Diana Farah, Dubai

Tea ceremonies are generally a traditional affair, but Japan-inspired abaya store CHI-KA recent put a twist on the ancient ritual.

As part of the Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) Art Nights, CHI-KA curated a show that was different to the customary Japanese ceremony.

The event took place at Intersect by Lexus, an artistic space and restaurant where taiko drummers and dancers performed right before the tea ceremony.

“We want people to learn new things and explore cultures,” CHI-KA co-founder Nemanja Valjarevic told Arab News Japan.

“The tea ceremony is being curated in this cool setting where the audience will also have a sensory experience of sound and visuals, even the smell of matcha tea,” he said. “We wanted it to be something out of the ordinary.”

The tranquil movements displayed at the ceremony, combined with the taiko drummers and dancers, make for an “interesting play on the traditional ritual,” he added.

Valjarevic said the goal of CHI-KA, besides its kimono-inspired abaya fashion line, is to connect Japan with the Arab world.

CHI-KA has previously hosted events with a similar theme, he added. “We’ve done (Ramadan) iftars two years in a row, where we served Japanese and Arabic cuisine to those fasting,” he said. “It was a great success and experience.”