“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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December 2019
Dance of the Soul Honoring Rumi
Sema, Semah, Sacred Dance, Music, and Poetry Honoring Sheb-i Arus Join us this night to celebrate our fellowship in love and spirit with whirling dance (Sema and Semah), meditation, music, and poetry. Sheb-i Arus commemorates the death and thereby union between the Persian mystical poet Rumi and the universe. We will open with sacred and mystical Sufi poetry (Farsi and English), meditation with sacred sounds, candle gazing, Hu meditation, healing circles with ancient Zoroastrian rituals, journey into whirling with live…
Find out more »Sacred Dance Gathering and 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 »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
A dance and music concert by the Simorgh Dance Collective, adapted from the Persian epic Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar. Featuring Persian sacred, classical, and folkloric dances choreographed by Farima Berenji, Persian music performed by Homeyra Banejad and Ensemble, and expertly narrated by award winning actor and director Sadegh Hatefi. "It was in China, late one moonless night, The Simorgh first appeared to mortal sight. He let a feather float down through the air, And rumors of…
Find out more »Dance of the Soul (Sufi Whirling Workshop & Gathering)
Join us at our monthly Sufi Whirling Workshop and Sema Gathering, with live/recorded music, meditation, whirling, Zikr (Sufi Prayer) and Sohbet (Sufi Talk). We will create a sacred, supportive space where we can all release whatever energy no longer serves us, relax and open our heart, body, and mind. We will discover the power and mystery of ancient dances and rituals – a gateway for self-growth and spiritual transformation– through movement, music, love, and stillness. Be moved by beautiful, sacred…
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 »Tarsa
From the mystic East comes an epic tale befitting Romeo and Juliet, a tale of love between a Sufi Shaikh, a Christian maiden, and a simple love that grows despite the divisions of their beliefs. Tarsa is a dance drama accompanied by traditional Persian music played live. The story is as follows: San'an, a celebrated sheikh, spends 50 years of his life studying God, eventually acquiring a following of 500 disciples, fell in love with a Christian maiden, Tarsa. San’an…
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…
Find out more »April 2020
Whirling Workshop Series 3: Silent Whirling
Silent Whirling: Sema and Dancing to the Rhythm and Melody of the Heart Whirling in silence, solely to the rhythm of one’s heart, enables us to focus on finding calm and peace within moving meditation. Although circumstances vary, those who practice silent whirling meditation within a group are often more likely to experience and share a wide range of emotions. In this class, you will learn to find peace in the silence. Register online For more information, call the Montalvo…
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