“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
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. Based on the 12th century story by Attar of Nishapur, Tarsa is a dance drama accompanied by traditional Persian music […]
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 […]
Join Farima for a Sufi Whirling Workshop and Sema Gathering, with sacred music, meditation, and whirling. 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 – […]
Learn Uzbek traditional dance technique, choreography, and history with Rashid Shadat and Farima Berenji. Part of our Silk Road dance intensive program. At each monthly intensive you will learn history, music, costuming and choreography from Farima and guest master instructors. The program focus by month includes: April: Georgia May: Uzbekistan June: Azerbaijan Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, […]
Whether you are an actor or dancer this workshop will help you identify how to improve your performance on the stage. Stage presence refers to the ability to command the full attention of a theater audience by the impressiveness of one's performance. When combined with skill, experience and hard work, stage presence can create a […]
A lecture with Farima Berenji. Internationally acclaimed dance artist, choreographer, and scholar Farima Berenji is passionate when she speaks of the role dance has played in her life. At her core, she believes dance rituals invoke healing and harmony. This was the legacy of these dances but over time, people have lost connection to them. […]
Date to be announced - IRAN (Tehran and Kermanshah only) With Yarsan Sufi Order and Masters: Farima Berenji, Seyed Salman Hosseni, Mehrdad Maleki, and Seyed Vessal Hosseni. Discover the roots of mysticism! This unique travel experience and opportunity focuses on the history, mysticism, art, music, and dance traditions of the Yarsan Sufi Order. Retreat/Tour includes: […]
The Origin of Mysticism Date to be announced - TURKEY (Bademhan Sufi House and Retreat Center and Çanakkale) With Yarsan and Khorasan Sufi Order and Masters: Farima Berenji, Seyed Salman Hosseni, Mehrdad Maleki, and Seyed Vessal Hosseni. Learn the ancient wisdoms, dances, whirling and healing ritual practices of the Anatolian and Khorasan Sufi mystics. Our […]
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 […]
Poetry in Music and Motion for a Millennium An online workshop for musicians and dancers with Persian dance scholar Farima Berenji and music scholars Dr. Lloyd Miller and Nariman Assad. A dastgah is one of the basic melody types of traditional Persian music as identified by music masters originating from the nineteenth century. It is […]