A churning, beating humanity is evoked in this social symphony in constant evolution, a work that proposes a tempest of bodies, sound compositions, and immersive visual installations inspired by data culled from citizens and scientists. This grand gesture composed of musicians and dancers will attempt to illuminate and transform the stage into a great heart pulsing humanity. Tensions in a dance-music duet, a decagon of violins combining the impressive physicality of plural bodies and songs in invented language. The sum of it all will spring forth like an ode to the polyrhythmic power of the heart.

The NAC Dance will be hosting Symphony of hearts on May 30, 2024.

© Interprètes: Marilyne Cyr, Mara Dupas, Camille Gendron, Aly Keita, Luce Lainé, Emmanuelle Martin, Mya Metellus, Carlos-Alexis Mendoza-Bustinza, Ernesto Queseda Perez, Greg «Krypto» Selinger, Abe Simon Mijnheer

Company

Since 2017, RD Creations produces and presents creative projects by artistic director and choreographer Rhodnie Désir. Simultaneously authentic and contemporary, the Montreal-based organization operates internationally using an innovative artistic approach that questions socio political trends, explores movement, defies the imagination, engages citizens, transmits knowledge while archiving the memory of its people. Rhodnie’s choreographic-documentary work is quite unique and unlike anything seen before.

Each of its works aspires to be a voice for the voiceless and to engage directly with the communities from which it draws its inspiration. Whether through presentations, grassroots-level cultural mediation or choreographic works, RD Creations acts as a social archive, leaving a legacy of cultural wealth. It believes in the potential of combining multiple media in the same choreographic work, allowing it to evolve according to the social realities and cultures it encounters.

Deeply rooted in ancestral cultures, RD Creations is committed to respecting cultures by fostering genuine collaborations and prioritizing listening, discussion and interaction. These collaborations take place in and across political, media, government, social and community spheres, leading to valuable partnerships - for example, with 45 partners, 130 specialists and 15 musicians for the BOW’T TRAIL project.​

Creative team

  • Chief Creative Director, choreographer, vocal composer and percussion arrangements Rhodnie Désir
  • Conductor Naomi Woo
  • Musical composer Jorane
  • Orchestrator François Vallières
  • Beatmaker and sound designer Engone Endong
  • Costume designer Mélanie Ferrero
  • Scenographer Olivier Landreville
  • Lighting designer Chantal Labonté
  • Video/digital designer Chélanie Beaudin-Quintin
  • Creative support Isabelle Poirier
  • Dancers Marilyne Cyr, Mara Dupas, Camille Gendron, Aly Keita, Luce Lainé, Emmanuelle Martin, Mya Metellus, Carlos-Alexis Mendoza-Bustinza, Ernesto Queseda Perez, Greg «Krypto» Selinger, Abe Simon Mijnheer
  • Musicians Orchestre de l’Orchestre Métropolitain (à Montréal) / Orchestre du Centre National des Arts d’Ottawa (à Ottawa) / Orchestra della Svizzera italiana de Lugano (à Lugano) and the House Band of RD Créations (Engone Endong, Lasso Sanou) for all dates
  • Percussion arrangements Rhodnie Désir and Jahsun
  • Artistic consultant Philip Szporer
  • Research Pascale Bilodeau (ONF)
  • Main producer RD Créations
  • Associate producer Frédérick Lalonde (JKFL Production)
  • Production manager Cécile Doo-Kingué - RD Créations
  • Technical director Bruno Lauzon
  • Associate producer and technical director Julie Abran - JKFL Production
  • Stage manager Julie Abran and Angie Pelletier
  • Communications officer Caroline Rousseau-Merveillie - RD Créations
  • Consultant Production and Touring Corinne Jozsef
  • Representation agency Avec Sheila (Sheila Skaiem)

National Creation Fund investment

The National Creation Fund’s investment of $215,000 supports an extensive research and creation period extending over three years. Through workshops, trials and learning, the creative team and artists will find the unique shared language that will inform and support the construction of the work.  The investment will also support the development of large-format digital projections, and provide additional time to develop the original music and orchestral arrangements. 

Credits

Principal producer : RD Créations

Co-producers and diffusers : Danse Danse, National Arts Centre, LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura

Majors partners : National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, National Film Board (NFB),
Principal partner : Fonds de Recherche du Québec

Creative partners: Montreal Heart Institute (MHI), Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Place des arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, Conseil des Arts de Montréal

Artistic associate: Orchestre Métropolitain

Performance dates

Past performances

Presented by Danse Danse Apr 4 - Apr 6, 2024 Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Place des Arts (Montreal)
Presented by NAC Dance May 30 2024 Southam Hall (Ottawa)
Presented by Lugano Dance Project Jun 15 2024 Sala Teatro, Lugano Arte e Cultura (Lugano, Switzerland)