JAMRA

February 9-12, 2012, Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Canada.

Harbourfront Centre and Arabesque in association with Small World Music present JAMRA, a joyful, colourful production inspired by the raw and passionate dance forms of the nomadic and gypsy (Rom) peoples of Egypt, Turkey, North Africa, Iran and Lebanon. JAMRA premieres at the Fleck Dance Theatre on Thursday, February 9, 2012 and runs until Sunday, February 12, 2012 as part of Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps 11/12 series. JAMRA, an Arabic word for “embers”, is a vibrant exploration of some of the Middle East’s rich dance forms performed by seventeen dancers, as led by Arabesque’s Artistic Director and Choreographer, Yasmina Ramzy, alongside a live 11-piece Arabian orchestra, with vocals by Arabesque’s Musical Director, Bassam Bishara. Alongside Choreographers Ferda Bayazit (Turkey), Sashar Zarif (Canadian, Iranian/Azerbaijian), and Khairiiyya Mazen (Luxor, Egypt) – the last remaining practicing Ghawazi dancer – Ramzy and Bishara have collaborated to distill the force of spirit and honest heart they discovered in the unrefined and unembellished dance and music styles of the Middle East. With Ramzy, a pioneer in the interpretive expression of authentic Middle Eastern dance, at the helm, JAMRA is brought to life with the artistry of celebrated Composer, Vocalist, and Oudist, Bassam Bishara; Costume Designer Deborah Shaw; and Lighting Designer Arun Srinivasan.