Toronto Dance | Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre’s نی نامه / Song of the Reed February 11 & 12 In Toronto

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From a media release:

Toronto Dance
Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre’s نی نامه / Song of the Reed
Aga Khan Museum February 11 & 12, 2023

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Aga Khan Museum presents Sashar Zarif of Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre’s new work titled نی نامه / Song of the Reed. This work is inspired by the first poem in the book of Masnavi by universally acclaimed poet, Rumi. This work will be presented at Aga Khan Museum from February 11th – 12th, 2023. 

Photo by Nima Arabi

Many people believe that the complete wisdom of Rumi, shared with the world through over 65,000 verses of mystical poetry in Farsi, is summarized in the first word of this opening poem, “Beshno/Listen”. In this poem Mowlana (Rumi) compares the soul to a reed flute: hollow and empty of ego. And the fire-full sound of the reed as a cry of longing for the reed-bed it has been cut from.

Image by Sashar Zarif
Image by Sashar Zarif

نی نامه / Song of the Reed is a ritual work that creates a space and time, devised to allow us to actively listen. This atmosphere is facilitated by a cast of six cross generational and multidisciplinary artists, whose breaths and bodies collaboratively create a hypnotizing river of dance and music. نی نامه / Song of the Reed is inspired by and draws from, music and dance from Rumi’s birthplace, the ancient city of Balkh, and the rich cultural tapestry of Afghanistan. 

Zarif will be joined by guest artists Nasrullah Tavakoli (Afghan Dutar and vocal), Günay Akca (Turkish Reed/Ney), Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre’s Mairead Filgate, Kathia Wittenborn, Ethan Kim, Sully Malaeb Proulx, creative facilitator Katherine Duncanson, and lighting designer Gabriel Cropley.

Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre
Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre - Image by Sashar Zarif

Sashar Zarif has thirty years of ethnographic and cross-cultural creative field work in over forty countries across the globe. His years of investment in research have resulted in a unique approach to choreography and its creative process called “Moving Memories/Living Stories”.

This work was generously supported by Canada Council for the Arts

Performance Details:

  • Saturday, February 11th at 8:00 pm & Sunday, February 12th at 2:00 pm
  • Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto
  • Box Office Information 
  • Tickets: $30 regular, $27 friends, $22.50 students and seniors
  • Admission to the galleries is included the day of the show
  • Box office phone: (416) 646-4677 or online here.

A look at Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre's 2022 production, Kismet:

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