JEDDAH: Spanish dance group Cirque Des Sens performed in Jeddah for the first time on Thursday amid applause from the enthusiastic audience.
The “Kibai” performance was customized for a Saudi audience, to suit the conservative culture but with a Western twist.
The performance was attended by around 1,800 people of all ages. There was a section for families and another for singles.
“I’m so very happy to be here in Saudi Arabia. I thought our show wouldn’t work here and that the Saudi audience wouldn’t like our acts, but I was wrong,” said Cirque Des Sens CEO Domingo Sanchez.
“The media has painted Saudi society in a wrong way. We’d be honored to perform in Saudi Arabia on coming occasions.”
The group, which has been performing for nearly six years, comprises 29 members, including backstage technicians, performers and artists.
Saudi Arabia was the group’s first stop in the Middle East, said Sanchez, who thanked events organizer Luxury KSA for making it possible.
Fahad Al-Muaibid, Luxury KSA’s public relations and media manager, said: “This won’t be the only collaboration between Luxury KSA and the group. There will be more to come in the future. We might let some talented Saudis join the Spanish group in their next shows here in Saudi Arabia.”
Prince Khaled bin Mansour bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Luxury KSA’s CEO and owner, “cares about quality and details to give the best for the new Saudi generation,” Al-Muaibid added.
Cirque Des Sens performed in Riyadh and is set to perform in Dammam and Alkhobar in March.
The company has been operating for almost seven years.
Spanish dance performance wows 1,800 in Jeddah
Spanish dance performance wows 1,800 in Jeddah
Where We Are Going Today: Ana Starter Sourdough Factory in Dammam
Since returning to live in the Kingdom after years abroad with the best bakeries at my fingertips, I have been on a mission to find suitable sourdough locally. I sampled many mediocre ones, but one would rise above the rest: Ana Starter Sourdough Factory.
I first met founder Aisha Al-Omair at the Juthoor Farmer’s Market and tried her bread then. I liked it immediately.
“Ana Starter Sourdough Factory started as a passion for creating and fermenting the healthiest bread and introducing it to the Saudi market,” she told me at the time.
It began as a personal mission then expanded — like the dough — to serve the community.
“For a long time, I’ve suffered feeding my kids proper bread. The breads that were available at the supermarkets or at local bakeries had instant yeast, that never really took time to ferment, and therefore, when you consume the average bread, you notice some stiffening, you notice indigestion, you notice bloating and heartburn.”
Indeed, I did not feel any bloating or heartburn after devouring a slice or a few so I recently went on a quest to find more.
I ventured to Dammam to find her factory shop. It is a tiny slither of a place — I almost missed it while driving past factories in the Industrial City.
The shop comes with a decadent whiff of delicious bread.
Upon entering, you will see fridges stocked with bread and goodies like jams and butters (from other brands) that complement the bread well.
The sourdough offerings include jalapeno cheddar, zataar, plain and about a dozen other flavors.
The hassawi sourdough, made with local dates from neighboring Al-Ahsa, quickly became my favorite. It has little bits of dates tucked inside like tiny treasures.
Each slice is separated with a sheet, making it easy to freeze and pull out what you need without slices sticking together.
Fluffy with a rustic crust, it is great for sandwiches, dipping in olive oil, or slathering with salted butter.
My freezer is now packed with loaves.
At around SR45 ($12) per loaf, the price is slightly steep for the local market, but the superior quality is worth the extra dough.
Each day, they post on Instagram Stories showing what is available for pickup — and the quantity of each item.
Ordering is easy: Send a DM to reserve a loaf, swing by the shop, or opt for delivery.
• For more details, check their Instagram @anaastarter.
