“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
Lecture on Persian Dance from the Qajar Dynasty to the Modern Age by Farima Berenji. Potluck, bring a dish to share. In the early 19th century, new styles of dance began to develop in Persia. Artists traveled to Europe, creating a bloom of modernism in the arts, particularly in the royal courts. Illustrations of this […]
“Open to all and great for fusion artists, all dancers, and the culturally curious”. Contemporary Persian Dance Technique and Style Workshop Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, 3-5 PM. $60. Register... Simorgh Dance Collective Choreography Workshop Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, 6-8PM. $60. Workshop by invitation only for Simorgh members and prospective members. Contact Mary Ann Benoit 907-491-1253 […]
Explore Sufi Flamenco fusion as a stunning journey from Southern Spain to Persia and Turkey. Learn the history and the beautiful movements of Flamenco, combined with Sufi Whirling traditions of Iran and Turkey in this workshop lead by Master Whirler and Dance Ethnologist Farima Berenji. There is a historic, lively cross-cultural exchange between the cultures […]
Additional and advanced technique and choreography workshop in Sufi Flamenco fusion presented by Farima Berenji. Explore Sufi Flamenco fusion as a stunning journey from Southern Spain to Persia and Turkey. Learn the history and the beautiful movements of Flamenco, combined with Sufi Whirling traditions of Iran and Turkey in this workshop lead by Master Whirler […]
Explore Uzbekistan’s beautiful ethnic music, dance, natural, and cultural heritage in this 10 day tour along the historic Silk Road. Hosted by Farima Berenji, internationally recognized dance scholar and award-winning world dance choreographer and performer. This unique travel experience and opportunity focuses on the history, art, music, and dance traditions of Uzbekistan. Guests will study […]
Persian dance comes from an ancient culture of 8000 years and its movements are a blend of enchanting sacred movements reflecting birds, animals, flowers, and elements. Persian dance is also inspired by Persian poetry and sensuous miniature artwork. It is delicate, refined, and full of meaning. Delicate hand movements, gentle upper body undulations, and facial […]
Join Farima Berenji for a four day intensive retreat and venture deep into the heart through sacred circles and sufi whirling practices, practices based on the sacred number seven in Iranian mystical traditions and Sema rituals, Zikr (sufi prayers), and Shamanic healing, music, and sohbet (Sufi spiritual talk). Retreat and training will focus on Farima’s […]
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. Live music performed by Jayson Fann, Homeyra Banejad, and Steve Robertson. Tickets Doors open at 6:30 PM $25 Online […]
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. Live music performed by Jayson Fann, Homeyra Banejad, and Steve Robertson. Tickets Doors open at 6:30 PM $25 Online […]
CANCELED DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL A weekend Sufi retreat of ancient Iranic whirling traditions and Central Asian Sufi traditions including Khorasan Sema, Uyghur Sema, Baktashi Sema, Turkmen Zikr, Gwati Zikr, Vahishta, and more. We will take on the path of the ancients, a journey of discovery, in space and time... reconnecting with our […]