THE NEAT STRANGE MUSIC OF AHMED HASSAN

October 21st - 22nd, 8pm
Betty Oliphant Theatre, 400 Jarvis Street, Toronto
Tickets: $25 General Admission; $20 Seniors 65+, Students <19, and PWD

Featuring the music of Ahmed Hassan, dances by Peggy Baker, Serge Bennathan, Peter Bingham and Robert Desrosiers, live performance by musicians Mark Brose, Debashis Sinha and Maryem Hassan Tollar; and a special reunion performance by the legendary world beat band, Mother Tongue.

One of the most unique and important productions that the Abilities Arts Festival has ever presented and proudly, in association with Peggy Baker Dance Projects, this multidisciplinary arts show involves music composition, live music, song, dance and film within a singular artistic vision that combines these art forms as a tribute to the artistic creation of the late Canadian composer Ahmed Hassan.

Ahmed Hassan has composed and performed music for dance, theatre and film across Canada and on tour around the globe from 1981 on collaborating with music groups such as Mother Tongue, Urban Pygmies, Boss Doo, and dance troupes/projects such as EDAM, Desrosiers Dance Theatre, Dancemakers, Da Collision, Peggy Baker Dance Projects, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, Theatre Smith Gilmour, and many others.

Among his most important achievements is the conception, direction, performance, and recording of 14 Remembered, a song cycle commemorating the woman whose lives where lost December 6th, 1989 at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique. Mr. Hassan, who was confined to a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis, was an outspoken advocate for disabled people's rights, and for their full participation and inclusion in all aspects of community and culture.

His outstanding talent, the range and eclectic style of his work and his advocacy for so many important causes including disabled people’s rights have resulted in this very important presentation.