengthened. Think: improved balance, memory and attention.

      “Research has found that dance promotes brain plasticity – that is, it’s as much a workout for your brain as it is for your body.”

      There’s more. Grooving can even ward off dementia by as much as 76% – greater than the effects of doing crossword puzzles four days a week, according to a study of seniors by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. 

      Shake it off   

      “We are too busy being active and enjoying ourselves to feel the aches and pains,” is the title of one Cape Town-based study on the effects of dancing. Investigating the effects of dancing on women between the ages of 60 to 80, researchers found that participants did not subscribe to the typical belief that mental capacity and physical endurance start to decline when a woman hits 60. They just didn’t see it that way. Makes sense, since dance is its own kind of therapy, capable of alleviating depression, increasing mindfulness and boosting self-esteem. 

      For Johnson, the biggest shift she’s seen is in her clients’ mindset. “My biggest objective with any client is that they change the way they see exercise,” she says. “On bad days in the past, clients would always say, ‘I’m having a bad day, I don’t feel well and therefore, I’m going to cancel my session,’ whereas now I notice they say, ‘I’ve had a really bad day, I really need to work out today.’” 

      “My biggest objective with any client is that they change the way they see exercise”
      Kirsten Johnson, dancer and instructor

      For Ernstzen, what’s great is seeing how her students start feeling more confident. “I think besides all the physical aspects of it, once you start dancing, you kind of get to learn about your body a bit more,” she says. “I think you just get a little bit more in tune with your body. And you start appreciating what your body can do more.” 

      So where to begin? Pick the right kind of music and start jamming. It can not only chisel your bod and mind, but make you feel so good, too. And when you’ve got only one body to work with, shouldn’t you appreciate it as joyfully as you can? 

      Dancing workout apps

      Steezy

      Steezy has a plethora of dance classes of different styles to choose from, including ballet, contemporary, hip hop and salsa.

      FitOn

      Try out something new with FitOn, which has not only regular workouts but dance routines, too.

      TikTok

      Why not try one of the many viral TikTok dances? Play the clip back at half-speed so you can learn slowly. More