Forbidden Fruit: Evolution – Toronto Fringe 2011 Press Release

From press release

FORBIDDEN FRUIT: EVOLUTION

Real People, Real Lives, Real Stories

Take a bite of what’s forbidden and enter into the lives of 5 people who take you on a journey of facing social issues such as bullying, abuse and sexuality.  Forbidden Fruit: Evolution focuses on stories from childhood to adulthood, focusing on the conflict of the inner spirit and the discovery of what is true for the characters.  It highlights  how we tend to repress human emotions and not communicate our feelings.  The show ends with the discovery of finding the truth and essentially becoming free from within.  Forbidden Fruit: Evolution brings to light such issues as sexuality, bullying, gender roles and building confidence/individuality  through a fusion of dance styles including  Contemporary Ballet, Bharatanatyam and Kathak, taking into account common elements and techniques in stances and poses.  According to Limitless founder Ashima Suri, “What’s often spoken about openly in our society is taboo and unheard of in the South Asian communities.  There is a mask that is worn that is acceptable and respectful, but once it’s off, the tale of the forbidden story begins to unravel and emotions are unleashed.  The stories conveyed through our pieces touch on sensitive topics like abuse, relationships, and immigration.”

Limitless Productions is not just about entertaining, it’s about creating a social awareness and changing lives. Our artists come from all walks of life, many of whom faced multiple barriers and have not received the opportunities to explore their artistic selves.  Forbidden Fruit is an unabashed and sensitive attempt to initiate and inspire dialogue, thought, and social change.. Limitless Productions is an Indo-contemporary dance theatre company that is a fusion of Indian classical dance and contemporary dance.   Indo-contemporary is a new form of dance that  blends together South Asian classical movements with modern contemporary movements.  Limitless utilizes the mudras and hastaks (poses and hand gestures) of Bharatanatyam (developed in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu) and the grace, grounded movement and stylization of Kathak (developed in Lucknow (U.P.), Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Banaras) to enrich the abstract nature of contemporary and modern ballet.

Forbidden Fruit: Evolution is written, directed and choreographed by Ashima Suri.  Ashima means ‘Limitless’ and that is where the name of the company came from.  The artists in this production include: Justine Cargo, Emily Hussein, Shafik Kamani, Imran Mohammed, Sarah Paul.  Limitless Productions is funded and supported by ArtReach Toronto and Laidlaw Foundation.  The company supports emerging artists from diverse backgrounds to build artist and community capacity and create positive change through dance and theatre.  Since being funded in July 2010, Ashima has choreographed over 20 performances and launched the company officially by producing a full featured show at the Winchester Theatre late last year.  Limitless Productions has also partnered with a number of community agencies to deliver dance theatre workshops for young girls.  Limitless has also been sponsored by DanceTO and Canadian Heritage to perform and deliver workshops for the International Day of Dance.  The 2011 Spring and Summer line-up is the most exciting time for Limitless, including performances and workshops for the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) the Rogers Centre, Sherbourne Health Centre, World Partnership Walk (choreographing a Flash Mob), Thorncliffe Women’s Committee, Dusk Dances and The Toronto Fringe Festival.  Limitless has previously been sponsored by MyBindi and Fusia magazine and been featured on ATN, The Bulletin paper, Oshawa News and various online blog sites.

Through this marrying of strikingly contrasting yet intriguingly similar dance styles, Limitless Productions is able to create a unique and almost personal style of movement and form that is capable of communicating to the masses effectively, regardless of the audience background, expertise, or social standing and tell the stories of everyday  people who are obliged to lead an extraordinary existence.

Limitless Productions
in association with The Toronto Fringe Festival presents

Forbidden Fruit: Evolution

written by Ashima Suri

directed & choreographed by Ashima  Suri

starring Mandeep Bhalru, Justine Cargo, Abid Ali Changezi, Nilofar Dadikhuda Emily Hussein, Shafik Kamani, Imran Mohammed, Sarah Paul, Ashima Suri, MyAnh Tran

Business/Media Manager: Laura Metcalfe

Photographer: Carlos Ferguson

Graphic Designer: Anisha Hirji

lighting design by Owais Lightwale

stage managed by Tara Mohan

Opens – Friday July 8th

Closing – Sunday July 17th 2011

Factory Theatre, Mainspace, 125 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON

Performances:

Friday, July 8, 2011 – 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Saturday, July 9, 2011 – 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Monday, July 11, 2011 – 6:45pm – 7:45pm

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 – 11:00pm – Thursday, July 14, 2011 – 12:00am

Thursday, July 14, 2011 – 5:45pm – 6:45pm

Saturday, July 16, 2011 – 5:45pm – 6:45pm

Sunday, July 17, 2011 – 1:45pm – 2:45pm

Ticket Prices:

$10

Tickets:

To purchase tickets please visit – http://www.fringetoronto.com/