Zikr Dance Ensemble: RITUAL

Showcasing an international cast of world class dancers, Zikr Dance Ensemble’s “Ritual” will feature the ensemble’s premiere of internationally acclaimed Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui’s “In Memoriam” pas de deux. This is a rare honor—no other dance company in Colorado has a piece by Cherkaoui in their repertoire. Mr. Cherkaoui’s works include influences form both Western and Eastern dance, contemporary art, Chinese martial arts, and Japanese manga. The program features projected film by acclaimed graphic artist Stuart Lippincott and immersive set design by Charles Lefkowizt. The program will also include the world premiere of Artistic Director David Taylor’s “Vesica Piscis”.

The Zikr Dance Ensemble offers a spectrum of works that include transcendent dance rituals from many different ancient world cultures throughout history along with original and contemporary dance/theatre realizations. The company’s purpose is to offer performance experiences of spiritual atonement for both participants and audiences alike which are both theatrically engaging and educational and that also connect to numerous organizations dedicated to both promoting spiritual tolerance and multi-cultural understanding for the entire community.

The company’s singular artistic focus makes it totally unique among professional dance companies in the United States, and its relatively small size and flexibility and adaptability regarding performing spaces makes it an ideal fit for not only major presenters, but also for college dance departments, museums, churches and other smaller or unusual venues.

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The dances in performance are supplemented by stunning slide projections and visual effects, completing a multi-media experience that audiences and presenters alike have found to be both visually and artistically stimulating as well as intellectually captivating.