Discover the work of Rhodnie Désir by diving into the world of her landmark work BOW'T TRAIL, which won her the Grand prix de la danse de Montréal in 2020! Produced for ICI ARTV, the BOW'T TRAIL RÉTROSPEK series explores the artist's unique documentarian approach to choreography, which here traces the memory and history of Afrodescendant peoples in the Americas. In French.
2025/2026 SEASON UNVEILED – SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE NOW
Starting at 4 shows. Single tickets go on sale un April 24.
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RD Créations
Symphonie de cœurs
Rhodnie Désir
With Orchestre Métropolitain
Rhodnie Désir, laureate of the 2020 Grand Prix de la danse and associate artist at Place des Arts, takes up the challenge of a large-scale show for 11 performers and the 60 musicians of the Orchestre Métropolitain led by Canadian conductor Naomi Woo. A truly special event!
To a valiant heart, nothing is impossible! For Rhodnie Désir, human connection and oral tradition are fundamental to any project. After the extraordinary trajectory of BOW’T TRAIL, which took her to seven different regions in the Americas, she tackles another major challenge, the result of a large-scale collaboration with composer Jorane; beatmaker and sound designer Engone Endong; RD Créations’ “house band,” the Orchestre Métropolitain. The heart, with all its imbalances and upheavals, fascinates this “keeper of memories.” Drawing on testimonials by specialists and patients from the Montreal Heart Institute and from Istituto Cardiocentro of Ticino, she will translate the heart’s polyrhythmic pulsations, along with its turmoil and weaknesses, into movement, echoing the defects in our society. A symphony of dance between the heart, the body, physical objects, video, light, music, and Afro-contemporary rhythms.
Media partner
A radiant artist who, one dance step at a time, brings light out of chaos.
Artists
Choreographer
Rhodnie Désir
Rhodnie Désir's signature documentary and Afro-contemporary choreography is rooted in African and Afro-descendant rhythmic languages. A performer of remarkable power and uncompromising integrity, she continually surprises with her great connectivity to humanity.
Marjorie Guindon.
Company
RD Créations
Since 2017, RD CREATIONS (RDC) 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.
Credits
CREATIVE TEAM
Creative Director (choreographer, documentalist, artistic director, vocal composer) Rhodnie Désir.
Conductor Naomi Woo.
Musical and vocal composer Jorane.
Beatmaker and Sound Designer Engone Endong.
Costume Designer Mélanie Ferrero.
Scenographer Olivier Landreville.
Lighting designer Chantal Labonté.
Video and 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 Métropolitain.
Orchestrator François Vallières.
Percussion arrangements Rhodnie Désir and Jahsun.
Artistic consultant Philip Szporer.
Researcher Pascale Bilodeau (NFB).
PRODUCTION TEAM
Main producer RD Créations.
Associate producer Frédérick Lalonde - JKFL Production.
Production director Cécile Doo-Kingué - RD Créations.
Technical director Bruno Lauzon.
Stage manager Julie Abran.
Communications officer Caroline Rousseau - RD Créations.
Consultant Production and Touring Corinne Jozsef.
Representation agency Avec Sheila (Sheila Skaiem).
PARTNERS
Principal producer RD Créations.
Co-producers and presenters Danse Danse, National Arts Centre, LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura.
Majors partners National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund, Canada Council for the Arts.
Main partner Fonds de Recherche du Québec.
Creative partners Montreal Heart Institute (MHI), Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, National Film Board (NFB), Place des arts, Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec, Conseil des Arts de Montréal.
Artistic associate Orchestre Métropolitain.
SONGS
1. Neïa’yanga / Vocal composition: R.Désir, Interpretation: R.Désir, A.Keita / 2023.
2· Fwô / Vocal composition: R.Désir, Interpretation: R.Désir, A.Keita, Arrangements: Engone Endong / 2023.
3. Bognè / Vocal composition: A.Keita, Interpretation: A.Keita, R.Désir, Arrangements: Engone Endong / 2023.
4. Nanayeom / Vocal composition: R.Desir, Interpretation: R.Désir / 2024.
MUSICAL SCORE
Symphony of Hearts
Work composed for the choreographic production Symphony of hearts by Rhodnie Désir.
Composition Jorane, Engone Endong, R.Désir, A.Keita.
Percussion arr. R.Désir, Jahsun.
Orchestration F.Vallières.
©2024 All rights reserved.
THANK YOU
RD Créations would like to thank all the heart health specialists, patient-partners at the Montreal Heart Institute and the Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino in Lugano, the young people at Collège Jean-Eudes, and all the people who agreed to testify during the Symphony of Hearts documentary research begun in 2022. Your powerful testimonials on the heart and cardiovascular system brought the work to life.
Developed with the support of the National Creation Fund of the National Arts Centre.
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