The living statues
Dubai Perhaps the most extraordinary and original Global Surprises activity during this Dubai Summer Surprises are The Living Statues.
Dressed in Egyptian, Roman, English, Chinese and African Zulu traditional clothing, the human statues move in ultra slow motion from one striking pose to another.
Their bodies are whitewashed or copper painted, and even the hair is spray-painted in the same colours. They walk around shopping malls in absolute silence, freezing into classical poses with subtlety and deftness.
Abdul Salem Abu Saker, a visitor to Hamarain Centre said: "This is astonishing. We are seeing this act for the very first time in Dubai. I have 'Seen children reacting to costumed characters earlier - they normally clamour to shake hands with them. But here you will notice only the bolder children trying to reach out to the performers. These performers are experts in their act."
Flawless makeup and costuming complete these statues incredible resemblance to real marble and copper statues

Click here for original article
Click here for large image
Click here for larger image
Click here for larger image
Click here for larger image
In another section of the shopping mall, "moving statues" representing characters from ancient civilisations like Scandinavia, Africa and China stood still and a surprise awaited a mischievous boy who pinched one of the "moving statues" of a Zulu warrior.
The warrior turned around in slow motion and up flashed a leg in the air in a karate stance barely an inch from the perpetrator's nose as he stood rooted to the spot in astonishment.
The warrior slowly returned back to his normal stance as the rest of the crowd clapped at his performance.
Not content with the show, some boys teased the Viking warrior by poking his nose and butting his head. Imaging their surprise when the horns-helmeted warrior strode toward them like a bull in an arena and followed them about to the roars of laughter from the spectators who applauded his moves and encouraged him to deal with the mischief-makers the same way again.
In contrast, a Chinese statue moved in a slow yet definite rhythm that displayed the classical fighting stance of the ancient martial arts that have come down through the centuries to the modem form of karate.
Unperturbed by the distractions, he moved gracefully in rhythm with his companions as they changed positions and styles of posing to attract the crowd.
Click here for original article Back to Pressmen Site