ISHQ Festival opens its inaugural season with a rare and transformative experience: Mahabbat (محبّت)—a groundbreaking collaboration between Alim Qasimov, the legendary voice of Azerbaijani Mugham, and Sashar Zarif, internationally acclaimed choreographer and dance innovator. This performance marks the first time in thirteen years that Qasimov and Zarif share a Toronto stage, following their celebrated 2012 work Sama-e Rast. That evening left an enduring imprint on audiences—and Mahabbat continues the conversation they began then, renewed and deepened. Their journey began even earlier: in 2004, Zarif traveled to Baku to explore a long-standing artistic question—could dance, like poetry and music, reclaim its place within Mugham’s expressive landscape? With Qasimov and his Mugham Ensemble, Zarif created a 45-minute choreographic solo to Rast, reimagining dance as an embodied component of the modal tradition. That creative spark became the foundation of Dance of Mugham, a body of work developed through performances, residencies, and education across more than 40 countries over the past two decades. Now, in Mahabbat, centuries-old musical tradition meets embodied storytelling. Through Qasimov’s soul-stirring vocal improvisations and Zarif’s spiritually rooted movement, the performance revives the ancient connection between Mugham and Sama—between music and dance, devotion and longing. Supporting this dialogue is Qasimov’s long-standing Mugham Ensemble:
Zaki Ramiz Oğlu Valiyev (tar) Rafael Ağahüseyn Oğlu Asgarov (kamancha) Javidan Elşad Oğlu Nabiyev (naghara) Rauf Rza Oğlu Islamov (balaban and wind instruments)
Their sensitive, live improvisation shapes the sonic landscape—breathing with the moment, in deep conversation with voice and body. Not just a duet, but a dialogue—between voice and body, tradition and transformation. Developed through over two decades of creative exchange, Mahabbat reimagines tradition with emotional depth and physical poetry. As part of ISHQ Festival’s commitment to presenting intimate and contemplative art, this work invites audiences into an atmosphere of beauty, memory, and inner movement. Whether or not you are familiar with Mugham or contemporary dance, Mahabbat opens a space to feel, to reflect, and to witness love—in its most raw, reverent form.
Lead Collaborators: Alim Qasimov (Azerbaijan) & Sashar Zarif (Canada)
Produced & Directed by: Sashar Zarif
Cast: Six artists (Alim Qasimov, Sashar Zarif, and four members of the Mugham Ensemble)
About the Artists
Alim Qasimov A living legend of Mugham, Alim Qasimov’s voice defies boundaries, carrying centuries of sacred tradition and raw emotion. Hailed as a master of vocal improvisation, his singing holds the weight of history while shaping Mugham as a living, breathing art form. Qasimov has captivated audiences worldwide through collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Kronos Quartet, and Jeff Buckley. Recipient of the UNESCO Music Prize, his true legacy lies in transmitting a spiritual artform through voice and presence.
Sashar Zarif An internationally award-winning choreographer, performer, and educator, Sashar Zarif has spent three decades redefining dance through Living Stories—his method of embodied cultural memory—and Dance of Mugham, a practice rooted in modal music and Sufi movement traditions. With performances in more than 40 countries, Zarif bridges tradition and contemporary expression. A recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, Zarif’s legacy is shared body to body, across generations and geographies.
