“Everything in dance is poetry. Every movement describes a story, a feeling. The dancer takes the audience into a world of fairy tales.” ~Farima Berenji
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September 2019
Journey Along the Silk Route
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8E-dXONQCM&w=560&h=315] Enjoy a dazzling concert that celebrates the diverse cultures, music, and dance traditions of the Silk Road. Featuring ethnic dances of Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Turkey, and more performed by the Simorgh Dance Collective, Eastern Arts, members of the Aylan Dance Group, and live music by Homerya Banejad and Ensemble. Doors open at 6:30 PM The Simorgh Dance Collective gratefully acknowledges the support of the Good Samaritan United Methodist Church and other generous individuals. Tickets Suggested Donation:…
Find out more »Sacred Circle Gathering
Led by Farima Berenji and Xiaojie Zheng, this evening session will include an introduction to: Ancient Persian healing movements and rituals Breath work and visualization Basic whirling practices Farima Berenji Farima Berenji is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, instructor, dance ethnologist, choreographer, and archeologist. Recognized as one of few world experts and scholars of Persian dance history, Farima infuses spirituality into her dance and teachings to impassion, empower, and inspire. Farima travels worldwide to research, perform, teach, and inspire…
Find out more »October 2019
Rose and the Nightingale
Rose and the Nightingale (Gol-o-Bolbol) is a two-day training workshop in Sufism, Persian Mystical Dance and Ancient Iranic Rituals with Sufi dance master and ethnologist Farima Berenij. This intensive workshop includes Poetry (Original Old Farsi Text), Ancient Iranic Whirling and Sufi Whirling (focus on Attar and Shams whirling of Khorsan and Yarsan traditions), Music Studies (understanding the Dastghah and Makhams of Iranian Sufi music (Mode and instruments used for Love, Longing, Beloved), Prayers, and ancient Iranic Mantras and Zikr based…
Find out more »Love is Calling… A Sema Gathering
Sufi Brothers and Sisters, you are invited to participate in a Sema Gathering taking place at Mutlu Baba Darghah (Sufi House) in Yalova, Turkey from October 25-27. Please note that this is an invitation only and that all must register in advance. If you wish to invite anyone please contact us and register their names. The Sema will be hosted by Farima Berenji, Hatice Sara, Ozlem Cagla Yorganci, Sevim Yilmaz and Evan Janosh. We will start Friday and continue until…
Find out more »November 2019
Rose and the Nightingale
Love-Longing-Beloved Sufi Dance Retreat, 3rd Edition A 3-day intensive retreat with Sufi dance master and dance ethnologist Farima Berenji. Join Farima to venture deep into the heart through sacred circles and Sufi whirling practices. The retreat includes training in Sufi and mystical dance, ancient rituals, poetry (focus on the valley of love), music studies (understanding the Dastghah and Makhams of Sufi music), prayers, ancient mantras and Zikr based on the rotation of the Sun and Moon (Rose and Nightingale). We…
Find out more »Dance of the Soul Workshop
Discover the power and mystery of whirling as a gateway for self-growth and spiritual enlightenment through movement, music, and meditation. Inspired by nature, ancient Iranic rituals, the science of whirling, and the beautiful spiritual traditions of Sufism, join Farima to learn the essentials of whirling meditation including preparation, balance and posture, controlling dizziness, self-focus, breathwork, and more. Whirling in the practice of devotion, healing, and meditation originated thousands of years ago with the ancient Persians using it as way of…
Find out more »December 2019
Persian Art Conference 2019
Save the date! Farima will present a lecture and perform at the 2019 Persian Art & Letters Conference in London. Farima will also present a workshop in Persian Classical dance. Persian Art & Letters Conference Theme: "Dawn of Hope – بامداد امید”. All plenary sessions will be offered in Persian and English, with dedicated programs for children and junior youth, as well as evening entertainment, arts exhibition, and much more. More details of conference program... Register...
Find out more »January 2020
Journey of the Simorgh
Save the Date! More details coming... A dance concert performance by the Simorgh Dance Collective of San Jose, adapted from the Persian epic Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar. Featuring Persian sacred, classical, and folkloric dance choreographed by Farima Berenji. Doors open at 6:30 PM Simorgh Dance Collective The Simorgh Dance Collective is a world community of artists devoted to cross-cultural dialogue and artistic collaboration through traditional, classical, and sacred dance styles of the Silk Road. The Collective…
Find out more »February 2020
Whirling Workshop Series 1: Exploring Sense of Self
Learn the fundamentals of turning and how it enables you to find a sense of self and a connection between body, mind, and spirit. Discover the vital balance in the rhythm of your breathing, movement, posture, and concentration. At first, it can take great effort to combine all of these elements in harmony, but with practice, you will learn to whirl indefinitely, relax, and open the heart, body, and mind. Register online For more information, call the Montalvo Box Office…
Find out more »March 2020
Whirling Workshop Series 2: Emptiness as Fullness
Emptiness as Fullness: In Nothingness, We Find Everything Sufis believe that as you whirl, you find harmony in the motion of the universe, that as you turn with outstretched arms, you collect the energy from your environment -- enabling you to direct it within yourself and back to the earth. In this class, we will learn turning techniques and movements as we explore the notion of emptiness as fullness. Register online For more information, call the Montalvo Box Office at…
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