BOLLYSIGN REPRESENTS CANADA
The Global Encounters (GE) Festival was a celebration of talent and creativity within the Ismaili Muslim community. Guided by the vision of Mawlana Hazar Imam, the festival encouraged excellence in the arts, sports, and other forms of expression across the global Jamat.
We were proud to be selected as Team Canada, representing the country after winning the Illume 2023 National Arts and Sports Festival in Hamilton.
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In July 2025, participants from around the world came together—in person in Dubai and virtually—to honour diversity, creativity, and unity through shared experiences and unforgettable performances.
GLOBAL ENCOUNTERS 2025
The Global Encounters Festival 2025, held in Dubai from July 20–27, was a vibrant celebration of creativity, culture, and sport within the Ismaili Jamat. It brought together artists and athletes from around the world through competitions, performances, exhibitions, and masterclasses.
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Our team, Bollywood Signature, proudly represented Canada after qualifying by winning the 2023 Illume National Competition, where we competed against top teams from across the country. The festival united the Jamat through shared experiences, celebrated individual talents, and uplifted communities around the world.
OUR GLOBAL ENCOUNTERS EXPERIENCE:
A WEEK OF CONNECTION, CULTURE AND PERFORMANCE
Our team arrived in Dubai early to prepare for the opening ceremonies, which brought together performers from across the world. Being part of such a large-scale production was both challenging and rewarding, and it was an honour to represent Canada on that stage.
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Throughout the week, we had the opportunity to perform multiple times at the Global Village stage and experience a wide range of performances from other regions. One of the most meaningful parts of the festival was connecting with dancers and athletes from around the world—sharing stories, learning from each other, and building a sense of community through the arts.
MEET OUR PERFORMERS
