Recently the name of the company was changed from Arabesque Dance Company to Yasmina Ramzy Arts. This was due to two factors. Since Middle Eastern dance has recently grown in popularity globally, many dance companies around the world have taken the same name, Arabesque. Artistic director Yasmina Ramzy wishes to have a more unique name that is also associated with the former brand of Arabesque Canada. Also, Yasmina wanted to start a fresh chapter that emphasizes a new aesthetic and vision she has as the choreographer which draws its inspiration from tradition but expresses a more honest and inner expression of herself. Using “Arts” in the name better reflects the range of the company’s work in dance, music and film.
Founded in 1987 by Yasmina Ramzy, Arabesque Academy became Arabesque Dance Company & Orchestra in 1992 and is now Yasmina Ramzy Arts. Unique in the world and critically acclaimed in international and national media for its innovation, integrity and creativity, Yasmina Ramzy Arts has toured to United States, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and extensively across Canada. The company has presented productions with as many as 45 musicians and dancers on stage at once, created films and is funded by all three levels of government arts councils. Director Yasmina Ramzy has taught and performed in over 70 cities around the world and commissioned to create choreography for 25 other dance companies.
Yasmina Ramzy Arts embodies contemporary sensibilities steeped in ancient Arabian tradition. The purpose of creating the company is to promote awareness of and further the artistry of Middle Eastern dance and music arts as well as explore its connection to mystical philosophy from the area. Through this endeavour, it also hopes to shed light and understanding on a culture often misrepresented.
Yasmina Ramzy Arts began creating full length productions in 1996, ten of which were presented in installments of seven performances at Fleck Dance Theatre. YRA is the only Mid East dance company to be presented at Dance Ontario Dance Weekend. It has done so every year since 1999, usually attracting the largest audiences of the event. YRA were the only Canadian artists invited to perform at the Int’l Conference on Middle Eastern Dance in Los Angeles in 2001. Other highlights include working with Cirque du Soleil. the Rolling Stones, Alabina, Rageb Alema, Bijan Mortezavi and more. In 2020, YRA created a short film called “Leilit Hob” and created a 37 minute film in 2021 called “Al Qamar” presented at film festivals and nominated for several awards.
The company’s international reputation for artistic excellence and integrity has attracted highly talented dance artists from England, France, Brazil, Mexico and across United States and Canada to move to Toronto in order to join the company. Because YRA is unique in the world, audience members travel every year to attend its newest production at Fleck Dance Theatre from as far away as Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Windsor, Kingston, London, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, New York City, Oregon, Michigan, Massachusetts, Los Angeles and much more.
Although many believe the Middle East’s most famous dance dubbed “Bellydance” is the oldest dance form, it has had to confront almost constant persecution for the last 2,000 years which still lingers today. By steering away from stereotypes, Orientalism and commercialism while maintaining high artistic standards and integrity, YRA has done much and will continue to do more to lift this stigma and has received the Arab heritage Award in recognition of this effort. YRA hopes to offer Western audiences a more intimate and personal understanding of Middle Eastern culture which is welcome in today’s political climate.
Since 1980, while studying and performing dance in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria, Yasmina Ramzy became mesmerized by the beauty, spirituality and profound emotion of Arab art. She found it difficult to comprehend why it wasn’t sharing the stage with ballet and the symphony. For over 40 years it has been her foremost goal to recreate for Western audiences, the joy and inspiration she found in the Middle East.
“Arresting imagery…intelligent and innovative choreography…seduces completely” The Globe and Mail
