“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
Friday March 9, 7:30-10:00pm: Dance Performances and Sema Performances and Sema GatheringPlan to join Farima Berenji and her Comox Valley Simorgh Collective at the Abbey Studio for an evening of Persian traditional and sacred dance performances. The show will be followed by a Sema Gathering (Sufi Whirling) facilitated by Farima. With Farima’s guidance we will […]
A class lead by Farima upon Sufi Whirling and Sufism. Contact us for details and location.
A dance concert by the Simorgh Dance Collective of Alaska, 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. Admission includes ethnic dance performances, dinner, silent auction, and open dance floor. "It was in China, late one moonless night, The […]
A sacred dance gathering with whirling, meditation, and poetry in nature celebrating the new life that surrounds us in nature. Lead by Farima to honor the Spring Equinox. Contact us for more details.
The 11th Annual Houston Nowruz Festival is the largest Persian New Year celebration in the state of Texas. Featured artists include Kamyar, Hamid Talebzadeh, Nikita, DJ Alireza, and dance performances by Farima Berenji and the Simorgh Dance Collective. Tickets: $25 (if purchased in advance) and $30 at the door Nowruz Festival Tickets
Learn the basic technique of Sufi whirling (Iranian and Turkish style), history, and theory. Farima’s teachings are based on Indo-Iranian ancient rituals, science of whirling, and the sacred geometry of whirling. We will learn essential techniques of whirling preparation, maintaining balance and posture, controlling dizziness, self-focus during turning, breath work, and more. For this workshop […]
Where Movement Becomes Devotion An interpretive, improvisational, and devotional dance form inspired by mystical and classical Persian poetry. Persian poetry contains spiritual messages representing the Divine essence. The words in Persian poetry speak to us, revealing the emotion of our soul. Persian poetry is rhythmic—it has an essence of melody, which guides us to dance. […]
TEDxYYC has spent eight years bringing some of the brightest and best minds to Calgary, and 2018 will continue the legacy of inspiration! You’re invited to join us for an important journey far beyond your known boundaries of thought at TEDxYYC 2018 on June 22. Farima Berenji will be guest speaker at this conference. Her […]
Learn Azeri and Kafkaz dance styles in this 2hour dance workshop with master instructor, performer, and leading authority of Azeri dance: Dr. Gürbüz Aktaş. Dr. Aktaş will teach Azerbaijani men's and women's dance including the fast footwork, and some Lezginka. Both men and women may participate in this workshop. Dr. Aktaş is visiting from Turkey […]
In the first part of this series, Dr. Gürbüz Aktaş presented a 2hr session of Azeri dance technique for men and women. By overwhelming request, this additional session to teach traditional Kafkaz dance style has been added before Dr. Aktaş leaves the Bay Area this weekend. Learn Kafkaz and review Azeri dance styles in this […]