Conference of the Birds

Conference of the Birds is inspired by the ancient Sufi epic poem by Farid Ud-Din Attar. Birds come from far and wide to discuss a proposed journey to seek enlightenment – a journey purported to be long and unimaginably difficult. All in a flap, the birds give reasons for why each is unsuitable or unable to go, but finally they muster the courage to embark; and so begins their journey and the dance…

Production

Choreographer: Denise Fujiwara
Created with and performed by: Leanne Dixon, Michael Du Maresq, Katherine Duncanson, Viv Moore, Keiko Ninomiya, Philip Shepherd, Miko Sobreira, Heidi Strauss, Rebecca Hope Terry, and Nova Bhattacharya
Music by: Debbie Danbrook
Created with and performed by: Debbie Danbrook, Celina Carroll and Steve Raiman
Dramaturgy by: Elizabeth Langley
Costumes designed and constructed by: Cheryl Lalonde
Production Coordination by: Roelof Peter Snippe

Additional Thanks

Commissioned by the Canada Dance Festival with the generous support of the Laidlaw Foundation.

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