Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre presents Sama-e Rast December 21, 2012

Sama-e Rast – Dance of Mugham
Canada’s acclaimed Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre and
legendary Alim Qasimov of Azerbaijan in concert
launch inaugural International Festival of Integrated Arts
– Celebrating the Winter Solstice ONE NIGHT ONLY on December 21–

Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre proudly presents the world premiere of Sama-e Rast, an unprecedented, multi-layered evening of integrated dance, music and poetry stemming from the ancient mystic traditions of Western and Central Asia.

Choreographed and performed by Toronto’s acclaimed Sashar Zarif, accompanied by the legendary Azerbaijani Mugham master singer Alim Qasimov and his Ensemble, this thrilling DanceWorks CoWorks Series event is presented Friday, December 21 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts’ George Weston Recital Hall in celebration of the Winter Solstice.

"Mr. Qasimov is simply one of the greatest singers alive, with a searing spontaneity that conjures passion and devotion, contemplation and incantation." ~ New York Times

"Sashar Zarif, a superbly expressive and charismatic dancer" ~ The Globe and Mail

Sama-e Rast represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to self-discovery, in an innovative reconstruction of a dance form based on poetry, spirituality, calligraphy and the music of Mugham. Centuries ago, Mugham was a devotional integrated practice that brought all of these elements together to explore psychological moods on the path to self-discovery..However, over the years, the connection between the poetry and music disappeared and the dance element deteriorated such that only traces of it exist today.

Sama-e Rast is the first of a planned trilogy to introduce the art of Mugham – connected to the Sufi and Shamanic cultures of Azerbaijan, Iran and Central Asia – to Canadian audiences through Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre’s Dance of Mugham Series.

Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre presents the world premiere of Sama-e Rast on Friday December 21, 2012
Choreographed and performed by Sashar Zarif, Music composed and performed by Alim Qasimov and Ensemble
Dramaturgy & Creative Facilitation by Elizabeth Langley, Lighting by Arun Srinivasan, Costumes by Sashar Zarif
7pm: Gallery Exhibit of audio and visual material from the Dance of Mugham research archive opens for viewing
8pm: Sama-e Rast performance begins, followed by the premiere of the short documentary Three Apples Fell from the Sky
George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St. (north of Sheppard subway)
Tickets: $35, $45, $55, $75, $100 (VIP). Box Office: 416-250-3708 OR online at sashardance.com
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