Throughout the month, our artists have been connecting to over 150 community members over phone, video conference and social media, to invite them to join in activities that follow the story of a Virtual Iftar Night. Explore below to see what was shared!
Act 1: Arrival
This is the first Act of Virtual Iftar Nights, and shares experiences of preparing for Iftar and arriving at Mabelle Park for the annual community Iftar celebration. Our Arrival activity invited people to remember or imagine their own experiences of preparations and arrival, through recorded individual and group conversations and creative activities.
Act 2: Waiting
In Mabelle Park people wait until the sun sets and they break their fast. In our own homes these days we are passing our time, awaiting sundown and the times when we can go out and gather with other people again. Our activity for this act involved sharing – through individual phone calls and zoom groups - our present experiences of waiting, and asking people to complete the sentence: “As I pass the time until sundown…”.
Act 3: Gathering
As sunset approaches in the Mabelle Park, people are gathering with colourful hand-made flags. For this activity, we invited illustrator Benafsheh Erfanian to create a flag colouring sheet. People were invited to colour in the top and bottom flags and design their own in the middle, representing some of the things they are doing to pass the present time.
“As I pass the time until sundown, I pray from my heart and listen to the colours of the sunset on my balcony.”
Act 4: Procession
As sunset approaches, people, friends and families of all ages process through Mabelle Park and around the neighbourhood, holding home-made flags and lanterns. For this activity, we asked people to create and document mini processions, using objects from around their homes.
Act 5: Centring
The procession returns to Mabelle Park. People come together and settle down on picnic blankets for a time of shared contemplation, prayer and gratitude in the final moments leading up to sunset. For this activity, we invited guest choreographers – Penny and Animikiikwe Couchie from Aanmitaagzi at Nipissing First Nation near North Bay – to teach us some hand dancing choreography to go with the beautiful music created for this act.
Act 6: Invoking
While the sun sets in Mabelle Park, lanterns rise and are lit, signifying that it is nearly time to break the fast. We prepare to hear the Azan (Call To Prayer) recited, which will signal the breaking of the fast (Iftar). Our activity for this act involved learning a lantern song (composed by Hussein from words by a Mabelle youth) - in our choir, through individual phone calls, with other groups and sent in from singers around the city.
“As I pass the time until sundown, I search for the last piece of sky for my jigsaw puzzle.”
Act 7: Nourishment
A meal is served at sundown: samosas, fatayer, rice pudding. As the light leaves the sky, neighbours and families eat together on coloured blankets under the trees. Our activity for this act involved sharing, trying, enjoying and photographing favourite Iftar recipes contributed by the Mabelle Ladies Cooking Circle.
Act 8: Circling
At the end of the evening, neighbours circle in around the fire to share songs and stories. Our last activity invites people to reflect on what they have enjoyed from this Virtual community arts event and what more they might wish for over the coming months.
Workshops
This winter, we led a series of workshops with community members at the Aga Khan Museum, collecting stories, sounds and symbols associated with Iftar and Ramadan. The voices of participants from these workshops feature in all of our eight podcasts, and their stories and imagery shared weaves its way throughout all of Virtual Iftar Nights.
“As I pass the time until sundown, I prepare the table and make sweet dishes”
Contributions from:
Aalya Suteria, Abdul Versi, Afraaz, Afsarah Chowdhury, Alma Lilia Yañez Gutierrez, Amal Gure, Amina Mohamud, Amy Van Zant, Anisa Ahmed, Anna Szatan, Arya Cokic, Aseel Mohamed, Avery Mason, Azeb Mehari, Badreya, Barbara, Bernadette Shuman, Bibi, Bofta, Brianna Adjei, Bunny Boyle, C. Lahashmi, Catherine Moeller, Chadra Chandra, Charlene Pauls, Cheryl Duvall, Chhom, Christen Kong, Claire Townley, Daniella Fernando, David Rain, Deborah Kuperstein, Deloris Farrugia, Diane Lima, Dilshah Habib, Dloris, Elizabeth Myslicki, Eutis McLaughlin, Eve Danziger, Fadouma, Fadwa Ghanem, Farah Jibril, Farida Adan, Faten Toubasi, Fathiya, Glen Mattock, Grace Oswald, Hanae Ahmed, Harshi Hemachandra, Herold van de Ven, Hindia Osman, Hodan Ibrahim
Hope Dennis, Islam Mohamed, Jon Field, Karis Jones-Pard, Kathy, Ken Harrower, Kyung Kim, Laboni Islam, Laila Sherali, Lauren Kong, Leah Houston, Lily Rovillos, Lisette Cogdell, Lucia Bruce, Madina Gure, Manal ElChanti, Margaret Bojin, Margaret Oldfield, Mario Pietrantoni, Marlene Sheehan-Carey, Mary Boutis, Maximiliano Martinez Yañez, Megan Weidner, Melanie Fernandes-Alvarez, Melissa Burgess, Melissa Mackenzie, Merle Maraj, Mika Howard, Millie Mattock, Mitra Luddin, Monika Ged, Muna Hagi, Nada Johar, Nada Nurhussen, Najma Gedi, Narelle Carr, Nargis, Narjis Riffi, Natalie Fasheh, Neena Saloya, Nura Nurhussen, Omar Mohamed, Oshan Starreveld, Parvis Bhatia, Pat Austin, Paula Barthol, Raffaela Palazzo, Rakefet Arieli, Rashida Vadsaria, Renata De Rege
Risa De Rege, Ruhela Syed, Sally Wellen, Sandra Kanagasabai, Sarah Morrison, Sarah Wang, Saruq Farah, Sasha Mattock, Sayruq, Seeta Robinson, Shamim Badruddin, Shamim Brunon, Shelley La Hay, Shukriya, Simon Black, Sophie Golden, Suhad Quaddorah, Sulekha Ali & family, Susi, Tanya Steinberg, Tasmeen Syed, Tianna Banton, Tijana Spasic, Veronika Reid, Vivien Wei, Wannor, Yan Deng, Yasmin Dhanji, Nour Khedder, David Rain, Nada Nurhussen, Tamadur Tami Alkhatib, Renate de Rege, Nura Nurhussen, Ruba Zouzou
And other members of The Gather Round Singers, The Guelph Chamber Choir, Raise Her Voice (Oakville Choir for Children and Youth), MABELLEyouth Leaders, MABELLEarts Seniors Art Socials, Sand in Water Virtual Iftar Gathering, MABELLEarts Aga Khan Museum Workshops, and many others.
Virtual Iftar Nights Live
Every Wednesday evening during Ramada, Virtual Iftar Nights hosted Songs Before Sunset: short musical performances on Facebook Live that featured the project’s many contributing musicians. We’re delighted to share recordings of all of these concerts with you here.
You can still join in!
As part of our festival, we shared weekly interactive opportunities to add into the story of Virtual Iftar Nights. Although the festival has now ended we still invite you to explore and enjoy our interactive activities - we’d love to see what you make!
You can share your work by email to info@jumbliestheatre.org or by posting it and tagging @mabellearts on social media
