“Teaching dance teaches life lessons.” ~Anonymous
Classes
Drop-ins are welcome. Teens are welcome to attend all adult classes. In advance of your first class send us an e-mail to let us know which class you are interested in and what day you will come. We’d like to help and get to know you. For the best price, students normally register and pay at the first class of the month for all meetings that month. Otherwise drop-ins pay at each class. Look to the schedule below for pricing. Ask us for discount pricing if you plan on purchasing multiple classes.
Sacred Dance and Whirling
Study and practice movements to various sacred dances of the Near East, breathing techniques, whirling movements, vocabulary, and styles. We will explore both spotted and unspotted turns.
Tuesday 6:30 – 7:30 pm.
$20 – Drop-in
$15/week – Entire month, paid in advance or first class of month.
By online conferencing. Register to obtain link.
Dances of Persia and the Silk Road
Experience one of the world’s most enchanting dance forms! Inspired by Persian poetry and miniature artwork, Persian and Silk Road dance combines swirling arabesques, sweeping gestures, shoulder isolations, footwork patterns, and dazzling spins. In this class we will learn various Persian and Central Asian dance movements, vocabulary, styles, expressions, turning, and short sequences. Class will also focus on the historical aspect of each dance style, costuming, and music.
Beginning and Technique
Learn basic Persian and Silk Road movements and skills for practice in choreography.
Thursday 8:00 – 9:00 pm. Resumes August 6
$20 – Drop-in
$15/week – Entire month, paid in advance or first class of month.
By online conferencing. Register to obtain link.
Advanced and Choreography
For advanced level students with prior experience in ballet, Persian, or contemporary dance only. Class will be focused on choreography or advanced techniques.
Tuesday 7:30 – 8:30 pm.
$20 – Drop-in
$15/week – Entire month, paid in advance or first class of month.
By online conferencing. Register to obtain link.
Dances of Azerbaijan Intensive
This workshop is part of the Central Asian Workshop Intensive series. Each month we will be focusing on various Central Asian dance styles, technique and choreography.
For the month of June our focus is Azeri dance technique and choreography. We will learn a traditional veil dance and folk dance.
Technique and Choreography
Saturday 10:30 – 11:30 am. resumes July 11
$20 – Drop-in
$15/week – Entire month, paid in advance or first class of month.
By online conferencing. Register to obtain link.
Haft Dastgah, Haft Gham: Music and Dances of the Seven Persian Dastgahs
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 a melody type that serves as the basis for a performer’s extemporized pieces. Each dastgah has come to identify a mood, color, poetry, song, movement, dance style, and recognizable beauty in classical Persian dance.
Learn the character and history of each of the seven classical Persian dastgahs. Includes lectures and music and dance improvisation workshops for a program of seven classes over seven weeks. The program culminates in a student performance presented online.
Technique and Choreography
Saturday 11:30 – 11:30 am. July 11 – August 22, 2020
$25 – Drop-in
$150 – Entire course, paid in advance.
By online conferencing. Register to obtain link.
Sacred Circle and Sufi Lecture
An hour of ancient mystical and Sufi healing rituals facilitated by Master Farima Berenji, including
- Sufi Zikr (Yarsan and Khorasan Zikr)
- Hu Meditation
- Poetry Recitation
- Farima’s unique element Breath Work
- Ancient Iranic Zoroastrian rituals and Mantras
- Meditation and Chanting
Open your heart, body, and mind in this mystical session of meditation, breath work, and healing. Includes lecture and Q/A of Yarsan Sufism or mysticism.
Sunday 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
By online conferencing
Dance of the Soul
Monthly Sema Gathering (Sufi Whirling) and Zikr
Join us on a path for healing and self growth through the power of meditative whirling and sacred dance to live music, mystical poetry, and Zikr (prayer). With us create a sacred supportive space where we can all open our heart, body, and mind.
Sema is a powerful meditation ritual with music, poetry, and movement that originated over 700 years ago with the Sufis. Whirling is the customary dance of Sema whereby one attempts to abandon ego, pain, and personal desires and reach the source of all perfection. Whirling connects us with our center, our heart. There are no spectators when we enter this sacred gathering together. “Sema” means “listening”. Participate with us in this practice of deep listening, become filled with the energy of blessing, and create a channel of healing for all of creation.
We will open with sacred and mystical Persian poetry and meditation, journey into whirling, healing, and Persian and Near Eastern healing dances/rituals with live music, then close our gathering with chanting, drumming, and sharing.
Please wear comfortable clothing (white or light colored if possible) and wear socks or soft soled shoes. If you choose to turn avoid eating a large meal 2 hours prior. Feel free to bring a poem, story, or music to share. Our gathering welcomes musicians and other spiritual or healing teachers to come and share their art.
Dates, times, and locations vary. Please visit our calendar
Class Montage
All programs are copyright the Farima Dance Company.
