“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 (Cancelled)
This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for another date 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,…
Find out more »October 2019
Mehreghan Celebration
Farima and the Simorgh Dance Collective perform at this event.
Find out more »International Festival Davis
International House Davis is excited to host the 9th annual International Festival in Central Park Davis on Sunday, October 6th from 12-5 pm. Come enjoy music, dance, and delicious food from all over the world, along with informational booths, children’s activities, and artisan items for sale. In these divisive times, we will boldly cultivate joy at I-Fest by celebrating everything that we hold dear at I-House – culture, community, inclusiveness and diversity Includes Sema performance by Farima Berenji.
Find out more »Dance of the Soul (Sema Gathering and Workshop)
Join Farima for a 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 music.…
Find out more »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 »Tanbour and Sema Workshop
Music workshop in the tanbour with History of the tanbour Study of tanbour maqams and its geographical, natural, and cultural contexts Sema with tanbour Facilitated by Salman Hosseini, tanbour player and speaker, Mehrdad Maleki, singer, daf, and tanbour player, and Farima Berenji, Sema dancer.
Find out more »Sufi Week at Shakti Wellness Center
Five days of whirling, dancing, meditation, singing and breathing with Farima Berenji
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