Canada 150 Initiative Rhythm of the Nation to have inaugural performance in Toronto

TORONTO, June 13, 2017 – Rhythm of the Nation, an original music and street dance performance featuring a multicultural Canadian cast, is coming to Toronto’s waterfront July 1-3 for the seventh annual Redpath Waterfront Festival (RWF) presented by Billy Bishop Airport. Written to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation and funded by the Canada 150 Fund, Rhythm of the Nation will debut at the festival with daily performances on Canada Day weekend before continuing on the ONTARIO 150 Tour.

The goal of the Canada 150 Fund is to create opportunities for Canadians to participate in local, regional, and national celebrations that contribute to building a sense of pride and attachment to Canada. Rhythm of the Nation program was awarded a grant for the highly original work that encapsulates the history of Canada’s roots and its bright future ahead.

This original performance was specifically created for the ONTARIO 150 Tour, which will travel to five other waterfront communities throughout the summer in honour of Canada’s 150th celebration, including Owen Sound (July 7-9), Sault Ste. Marie (July 13-15), Midland (July 21-23), Amherstburg (August 5-6) and Brockville (August 10-13).

“With the ONTARIO 150 Tour in six ports across the province, Ontarians and visitors will enjoy programming that reflects what makes our country so unique, diverse and vibrant,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage. “I encourage everyone to come out and take part in these exciting activities in their community. A fun summer awaits!”

RHYTHM OF THE NATION REVEALS CANADA’S CULTURE THROUGH MUSIC AND DANCE

Rhythm of the Nation is an interactive multi-cultural performance that takes a modern look at Canada through music and dance. Centered around nationally renowned First Nations DJ, Matthew Wood (AKA DJ Cree) remixing the sounds of instruments from various cultures, and emceed by bilingual actor and performer Pierre Trudel. DJ Creeasian has been working with youth for the past eleven years and strongly believes in empowerment through music and dance. DJ Creeasian, Rick Kunst and Terry Hart came together to create this original performance to celebrate Canada’s 150th year.

“We recorded many sounds that are part of the Canadian ethnic experience including the fiddle, drums and guitar,” says creator and director Rick Kunst. “We blended, added and subtracted and re-recorded until the emotion and the rhythm of the music emerged and revealed the rich musical tapestry of Canada’s multi-cultural and First Nations heritage.”

The show will unfold with one main stage and six smaller zones surrounding the performance area, with each zone representing a culture whose dance and music has influenced the mosaic of Canada’s sound. DJ Creeasian will bring the sounds together by remixing cultural sounds including Aboriginal, Celtic, French, European, Afro-Caribbean and Asian, performed by Canadian musicians, remixed into a high-energy sound.

“Each show is as unique as the audience,” states DJ Creeasian. “I take traditional musical influences from different cultures and remix them into a high-energy original track. The hip-hop dancers go out into the audience and encourage youth and the young at heart to learn dance steps. Through music and dance, the audience will discover Canada’s rich cultural diversity and celebrate the indigenous people’s presence of over 150 years.”

Rhythm of the Nation is created, directed and produced by DJ Creeasian, Rick Kunst and Terry Hart.

The group members are: