Sacred and Traditional Dances of Greater Khorasan with Farima Berenji

Travel to ancient Khorasan and study the sacred rituals, whirling, folk dances, music, and prayers of this ancient land and learn more about the great mystic masters of this region such as Attar, Shams, Rudaki, Khayyám, Khwarizm, and Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī. Greater Khorasan is a historic region, the majority of it lies in modern day Iran, as well as in minor parts of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Historically, Khorasan was named “Parthia” but was renamed to Khorasan in the late Sassanid Dynasty. Khorasan is an area of Eastern Iran known as the place “Where the Sun Arrives from.” Bright and lively, the dances of this region include elements of the famous Soghdian (Whirling Dance), Warrior Dance, Scarf Dance, Khorasan Sema and more. Khorasani dances are lively, festive, and full of meaning. Men and women, old and young, all participate and their dances tell of their nomadic life, struggle, unity, their love for life, and honor for their glorious ancestors. Both men and woman are welcome to the workshops.

Saturday Oct. 6th, 11AM-4;30 PM with potluck lunch 1-2PM
Workshop of folk and warrior dances of Khorasan with Farima Berenji, including Torbat-e-Jam and Bojnourdi. Please bring two medium size sticks or chopsticks for the warrior dance on Saturday (chop sticks will work for practice purposes).

Sunday Oct. 7th, 1PM-6:30PM
Soghdian (Whirling Dance) and Khorasan Sema workshop with Farima Berenji. Please stay for potluck dinner and Q&A after workshop.

Registration

Full weekend intensive early price $200, after Sept. price becomes $225

Contact Cathy Stoyko to register and FMI (250) 218-0704.

Send an e-transfer non-refundable deposit of $100 to cdstoyko@uniserve.com to secure your spot in the workshops.

Locals, please make arrangements to bring cash deposit to The Abbey Studio at 2687 Penrith Ave. in Cumberland, BC OR mail a cheque made out to Cathy Stoyko, PO Box 1196, Cumberland B.C. V0R 1S0

SPACE IS LIMITED. Register early for these workshops to avoid disappointment, the last two intensives sold out!

Farima Berenji

Farima Berenji is an award winning dance ethnologist and internationally acclaimed dance artist, choreographer, instructor, and an archaeologist specializing in ancient, sacred, classical, and folkloric dances of Persia, Ionia, and the Silk Road. Recognized as one of a few world scholarly experts of ancient and mystical Iranian dance ethnology, she travels worldwide to record, research, lecture, perform, educate, and to inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance and movement.

As a Magi (Iranian Shaman), Sufi, and Semazen, Farima is an exceptionally inspiring instructor strongly connected to spirituality and healing. She seeks to lead people to the historic beauty and richness of Persia and the Silk Road culture and to aid them find inner bliss through dance, music, and spirituality. Farima teaches her own original findings, methods, techniques, and exercises to uncover the connection between the soul and dance movement and what make an ARTIST instead of just a dancer.

Farima is the founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective (founded in 2007). She is the first Iranian dance artist to found a worldwide collaborative devoted to preservation, performance, and promotion of ancient, classical, and folkloric dance of Persia and the Silk Road. Farima is the founder of the Lioness project, Poetry in Motion project, and the Awakening project. She has appeared in scholarly documentaries hosted by National Geographic and the U.N., and has been highlighted in various international media Farima is the recipient of the prestigious UN award and has been recognized by Congressman Mike Honda, by the Iranian Women’s Rights Committee “30 Voices,” Music and Cultural Organization of Turkey, and is the first first Iranian dancer to be honored in a TEDx talk. Farima and her Simorgh Dance Collective was the first Persian dance company, directed by an Iranian to perform during a reception for US President Obama. Learn more…