Spoken Groove

Event Details

Event type: All Ages

"Spoken Groove" is a powerful, genre-blurring performance that weaves spoken word, dance, and rap into one unified artistic experience.

The performances flow between spoken word poet Heidi Sander who breathes life into words — emotionally layered and powerfully human — and dancer Deltin Sejour who reinterprets that emotion and imagery through movement, transforming verse into visceral expression. Whether passed — gesture by gesture — at the poem’s close, or exchanged mid-verse in a fluid back-and-forth, the story moves between voice and form, as if the two are speaking in a shared, unspoken language. Finally, clean rapper Karim Rushdy reshapes the poem, through flow, lyric, and rhythm, adding a sharp, lyrical edge that deepens the emotional terrain.

Each artist offers a unique translation.
Each form speaks its own truth.
Together, they reveal the many ways a message can move us.
This is not a performance you watch.
It’s one you feel, follow, and remember.

Opening Acts: Quinn Meyer, Stratford Youth Poet Laureate and spoken word artist Jeremy Van Essen.

Presented in collaboration with the Provocation Ideas Festival.

ABOUT DELTIN SEJOUR
Deltin Sejour was born and raised in Freeport Grand Bahama and received early training in martial arts. He later expanded his skills in theatre and dance at various institutions, including the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and George Brown College, and pursued further training in yoga and movement in India.
 
Throughout his career, Sejour has worked with notable companies such as the Canadian Opera Company Kaeja D Dance, Kashe Dance, Leaves In the Wind Dance Collective, Reason d'etre Dance Productions, and Newton Moraes Dance Theatre. He has been involved in various film projects as a special skills actor where his diverse experience in choreography and performance showcases his versatility as an artist.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Sejour is a trained firefighter dedicated to community service. He prioritizes mentorship at the Nancy Campbell Academy, focusing on using art to raise awareness about social justice issues, while continuously seeking opportunities for personal and professional growth.

With a commitment to social justice through art, Deltin crafts his own narrative and seeks to inspire the next generation of artists. As he weaves together influences from various cultures and disciplines, his story illustrates the profound impact that creativity can have on both individuals and communities alike. As an artist Sejour seeks to continue his education by collaborating and creating meaningful ,thoughtful, physical and engaging work.
 

ABOUT KARIM RUSHDY
Known for blending soul-stirring lyrics with the energy of hip-hop, Karim Rushdy has become a voice of clarity in a noisy world. His songs uplift, educate, and invite reflection, drawing listeners of all ages into a journey of healing and hope

Karim is a global artist with a unique voice and vision—born in Haiti, raised across India, the USA, and Canada, and rooted in Egyptian, Persian, Irish, and Scottish heritage. Now based in Stratford, Ontario with his Korean-Swedish wife and growing family of four children, Karim is building something much bigger than music—he’s laying the foundation for a new kind of record label.

His mission is to launch a family-friendly, spiritually uplifting record label—where artists make music their kids can hear, their elders can celebrate, and the world can grow from.
 

ABOUT HEIDI SANDER
Multi-award-winning poet, Pushcart Prize nominee, best-selling author and passionate performer Heidi Sander’s poems have appeared in literary journals, anthologies, multiple artistic collaborations and her bestselling poetry collections. As framed artwork, her poems have toured hotels, cafes and restaurants, and are featured in permanent collections on the walls of cancer centres, women’s shelters, and hospice locations. She founded “Pathways To Poetry,” a multimedia online program that helps emerging and established poets develop their writing, publish their poetry, and promote their work.

Heidi performed her award-winning poem, “How We Live On,” in a short film, dance performance and a theatrical concert. The poem is also included in her bestselling poetry collection, The Forest Of My Mind. Her recent book Stratford Gems just won an Urban Poetry book award.  Two of her other award-winning books, When I Miss You, and Grief & Loss Guided Journal are used in hospice programs.

As a writer, storytelling is at the heart of everything Heidi does. To her, the art of writing is cathartic and opens doors of discovery. Her greatest joy is fostering the love of writing and encouraging others to share their stories and poetry. Her online program, “Pathways To Poetry,” along with other writing workshops, is part of her larger vision for the poetry and literary community. Some of her artistic collaborations benefit hospices, cancer centres and other charities through partnerships with benefactors.
www.heidisander.com