On the heels of their two-month, 31-city tour of China, Fadi J. Khoury’s FJK Dance will return to NYC on Tuesday, June 13 in “A Fusion of Culture and Dance, A Message of Peace” at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 7pm (68th street between Lexington and Park Avenues). The FJK Dance mix of contemporary ballet, Argentinian tango, ballroom and Middle Eastern dance hopes to, through its distinctive dance fusion, facilitate an understanding between cultures and break boundaries.

FJK Artistic Director Fadi J. Khoury hails from Baghdad, Iraq, where he grew up surrounded by the folkloric music and dance of Arab culture. While FJK’s Middle Eastern influences are strong, the company’s choreography exhibits a distinctive mix of styles. Three original works, featuring FJK’s international cast of ten dancers, will include MUNDO (works in process), REFLECTIONS (2016) and ECHOES (2015). *Full program below.

According to Mr. Khoury, “this program is an opportunity to communicate peace, diversity, tolerance and harmony, to educate and share the endless possibilities in finding connections within our differences.

“The FJK international touring program has helped to fulfill our goal to raise awareness of the values of freedom and diversity, and most of all the opportunity and hope the USA has for refugees and immigrants. Through our performance we also hope to celebrate Middle Eastern heritage, and raise awareness of the positive and artistic influence of this culture. I hope to inspire through my journey.”

* Full Program:

Mundo (Works in Progress) A dance that highlights the joining of Latin American social dancing and folkloric movement. The score includes music by Paco de Lucia and Diego Amador, and features Frank Abenante (Grammy Nominee music producer and jazz pianist) and his NYC Latin Jazz Ensemble, under the guidance of FA BrandTuning.

Reflections (2016) is a collaborative work combining projection designs by Calvin Anderson and music by Peter Michael von der Nahmer, FJK’s Composer-in-Residence. The project was inspired by the visual impact of art works capturing the energy and intensity of the reflection of light through water currents. The vibration in those images imparts a dramatic human truth: we can be gorgeous, but also restless and evanescent. We participate in phenomena shared by light, water, humanity, and dance. As humans and dancers we embody ideas of balance, unity, and the duality of observer and observed.

Echoes (2015), is a choreographic work in which five men dance to music by Shamou, a Persian percussionist and composer who fuses Middle Eastern drums and percussion instruments with electric based sounds and rhythms. Inspired by “Dabke,” a folkloric traditional Bedouin dance from the mountains of Lebanon and Syria, the dancers together find unity, mutual support and confidence. “Echoes” offers a prayer for hope and new beginnings. Video

“A Fusion of Culture and Dance will embody hope, resilience, tolerance and peace… the passion in our dance is intended to offer prayers for hope and a new beginning.” – Fadi J. Khoury