Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre Presents SAMA-E RAST at Toronto Centre for the Arts Tonight

Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre 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 tonight, December 21 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts' George Weston Recital Hall in celebration of the Winter Solstice. Tickets: $35, $45, $55, $75, $100 (VIP). Box Office: 416-250-3708 OR online at sashardance.com.

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. These are the same cultures that have been introduced to the west through the poetry and philosophy of people like Rumi and Omar Khayyam.

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.

Pictured: Alim Qasimov. Photo credit: Arturan Najafi Gol.