Music and Dance with Angelique Muhorakeye and Edward Sembatya

PRESENTED BY EIGHTH & EIGHT CREATIVE SPACES

The always engaging and magnanimous musician and host Cassius Khan and a variety of highly accomplished musicians and tea specialists take the audience on a musical journey around the world, bringing you connection to generations past through songs and experiences that have endured for thousands of years.

On January 26, join Cassius, and Angelique Muhorakeye and Edward Sembatya for an illuminating afternoon of music, dance, and refreshments. Global Tea Series performances are by Pay-What-You-Can admission. Audience is encouraged to pay what they are able – there is no minimum or maximum amount – in order to keep the arts accessible for all. Payment will be collected at the door on the afternoon of the performance, and cash, credit and debit are accepted methods of payment.

Canada’s most recognizable Indian Classical musician, the globally renowned Cassius Khan is a performer of combining the Classical styles of Ghazal/Thumri singing and the Tabla, the North Indian pair of drums and presents both, simultaneously. He is the senior disciples of the late Malika e Tarannum Mushtari Begum (Dec 25th 1934-March 14th 2004) and Tabla maestro Ustad Rukhsar Ali, who belongs to the Delhi Gharana of Tabla playing. Combining Indian Classical singing with Tabla, for a single artist, is a first in Indian classical music. Many noted Indian Classical Music gurus have proclaimed that singing and playing Tabla in unison is a difficult feat to master as Tabla playing requires skill and strength, as well as an absolute concentration on the kaleidoscopic rhythm patterns of the repertoire, and singing requires absolute skill in the execution of notes and vibrations of the voice and excellent breathing control. Khan’s trademark is performing the extremely rare and difficult “Tarannum Ang Gayaki style” in which the lyrics share a different metre from the rhythm but they join at the Sum point in a certain phrase.

Angelique Muhorakeye is one of the founding members of Indangamirwa traditional dance group based in Lower mainland and is the current chairlady of the group. Born with a natural inclination towards movement and expression, Angelique began her dance journey at a young age. She explored various dance styles as a member in different dance groups, including Rwandan traditional, hip hop and afro fusion; honing her skills and cultivating a deep appreciation for the art form. Driven by a desire to share her passion for dance with others, Angelique embarked on a career in teaching dance to different community groups, children’s summer camps with African Friendship Society and university students at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).

Edward Sembatya is a versatile Ugandan dance practitioner, choreographer, educator, and drummer (Ugandan drums). He is currently pursuing his practice-based Ph.D. at Simon Fraser University, School for Contemporary Arts (dance major). His artistic works and research draw inspiration from contemporary everyday life and the rich knowledge and skills embedded in indigenous East African dances (Ugandan in particular), music, and narratives. He specialized in indigenous Ugandan dances, jazz dance, and African aesthetics-based contemporary dance (his styles). He has had the pleasure to perform, choreograph, and teach dance and drums in many countries, including but not limited to Norway, the UK, France, and Hungary.