The Gathering Performances features Sashar Zarif Dance, Mateo Galindo Torres Dance, Carmen Romero and Adrenalin by Ahmad Meree
Monday, May 27, 2019 | 7:30-9pm with doors open at 7pm
Aki Studio Theatre
585 Dundas Street East, Toronto, ON M5A 2B7
General Admission: $20 | Students $15
Register on Native Earth’s Box office.
Photo credit: Aria Evans
Mateo Galindo Torres is a Colombian born multidisciplinary dance artist based in Toronto. In his early teens, he discovered dance at a local studio in Bogota, training in various dance forms. From 2006 to 2010 Mateo traveled to Cuba to focus his training on classical ballet, and in 2010 traveled to Canada where he deepened his studies in contemporary and modern dance. He has performed professionally in Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Germany, Mexico, and Panama. Last year, he has had the fortune to work with Debra Brown, Sashar Zarif, Enana Dance Theatre, Wind in the Leaves Collective, High Society Cabaret, Kaeja d’dance, Danny Grossman, Larchaud Dance Project, Aria Evans, Sogand, KasheDance, and Leica Hardy. As a choreographer, Mateo has created and presented his work in different Canadian cities. Mateo is the founder and artistic director of GUETCHA GUARITCHA. Mateo’s work is often politically charged, inspired by social subject matters, and fuses his eclectic movement background.
Sashar Zarif is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator and researcher whose practice invites a convergence of creative and cultural perspectives, steeped in traditional, ritualistic, and contemporary dance and music of Western/Central Asia. He has toured in over 36 countries promoting cultural dialogue through fieldwork, residencies, performances, and creative collaborations.
Zarif holds a Master of Dance Degree from York University, where he also directed courses in dance and performance studies from 2004 to 2012.
He has been awarded the title of Master of Dance, as an honorary faculty member of Uzbekistan State Institute of Choreography. In 2012, Zarif received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
What is more difficult, to stay in danger with your loved ones or to live alone in safety?
Adrenaline follows one man for one night, getting ready to celebrate his first New Years Eve in Canada after leaving his war-torn home in Syria. Using objects he has around the house, he unpacks memories of war, and tries to understand the price he has had to pay for his safety in Canada.
أدرینالین تروي حكایة جابر الشاب السوري الذي اضطرته ظروف الحرب في سوریا للّجوء إلى كندا. جابر یحاول الاحتفال بأول
لیلة رأس السنة له في كندا بعیداً عن عائلته. كیف یحتفل جابر في الوقت الذي أهله وأقاربه ما زالوا في سوریا؟ ما هو الثمن الذي
دفعه جابر مقابل الأمان الذي قدمه له وطنه الجدید كندا؟
Adrenaline is performed in Arabic with English subtitles.
Ahmad Meree (Actor & Playwright)
Ahmad Meree is an actor and playwright, born in Aleppo, Syria, a graduate from the
Higher Institute of Theatre Arts in Cairo. He has performed in Syria winning the Best
Actor Award in the Central Theatre Festival in Syria (2008). In Egypt, he directed
Ionesco’s The Lesson and won Best Director Award for directing Chekhov’s The Bear at
Cairo’s Festival of International Theatre (2013). Ahmad continued his journey as a
refugee when he moved to Canada in 2016. He now lives in Kitchener, ON, where he
works with MT Space as artistic associate, facilitator and co-director of their Young
Company. Ahmad has written three plays, Suitcase (2019), Adrenaline (2017) which he
toured to the Ryga Festival in Summerland, BC and Summerworks Performance
Festival in Toronto; and Underground (2014) (Best Original Script in the University
competition). Ahmad is the current Artist-in-Residence at The Registry Theatre in
Kitchener.
Majdi Bou-Matar (Director)
Majdi Bou-Matar is a theatre maker who immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 2003. He holds an MA degree in Drama from the University of Guelph with research focus on
Canadian intercultural theatre. Majdi is the founder of MT Space, a professional theatre
company dedicated to cultural diversity. His most recent directing credits include T he Last 15 seconds, Body 13, Paradise, The Raft, Adrenaline , and Amal . His work tours nationally and internationally. Majdi is also the Artistic Director of IMPACT, a biennial international theatre festival in the Waterloo Region of Ontario, Canada. Majdi was recognized as the Presenter of the Year 2017 by the Canadian Arts Presenting Association (CAPACOA).
Compañía Carmen Romero is Canada’s most provocative flamenco collective. In their twenty-six years-plus in operation they have developed a rich and original aesthetic that employs flamenco as a language of expression and not as a cultural art form to solely preserve the traditional and historical origins. They invite curiosity, challenge and risk into the process as the genesis to their creations. Compañía Carmen Romero is described as a company that “conveys old traditions to the modern world articulating the primal essence of flamenco.” June Heywood, Caravan World Rhythms. Compañía Carmen Romero breaks the glass ceiling and lets flamenco tell the story, express the idea and open the creative door for all to enter and explore.
Compañía Carmen Romero is based out of Toronto, Canada. Originally founded in 1986 by Carmen Romero as artistic director to Candela Flamenca. Carmen Romero is of Spanish heritage and immigrated to Canada in 1971. It is remarkable that she has developed a collective of Canadian dancers and musicians that perform in prestigious events and stages in Europe the United States and Asia. “The exclusive focus and depth of Romero’s commitment to the art of flamenco is not just understandable given her family heritage, but somehow fitting and more authentic. She truly belongs to the history of flamenco in a way not easily achieved.” Dance International
The collective produced five full-length theatrical flamenco productions: El Embrujo (The Bewitched) (1993), Flamenco Ayer y Hoy (Flamenco Yesterday and Today) (1997) Carmen Complex (2003). Flamenco de Ayer y Hoy premiered through Dance Works at the DuMaurier Theatre Centre, Toronto, then toured Canada the United States parts of Europe and Asia until 2002. Y entonces….. toured through Canada in 2014. The collectives latest dance drama JACINTO, world premier 2017 won a Dora Award for best sound composition for dance.
The collective also creates smaller works such as Luna Llena (Full Moon) that competed in the 9th annual Certamen de Coreografía de Danza Española y Flamenco (2000) at the prestigious Teatro Albeniz in Madrid, Spain. As well as May I join you? In 2014 at the International Festival de Castanuelas in Girona, Spain. UNO DOS y TRES toured with Dusk Dances in 2018. Compañía Carmen Romero has also created choreography and music for films such as: El Cambio by Dan Eisen, Sombra by Bravo Fact, CARMEN by Paola Marino Films and Flamenco by Gloria Kim.
Compañía, Carmen Romero is very grateful for the creative financial support from the Canada Council for the arts, The Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts council as well as public funding initiatives and private supporters.
Compañía Carmen Romero established The School of Flamenco Dance Arts, that offers training in flamenco dance, music, choreographic development and professional coaching. In
2010 Carmen Romero coached latin pop star Shakira for her song Gitana featured during her world tour “Sale el Sol.” Whether it be for recreation or profession, Carmen Romero invests her energy in finding people’s strengths and gives them the tools to train their mind and body. Compañía Carmen Romero’s moto “Discover your passion! Invites you to explore through the power and artistry of flamenco.
The Gathering on May, 21 and May 27-29 is in collaboration with:
Accessibility: Aki Studio Theatre, CSI and Regent Park Film Festival are accessible. Nia Centre for the Arts is partially accessible.
We aim to host a fragrance-free event. Please do not wear perfume, cologne, or other scented products.
Siobhan O’Connor is the Associate Director of The Writers’ Union of Canada. Her work with the Union includes strategic planning and financial management. Siobhan recently presented on the State of Writing & Publishing in Canada at a panel organized by The Authors Guild in New York. She also works with international partners from the UK, US, and Australia. Siobhan was the Union’s representative on CPAMO’s Pluralism and Organizational Change Through Inclusive Equity Education in the Arts Project initiative. She is a member of the Doris McCarthy Artist in Residence Advisory Committee.
Rebecca Burton is the Membership and Professional Contracts Manager at Playwrights Guild of Canada, where she also co-founded 
Lesley Fletcher is the Executive Director of the League of Canadian poets and has worked throughout the publishing industry as a community organizer, editor, bookseller, and project manager. Lesley cannot resist a bookstore, a library, a dog, or a new houseplant.
Jael (jay-ell) Richardson is the founder and Artistic Director of the Festival of Literary of Diversity – a literary festival that centres underrepresented storytellers and received the 2019 Freedom to Read Award from the Writers Union of Canada. Richardson also serves as a book columnist and guest host on CBC’s q. She has authored a memoir and a children’s book, both called The Stone Thrower. Her debut novel, Gutter Child, is coming out next year with HarperCollins Canada.
Lillian Allen. Internationally acclaimed poet/performer and language innovator, Lillian Allen works at the intersection of dub, sound and rebel poetics. She has several award winning recordings and several critically acclaimed books of poetry to her credit. Considered a cultural de-programmer, Lillian has been a strategic initiator of programs, networks and arts organization in the city for several decades now. She is a longtime arts activist. now in her sage years and focuses on mentoring the mentors and in intensifying her work to decolonize aspects of the Canadian cultural terrain as she remains an instigator for change. A professor of Creative Writing at OCAD University she has initiated, led its development and spearheads the launch of Ontario’s only BFA in Creative Writing.
Mandy Bayrami is the marketing manager at the Literary Press Group. She previously worked at the Association of Canadian Publishers, Second Story Press, and Playwrights Canada Press, all of which solidified her love for independent Canadian presses. She prefers pie to cake, and Netflix to movie theatres.
Sheniz Janmohamed (MFA) is a firm believer in fostering community through collaboration, compassion and creativity. In her own practice, she strives to embody words through performance, land art and writing in the ghazal form. A poet, artist educator and land artist, Sheniz’s work has been featured at venues around the world, including the Jaipur Literature Festival, Alliance Française de Nairobi and the Aga Khan Museum. She is also the author of two collections of poetry: Bleeding Light (Mawenzi House, 2010) and Firesmoke (Mawenzi House, 2014). Sheniz visits dozens of schools and organisations each year to teach, perform, and inspire creativity in her students. In 2015, Sheniz was awarded the Lois Birkenshaw-Fleming Creative Teaching Scholarship, and she holds a Artist Educator Mentor certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto).
Michael Fraser has been published in numerous national and international anthologies and journals, including Paris/Atlantic, Arc Poetry Magazine, Contemporary Verse 2, and The Caribbean Writer. He was published in Best Canadian Poetry in English in 2013 and 2018. He has won numerous awards, including Freefall Magazine’s 2014 and 2015 poetry contests, the 2016 CBC Poetry Prize, and the 2018 Gwendolyn MacEwen Poetry Competition.
Bänoo Zan is a poet, librettist, translator, teacher, editor and poetry curator, with more than 180published poems and poetry-related pieces as well as three books.Song of Phoenix: Life and Works of Sylvia Plath, was reprinted in Iran in 2010. Songs of Exile, her first poetry collection,was released in 2016 in Canada by Guernica Editions.It was shortlisted for Gerald Lampert Memorial Award by the League of Canadian Poets in 2017. Letters to My Father, her second poetry book, was published in 2017 by Piquant Press in Canada. She is the founder of Shab-e She’r (Poetry Night), Toronto’s most diverse poetry reading and open mic series (inception: 2012). It is a brave space that bridges the gap between communities of poets from different ethnicities, nationalities, religions (or lack thereof), ages, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, poetic styles, voices and visions. (Photo credit: Jeannine Pitas).
Vivine Scarlett is an administrator, facilitator and choreographer, whose artistic goals and aspirations are rooted in the love of dance. She is Founder, Executive Director and Curator for dance Immersion (Toronto, Canada), an organization that presents, produces and supports dancers and dances of the African Diaspora while providing a number of diverse programs that enhance careers for emerging and professional dance artists. For 25 years this organizations unique mandate and vision has provided Canadian and international dance artists with opportunities that have laid a foundation for continued growth and representation. Vivine’s contributions to the field of dance are generated from an energy that has fuelled her passion manifesting many experiences that have served Canadian and international artists of African descent.
Aina-Nia Ayo’dele Grant is the manager of the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit. She was the lead project consultant for the Confronting Anti-Black Racism initiative that began in 2016 to address anti-Black racism in Toronto. Aina-Nia was integral to the creation of the five-year Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, which was approved by Toronto Council in December 2017.
Alica Hall strongly believes in the transformative potential of the arts to empower and strengthen communities. She has a professional background in strategic communications, but her passion lies in creating safer spaces for artists to create and connect with new audiences.
Dwayne Morgan began his career as a spoken word artist in 1993. In 1994, he founded Up From The Roots entertainment, to promote the positive artistic contributions of African Canadian and urban influenced artists.
Randell Adjei is an entrepreneur, speaker and spoken word practitioner who uses his gifts to empower through Edutainment. He is the founder of one of Toronto’s largest youth led initiatives; Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere (R.I.S.E Edutainment). In 2018, R.I.S.E received the Toronto Arts Foundation’s, Mayor’s Youth Arts Award.
Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) 
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