Evolution Dance Theatre Starts Rehearsals Next Week for World Premiere of FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Evolution Dance Theatre (EDT) starts rehearsals next week for the world premiere of Follow Your Heart, a heart-stopping universal love story and multi-disciplinary spectacle that brings together diverse cultures through theatre, dance and live music, featuring over 45 performers on stage. This captivating dance-drama, rooted in the rich traditions of the Middle East, is conceived, written and directed by EDT founder and artistic director Armineh Keshishian. A truly unique, cross-cultural event, it runs September 22-25 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.Tickets are on sale now by visiting EvolutionDanceTheatre.com or calling the box office at 905-787-8811.

Follow Your Heart is set against the backdrop of the cultural mosaic of modern day Toronto. It tells an inspiring and courageous story of a modern Middle Eastern woman in love with a traditional Middle Eastern man; she fights for love against all odds in this transformative tale of love and struggle - a love story of taboo and tradition.

Starring in this powerful work are Toronto-based performers Teria Morada and Mohamad Haiek, heading up a 7-member acting ensemble. A two-time Jr. Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion and multiple Latin Dance champion versed in a multiplicity of dance genres, Teria Morada portrays Almaza, in love with Jivan, portrayed by Syrian-born Mohamad Haiek, who performed as a member of Enana Dance Theatre before moving to Canada in 2011. He has danced in over 500 performances spanning Asia, North America, Europe and Africa.

Joining them are 30 show-stopping dancers from as far afield as Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Germany, Lebanon, Mexico, Syria, Canada and the United States, including dance competition crown winners and former members of MiLes Copeland's world renowned Bellydance Superstars.

Under Musical Director Nicholas Stirling, 10 exceptional musicians, primarily percussionists, perform three drum fusion segments comprising Middle Eastern, African and First Nations styles. Composing and leading the Middle Eastern-style part is Naghmeh Farahmand who has performed with many well-known ensembles in Iran and festivals around the world, Europe, Asia and North America and is the daughter of master percussionist Mahmoud Farahmand. Composing and leading the African percussion as well as a fusion element is Amadou Kienou, a drum master of Burkina Faso who can play the djembe and tama simultaneously. Jivan Stepanian, musical director of Toronto's Horovel Armenian Folk Ensemble, performs on the Armenian duduk, an ancient double-reed woodwind flute made of apricot wood.

Kate Musin is the Rehearsal Director for this fusion of global heritage that showcases a myriad of dance styles from traditional belly dance to jazz to hip hop and more. Jaabbar Al Janabi is the Associate Director. Nick Blais is the Lighting Designer and Jacques Collin is the Digital Designer. Lin Joyce is the Stage Manager.

With a talented international cast, a dramatic love story, spectacular costumes, haunting music (both live and recorded), digital media and stunning dance,Follow Your Heart seamlessly combines Western contemporary dance forms and traditional Middle Eastern dance styles with theatre and live original music, drawing audiences into a world of beauty, mystery and passion. A Middle Eastern story with a universal appeal, Follow Your Heart inspires and educates as it entertains.

Keshishian notes, "My aim is to bring people and cultures together by focusing on our commonalities versus our differences. I am inspired by concepts of women's empowerment, diversity, multiculturalism and breaking down barriers. In light of current world events, Follow Your Heart is particularly important as it seeks to be a true representation of Middle Eastern people, not from a political or religious perspective, but from a cultural and social point of view. My work is influenced by the context of my upbringing: as a Christian raised in a Muslim country, I gained insight into these two different worlds. I seek to raise our consciousness from fear to acceptance and appreciation, to bring understanding that we are one: One heartbeat, One culture, One race."

Evolution Dance Theatre seeks to inspire social change as well as entertain - and share the values of peace and inclusiveness through art. Evolution Dance Theatre is a federally registered not-for-profit Canadian company that develops, promotes and performs original Middle Eastern-inspired multimedia and multidisciplinary spectacles to both entertain and provoke dialogue on social, spiritual and humanistic themes. Under the expertise of President and Founding Artistic Director Armineh Keshishian, the company has produced and brought to the stage four successful Middle Eastern-inspired shows in Toronto since 2006 including behind the Veil and EvolutionŠ of the human kind ("Here's how to put on a show!" - Toronto Star).

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