A celebration of multiculturalism, an invitation for self-reflection on how wedding ceremonies can trigger different emotions, and an exploration of the emotional roller coaster of wedded life.
Short film series
The Wedding - PART I
Co-created by: Alejandra Higuera, Aline Morales, Ana Maria Higuera, Carmen Romero, Indrit Kasapi , Isorine Marc, Jim Adams, Jonelle Sills, Kaitlin Torrance , Leen لين, Ryan Graham Hinds, Yvonne NG Peck Wan
Filmed and Edited by: Alejandra Higuera Ana Maria Higuera
Sound by: Amye Sagar
Performed by: (alphabetical order) Aela Kuria - Aline Morales - Amye Sagar - Carmen Romero - Danilo Caribé - Erina Aurora-Tran - Indrit Kasapi - Jim Adams - Jonelle Sills - Juanita Garces Restrepo - Kaitlin Torrance - Karen Lam - Leen Hamo - Mira Ghabiel - Omer Yukseker - Pierre Gravel - Raecheal Goddard - Raquel Romero - Ruthmarie Williams - Ryan Graham Hinds - Susan Cuthbert - Yvonne NG Peck Wan - Zelia Kuria
Music and Vocals by: Aline Morales, Jim Adams, Jonelle Sills, Leen Hamo
(June 2021)
The Wedding - PART II
Co-created by: Alejandra Higuera, Aline Morales, Ana Maria Higuera, Indrit Kasapi, Isorine Marc, Jim Adams, Jonelle Sills, Leen لين, Lua Shayenne, Ryan Graham Hinds, Yvonne NG Peck Wan
Filmed and Edited by: Alejandra Higuera, Ana Maria Higuera
Sound by: Amye Sagar, Isorine Marc, Darwa Naim
Sound design and audio mix by: Matthew Maaskant
Performed by: (alphabetical order) Aela Kuria - Aline Morales - Chloe Henderson - Cynthia Cella Ruso - Erina Aurora-Tran - Indrit Kasapi - Isorine Marc - Iris Unlu - Jennifer Ramsay - Jim Adams - John Abou Chacra - Jonelle Sills - Karen Lam - Leen Hamo - Lua Shayenne - Nicole Ramsay - Omer Yukseker - Ryan Graham Hinds - Khatra Haji - Yvonne NG Peck Wan - Zelia Kuria
Music and Vocals by:
Aline Morales, Jim Adams, John Abou Chacra, Jonelle Sills, Leen Hamo
(July 2021)
The Wedding - PART III
Co-created by: Alejandra Higuera , Aline Morales, Ana Maria Higuera, Carmen Romero, Edz Gyamfi, Gina Tantalo, Isorine Marc, Jonelle Sills, Lauren Barnett, Katy Moonbean, Maysam Ghani, Paulina Anthony O’Kieffe, Rachana Joshi, Tangi Lion, Veronica Lee, Yvonne Ng
Filmed and Edited by: Alejandra Higuera and Ana Maria Higuera
Sound by: Dawar Naeem
Sound design and audio mix by: Matthew Maaskant
Lighting design: Dawar Naeem, Isorine Marc, Matthew Maaskant
Performed by: (alphabetical order) Aela Kuria, Aline Morales ,Angel Narick, Carmen Romero, Edz Gyamfi, Eman Hillawi, Erina Aurora-Tran, Gina Tantalo, Jim Adams, Jonelle Sills, Juanita Garces Restrepo, Karen Lam, Katy Moonbean, Lauren Barnett, Maysam Ghani, Mikhael Bornstein, Paulina Anthony O’Kieffe, Rachana Joshi, Raquel Romero, Ruthmarie Williams, Tangi Lion, Tim Wong-Ward, Veronica Lee, Yvonne Ng, Zelia Kuria, Zhenmei Wong-Ward.
Spoken word poetry “Return to Love” by: Maysam Ghani, Paulina Anthony O’Kieffe
Music and Vocals by: Aline Morales, Carmen Romero, Gina Tantalo, Katy Moonbean, Jonelle Sills, Lauren Barnett, Rachana Joshi, Tangi Lion, Veronica Lee
Original songs: Spanish Gitano Oral Tradition interpreted by Gina Tantalo, “Squeeze Your Love” by Katy Moonbean, Original music by Tangi Lion, “Float” by Lauren Barnett
Dance choreography: Carmen Romero, Edz Gyamfi, Isorine Marc, Rachana Joshi, Yvonne Ng
Aerial Choreography: Eman Hillawi
Lumin Puppets: Clay and Paper Theatre Puppet and movement coach: Alexa McDougall
Props: Amye Sagar
Props Assistants: Afnan Yakot, Ammar Salem, Anhar Salem, Asma’a Salem, Juanita Garces Restrepo, Usama Mohamednur
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND CREDITS
"The Wedding" is a three-part project that invited professional artists and members of The Esplanade community to explore what a mixed-culture wedding looks like (PART I), what are the emotional triggers of wedding ceremonies (PART II) and the emotional roller-coaster of wedded life (PART III). Part I was filmed in June, Part II in July and Part III in October - all filmed as a one-shot, at the heart of The Esplanade community - David Crombie Park.
With Part I of this wedding you will see, we explore different ceremonial traditions, based on the artists and participants' own cultures. Amongst other traditions, we brought together a Brazilian procession, a Chinese tea ceremony, an Indigenous blanket ceremony, and an Albanian shami burning dance. Even though it is now considered normal to recognize each other’s cultural heritage, do we actually celebrate and acknowledge intercultural mixing, and if so, how? Can we bring our cultures together while retaining our cultural traditions, our sense of identity and uniqueness?
"The Wedding" is an invitation to explore these questions, together.
Produced and presented by:
A PROJECT SUPPORTED AND FUNDED BY:
Government of Ontario
ShowLoveTo - City of Toronto
Canadian Stage
St Lawrence Neighbourhood Association
Concept and Direction by: Isorine Marc
Jamii Team: Isorine Marc, Jasmin Linton, DeeAnn Sagar, Cynthia Cella Ruso Mira Ghabiel.
Photos by: Omer Yukseker and Jae Yang
jamii.ca -@jamiiesplanade
Filmed in The Esplanade neighbourhood - Toronto, Ontario
