Area of Learning: Learning from the waves of the past: How historical changes have shaped the present and can inform the future.

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Festival Story: A festival story is the central idea that inspires exploration and creative work throughout an ISTA festival. The festival story for this event is coming soon.

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Cultural Experience: Set in the heart of the UAE, this festival invites students to journey through time as they explore how the echoes of the past continue to shape the present and guide the future. Through the immersive Heritage Express experience, students will encounter the richness of Emirati traditions—from the desert’s quiet wisdom and Bedouin storytelling to the rhythms of Old Dubai aboard a vintage trolley. By feeding camels, entering a traditional tent, and walking in the footsteps of history, students will reflect on the resilience, innovation, and values passed through generations.

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ISTA Global Challenge: This event is part of ISTA’s season-wide theme: Waves of Change. The challenge invites young people to explore how change—personal, social, cultural, environmental, and historical—shapes our world. Through theatre, students reflect on their role in creating, responding to, and riding the waves of change in their own communities and beyond.

Booking secures your place at an ISTA festival by providing estimated participant numbers and paying a deposit. Registration finalises all participant details to support accurate planning for workshops, catering, and logistics.

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Booking

• Opens:  9:00 am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Before booking, ensure your school can attend by confirming:
  
  • Travel restrictions and visa requirements
  • Parental approval
  • School authorisation
• At the time of booking, you must provide:
  
  • Estimated number of students
  • Estimated number of educators 
  • Lead educator contact details

Deposit & Confirmation

• Once booked, you’ll receive an invoice for a 50% deposit based on student numbers. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Booking is only confirmed once the deposit is received (within 30 days). 
• Please only book spaces you are confident you can fill. 

‍Registration

• Opens: 9:00 am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Closes: 11:59 pm (UK time), Thursday 29 January 2026
• Once registration opens, schools with confirmed places should complete participant registration as soon as possible. You’ll need to provide final student and educator details along with confirmed travel information. 

‍Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked? Deposits for those students are forfeited.
• Need more students? Additional spaces may be requested. A 50% deposit per added student will apply.

Waitlist

• If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked Waitlist. 
• To be added to the waitlist, email the Event Manager with your requested number of students and educators. Spaces will be offered in the order requests are received.

Arrival & Departure 

• Arrival: Before 1:00pm Thursday 9 April 2026
• Departure: After 4:30pm Sunday 12 April 2026

Transport

• Nearest Airport: Dubai International Airport (DBX)
• Participants will be picked up at the airport and transferred to the school upon arrival.
• Participants will be taken to the airport immediately after the event ends on Sunday 12 April 2026.
• Travel time between the school and the airport is approximately 30 minutes depending on traffic.  Please plan your arrival and departure times accordingly. 
• Local transportation information will be provided once Event Hotel is confirmed. 

Visas

• It is the responsibility of the schools/participants to ensure they have the appropriate visas, as required.
• Please ensure that you start looking into visa requirements sooner rather than later as the process can take a significant amount of time.
• If you require assistance or additional documentation to support your visa applications please ensure to contact the event manager well in advance.

Accommodation

• This is a hotel stay event
• Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation.

Hotel Name & Location

Radisson Red Hotel - Dubai Silicon Oasias
Dubai DigitalPark - Dubai SiliconOasis,
Industrial Area, Dubai

Website: click here

Contact details: hotline@radissonred.com

Daily rate for a single room with breakfast: 584.2 AED or 117.31 GBP

Daily rate for a twin/double room with breakfast:362.25 AED or 72.74 GBP

Daily rate for triple room with breakfast: 437.225 or 87.79 GBP

ISTA festivals follow a two-step automated payment process:

Step 1: 50% Deposit at Booking

• Upon booking, a 50% deposit is required to secure your place. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Bookings are only confirmed once the deposit has been successfully paid.

Step 2: Final Balance After Registration Closes

• After registration closes, schools will be automatically invoiced for the remaining 50% of fees, based on the final number of students registered, plus any applicable surcharges.

Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for non-attending students will be forfeited. (e.g. If 15 students are booked but only 10 attend, the deposit for 5 students is not refunded.)
• Additional students: A 50% deposit per added student will be invoiced at the time of the increase.

Festival Schedule 

• Start: 4:00pm Thursday 9 April 2026 
• End: 1:30pm Sunday 12 April 2026

‍Educator Workshops

• One theatre focused workshop for teacher chaperones

📄 E-Programmes containing detailed schedules, artist bios, and key event information will be sent to participating organisations two weeks before the even

🍏 3 evening meals, 2 lunches and daily snacks will be provided by the host school. Breakfasts should be booked at the hotel

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Appropriate attire

• All participants must bring clothing that is suitable for physically active workshops during the day (athletic wear, PE kit, performance blacks, etc.) 

Please note

• Participants not dressed appropriately for physically active workshops may be asked to sit out.
• Participants may be asked to remove footwear, jewellery etc. for some workshops.
• Chewing gum is not permitted in any of the workshop spaces.

Materials 

• Pens, pencils, highlighters etc. for notetaking. 
• Refillable water bottle

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