Conscious San Jose Festival
2019-09-21 09:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | St James Park, N 2nd St, CA 95112, SAN JOSE, 95112, United States
Conscious San Jose Festival celebrates a culture of wellness in San Jose. Wellness doesn’t just mean a healthy body, it also means a clear mind and a nourished spirit, experienced individually and as a community. Conscious San Jose Festival intentionally blends yoga, meditation and movement practices, with arts, music, and community service. In the spirit of inclusion CSJ Festival is hosted at St. James Park with no fences.
Everybody is welcome to attend the festival and the free yoga class offering. A ticket is required to gain access to the full line up of classes and workshops. Free for attendees under 18.
Farima will be performing at this wonderful festival at 1:15 and 3:15pm.

Journey Along the Silk Route
2019-09-28 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Good Samaritan United Methodist Church, 19624 Homestead Road (near Wolfe), Cupertino, CA, 95014, United States
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 Homeyra 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: $30 advance, $35 at the door
ONLINE TICKETS
Lavish new costumes, live music, and studio and theater rental poses a great challenge on a limited budget. Your support enables the professional and emerging artists of the not-for-profit Simorgh Dance Collective to bring audiences an appreciation for the culture of the Silk Road in dance and music.
The Simorgh Dance Collective gratefully acknowledges the support of the Good Samaritan United Methodist Church, and other generous individuals.
Silk Road Bazaar
Arrive as early as 5:30pm to visit our Silk Road Bazaar with speciality clothing and jewellery for sale from our travels to Iran, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. Proceeds help benefit the work of the Simorgh Dance Collective.
Farima Berenji – Artistic Director, Choreographer
“I cannot put the concert from tonight in words. Emotional, full of energy, oneness and beauty. Especially the last two songs and Farima’s powerful and emotional Sufi whirling left me so affected. I am still shaking from the energy. Will never forget this concert. Thank you again and I hope there will be many more.”
—Meral Ozturk – Manchester, England, on Seven Cities of Love

Farima Berenji Farima Berenji is an Iranian-born scholar and an award winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, choreographer, instructor, lecturer, dance ethnologist, and archaeologist specializing in classical, folkloric, and sacred dances of Persia and the Silk Road. Her training spans a lifetime of intensive collaboration and research with master artists, scholars, and spiritual teachers worldwide. She is the founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, a worldwide collaborative devoted to teach dance technique, interpret, illustrate, present, and perform dances of the Silk Road. Farima performs, offers workshops, and lectures worldwide upon request and has appeared in the US, UK, Austria, Czech Republic, Turkey, Mauritius, and Iran. Read more..

Simorgh Dance Collective
Simorgh Dance Collective The Simorgh Dance Collective is a world community of artists devoted to cross-cultural dialogue and artistic collaboration through traditional, classical, and sacred dance styles of the Silk Road. The Collective currently has member companies and artist affiliations in Alaska, British Columbia, Turkey, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Read more..

Eastern Arts
Eastern Arts Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Eastern Arts is a non-profit organization of dancers, artists, musicians, and scholars who present the folkways and traditions of many lands and peoples. Eastern Arts originated in 1960 and has been active internationally presenting dance and music of lands from Asia to North Africa, from India to the Balkans in concerts, workshops, publications, audio and video productions.
Eastern Arts dancers tonight are Lisa Hoyt and Justine Sheedy-Kramer. Each has received Master’s degrees in dance with ballet emphasis. They have traveled throughout the world with Character Dance Ensemble studying traditional and character dance. They each also teach at university level and for companies such as Ballet West Academy and Salt Lake City Ballet. Read more..

Dr. Lloyd Miller
Dr. Lloyd Miller Dr. Lloyd Miller received his PhD in Persian Language and Literature from the University of Utah after spending seven years living in Iran where he had a weekly prime time television program titled “Kurosh Ali Khan va dastan”. His program featured musicians and other artists from around the world. Lloyd was urged to leave Iran during the revolution in the late 70s, though he had never planned to leave. An expert in world music including American jazz, Lloyd has made numerous recordings. The most popular being “Oriental Jazz” first released in 1968 and recently re-released by Vinyl Me Please selling thousands of copies worldwide. A film about Lloyd’s extraordinary life, including 6 years in Europe as a jazzman and university student where he played with some of the most well-known musicians of the time, is soon to be released. Titled “Sufi Saint and Swinger” the film will be screened in Finland October 25 at the World Music Expo. It was in Paris that Lloyd met Dr. Daryush Safvat who became his lifelong mentor and who taught Lloyd the importance and significance of Persian classical music. Founder of Eastern Arts, with the blessing of Dr. Safvat, Lloyd has taught music, philosophy, history, dance and culture to thousands of students at various universities for over 40 years. Read more.. Catalog of Recordings.

Katherine St. John
Katherine St. John Katherine St. John received a Master’s degree in dance pedagogy from Brigham Young University and a Master’s in Persian from the University of Utah and completed coursework for a PhD in dance history and theory from the University of California. Katherine has performed and choreographed for theater, dance companies, operas and at universities for 30 plus years. She was an artist in residence teaching world dance to students throughout Utah and neighboring states for 20 years. Her Master’s thesis is about dance in Herat Afghanistan from 1970-1980 during Russian interference. Read more..

Homeyra Banejad and Ensemble
Homeyra Banejad and Ensemble Homeyra Banejad is an Iranian daf player and vocalist. As a member of the Iranian Musician Union of Iran she has performed in Iran and the US with Sima Bina, Hamed Nikpay, Simin Ghanem, and many more artists!
Performing with Homeyra are: Neda Ameli, Lina Bidgoli, Atra Boustani, Avideh Danaii, Siamak Ebadi, Farin Foroudi, Soroush Foroudi, Mona Gafari, Rozita Rahaei, and Dokhie “Faye” Shehabi.

Sacred Circle Gathering (Cancelled)
2019-09-29 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | New Era Art Studio, 1250 Missouri St #311, San Francisco, CA, 94107, United States
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, empower, and inspire. Farima travels worldwide to research, perform, teach, and inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance. Farima is founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, a member of the International Dance Council (CID-UNESCO), and a TEDx lecturer. Read more…

Mehreghan Celebration
2019-10-02 18:00 - 23:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Church of Scientology Silicon Valley, 1080 Linda Vista Ave, Mountain View, 94043, United States
Farima and the Simorgh Dance Collective perform at this event.

International Festival Davis
2019-10-06 12:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Central Park, Davis, 5th St & B St, Davis, CA, 95616, United States
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.

Dance of the Soul (Sema Gathering and Workshop)
2019-10-06 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Yoga Studio, Anatolia Clubhouse, 11828 Chrysanthy Blvd, Rancho Cordova, CA, 95742, United States
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.
Register Online
Overview
Our gathering is NOT a performance.

First join for a welcoming circle and Farima will lead us into her unique 4 element breathing meditation or 7 mode music meditation and relaxation.
We will progress into various Sufi whirling workshop techniques, styles, and rules (Turkish Sema, Khorasan Sema, Ancient Iranic Sema, Baktashi Sema, Uyghur Sema).
Next we will progress into a prayer and open floor whirling with both live and recorded world sacred music, poetry, and drumming.
We will close with a Zikr (Sufi Prayers), ancient Iranian Shamanic rituals, sharing, a gratitude circle, and Sohbet (Sufi Talk) by Dervish and Semazen, Farima Berenji.

Farima’s teachings are based on ancient Iranic 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.
Farima’s monthly Sema Gathering offers a unique expression of sacred culture, inspired by nature, ancient Iranic rituals, and the beautiful spiritual traditions of Sufism. We will whirl and journey together to celebrate love, unity, and allow the light to enter our soul.
Open your heart! Listen! Turn, dance, and move in anyway that makes you feel alive!
Guidelines and Tips

Please bring a yoga mat or pillow to sit on.
We kindly ask for no talking on the whirling floor and to keep the Sema area quiet at all times. Respect yourself as well as those around you.
Please wear comfortable clothing (white or light colored if possible) and wear socks or soft soled shoes.
Avoid eating a large meal 1-2 hours prior

Farima Berenji
Founder and Artistic Director, Worldwide Simorgh Dance Collective, 2007
Founder and Director of Dance of the Soul ® and the Awakening and Lioness Project ® (Ancient Iranic Warrior Dances and Rituals, 2013)
Farima Berenji is an award winning Dance Ethnologist and internationally acclaimed dance artist, choreographer, instructor, and Sufi dance master. Recognized and certified as one of the few world scholarly experts of ancient and mystical Iranian dance ethnology by UNESCO, she travels worldwide to record, research, lecture, perform, educate, and to inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance and movement. She is a Magi (Iranian Shaman Master) and a Sufi.
Farima has worked as a UN scholar, researching and led an excavations team of Iranian archeology emphasizing the preservation of ancient and mystical Iranic dances. Farima’s dance and spiritual training spans years of intensive research with master artists, scholars, and spiritual teachers worldwide. She comes from the Sufi Order of Yarsan of Iran and has devoted her life into researching and brining back the ancient Sufi traditions of Iran and the origin of Sema (Khorasan Sema).
Farima teaches her own original research findings, methods, techniques, and exercises to uncover the connection between the soul and dance movements based on the book she is writing ‘Seven Sema’ the connection of human soul and the 7 sacred elements of life. Her signature dance projects (dance of the soul and the lioness) combines Persian and Near Eastern sacred and mystical dance forms, history, poetry, and the Sufi and healing rituals of ancient Iran Persia, the Altai Mountains, and Central Asia.
As a scholar, Farima presents new archaeological discoveries and research upon Sufism and its connection to the ancient Zoroastrianism and Sufism, the human body, and its symbolic meaning in the Universe along the pathway to the soul. She will introduce you to ritual movements celebrating the grace and joy of life and to a society where and when people lived in harmony with each other and with nature. She teaches her own unique movement and techniques that are researched and inspired during her various studies in Khaneqas (Sufi Houses) and Fire temples of Khorasan, Kurdistan, Tehran, and Shiraz.
Farima is one of the few Iranian women who has been allowed to teach, write and perform the Gwati and Vahishta Sema Rituals in Iran and around the world and has been recognized by Iran and UN as the pioneer of bringing back the original mystic Rituals of Khorasan. She is the first Iranian woman to have received the CID-UNESCO award and certification and is currently the dance ambassador of UNESCO, the first Iranian woman artist to receive the National Folk Dance Association award, and the first Iranian woman healer and dancer to have been chosen for TED Talk. Farima is the recipient of the prestigious UN award and has been recognized by Congressman Mike Honda, by the Iranian Women’s Rights Committee “30 Voices,” Music and Cultural Organization of Turkey. Farima was the first Iranian, to have been invited and perform during a reception for US President Obama, Governor of Alaska, UN, EU, Ambassador of Canada, and Ambassador of Spain. Read more…

Rose and the Nightingale
2019-10-12 11:00 - 2019-10-13 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Richmond Knob Hill Community Association Hall, 2433 26 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, AB T2T 5Y5, Canada
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 on the rotation of the Sun and Moon (Rose and Nightingale):

Training and lectures on the symbolism and changes of the meaning of Rose and Nightingale from the Ancient Iranic rituals, to the Golden Age of Islam.
Understanding the sense of self through Love, Longing, Separation, Beloved, Solitude.
Erfa – Mystical Gathering and Iranic Sufi Whirling (Khorasan and Yarsan tradition, Sema of Love, Nightingale, and Vahishta) through the words of Sufi Persian Poetry and music based on Nightingale and Rose.
Ancient Iranic Mystical Dances and Rituals inspired by Sufi Persian Poetry, Dance of the Rose & Nightingale.
Mystical Persian Dance Choreography “Beloved” and the “Dance of the Nightingale”.
Taking a step into Solitude – In search of the Beloved through deep listening of the heart.
Dar Eshgh – Understanding the Unification and Becoming ‘Love’

Participants should have prior whirling experience. Early registration fee is $60-80 (sliding scale) to cover the cost of organizing the workshop. Early registration ends Oct 1, 2019.
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, empower, and inspire. Farima travels worldwide to research, perform, teach, and inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance. Farima is founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, a member of the International Dance Council (CID-UNESCO), and a TEDx lecturer. Read more…

Love is Calling... A Sema Gathering
2019-10-25 14:00 - 2019-10-27 17:00 (Europe/Moscow) | Mehmet Rasim Mutlu Kültür Merkezi, Mutlu Sk. 12, Gökçedere, Termal, Yalova, Turkey
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 Sunday with Music and Whirling. Please note this gathering is NOT a retreat or workshop… This is a Sema Gathering. We will NOT be teaching any lessons at this gathering.
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 prayers, whirling, music, and love. Be moved by beautiful Sufi and Sacred music, songs, chanting, poetry, rituals, and dance in prayers!
During our Sema Gathering, Sufi Dance Master and Ethnologist, Farima Berenji and other guest Sufi Masters will lead Zikr, Khorasan Sema, Gwati Rituals, Iranian Sema, and Sohbet.

Musicians — Feel free to bring your instruments and join our music circle. Let your heart guide your music during our open floor Sema
Semazens — Open your heart and whirl!
Lovers, Seekers, and Watchers — Come and join our sacred circle. You are welcome to set and feel the healing energy, bring a poem to share, join our Zikr, pray with us, laugh or cry… as we journey together to be closer to the light.

Open your heart! Listen! Turn, dance, and move in anyway that makes you feel alive!
Directions
Mehmet Rasim Mutlu Kültür Merkezi
Mutlu Sk. 12, Gökçedere, Termal Yalova, Turkey
From Istanbul please take the ferry from Yenikapı to Yalova. When you arrive to Yalova, next to the ferry station there are minibuses. Please take the minibus to Gökçedere – Termal. Most drivers know Mutlu Baba Dergha. Once you are dropped off, there is a short walk up the road and you will see Mehmet Rasim Mutlu Cultural Center.
You can also purchase your ferry tickets in advance.
Lodging Options
Participants can stay and/or sleep in the Sufi House upstairs or down in the shared dormitories free of charge.
If you do not wish to stay at the Sufi House there are accommodations near the center, such as hostels and hotels. Please note that we are not responsible for your hostel or hotel reservations. You can reserve or book in advance or when you arrive. There are also free camping spaces at the garden area. Please bring your own tents and bedding for camping.
Meals
Light meals, water and tea will be provided.
Registration
There is no fee for this sema. We are organizing this sema from the heart but we kindly ask participants to help us by making a donation or to volunteer in helping us with food, cleaning, organizations and other expenses.
Remember this is a private event and you need to make sure you contact us and register in advance. A Facebook notification will not be counted as registration
Please send us an email with your full name to confirm with us. Thank you. 😊
Guidelines and Rules

We kindly ask for no talking on the whirling floor and to keep the Sema area quiet at all times. Respect yourself as well as those around you.
For this gathering please wear proper and respectful clothing, whirling skirt (optional), socks or soft-soled shoes.
Absolutely no drugs or alcohol is allowed for this event. Using any illegal substance will be severely enforced. Organizers have the right to block entry to any participants who do not respect these rules.
Please do not smoke inside and around the Sufi House. There will be some designated areas for smoking.
Please keep the Sufi House clean. Clean after yourself and help others to keep the area clean.

For more information…
Turkish: Hatice Sara
English: Farima Berenji 1-408-386-5005

Rose and the Nightingale
2019-11-01 00:00 - 2019-11-03 00:00 (Africa/Cairo) | Moonlight Farms and Resort, El Barouk, Chouf, Lebanon
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 will be taking the path to the ‘Valley of Love’ through training and lectures on the symbolism and changes of the meaning of Rose and Nightingale from ancient rituals, to the Golden Age of Islam.
The retreat by day will include:

Element therapy and breathwork
Meditation and Visualization
Music therapy based on 7 Maghams (Iranian Sufi Music Modes)
Basic whirling techniques for beginners (Turkish & Iranian)

with these nightly activities and healing ceremonies:

Drum Circles, Zar, Gwati, and Zikr (Sufi Prayer and Indo-Iranian Shamanic Rituals and Medicine Dance)
Sema Gathering and poetry reading Please poetry or a story of your own to share.
Sohbat – Sufi talk based on the Seven Pathways of Love

About Farima
Farima Berenji is an Iranian-American scholar and dance ethnologist, an award winning internationally acclaimed dance artist, a choreographer, instructor, and an archaeologist specializing in ancient, sacred, classical, and folkloric dances of Persia, Ionia, and the Silk Road. She is a third generation artist—her devotion to the world of arts inspired by both her mother and grandmother as performing artists, poets, and musicians of Azerbaijani heritage. Farima has spent her lifetime studying Persian/Iranian and Central Asian dance, culture, and history. Recognized as one of the few world scholarly experts of ancient and mystical dance ethnology, she travels worldwide to lead people to the historic beauty and richness of Persia and the Silk Road culture and to aid them find inner bliss through dance, music, and spirituality. Read more…
About the Venue: Moonlight Farms and Resort
Our setting is a beautiful and magical farm and resort atop the mountains of Barouk near the Cedars, an amazing place in nature, combining the very best of comfort and tranquility—a paradise hideaway where seclusion meets exotic natural beauty. The resort is situated in El Barouk, in the district of Chouf. It is located 15 minutes from the historic Cedar forest. Designed to reflect the native culture, Moonlight Farms and Resort is a beautiful, rustic resort that benefits from a strongly defined sense of community and a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. At its center lies a zoo that contains deer, lama, ostriches, rabbits, and more, plus a nearby horse pavilion. Moonlight Farms and Resort’s organically grown vegetables and fruits makes it a favorite place for health loving customers. The generous, devoted staff seeks to create magic moments to make your stay truly unforgettable. Read more…
Our retreat accommodations are beautifully-built wooden bungalows with outdoor sitting area and wooden pergolas.
Payment and Registration
Retreat fee: $250
A deposit of $100 sent by October 1st, 2019 will secure your registration. Balance to be paid upon arrival. No refunds.
Payment for the retreat includes all workshops and evening events for 3 days, 2 nights including homemade vegetarian meals and bungalow lodging (shared occupancy of 2, 4, and 6 people). Bungalows mainly have shared double beds.
Payment options:

We can meet anywhere in Beirut and you can pay by cash
Western Union (under the name: Suzan Talhouk – Beirut)

Hurry, reserve your spot. The retreat is limited to 21 registrants.
Contact
For coordination and questions contact us by

WhatsApp: 009613686908
Email: Susan Talhouk

Tanbour and Sema Workshop
2019-11-04 - 2019-11-05 | Shakti Wellness Center, 2nd floor, Ghazaliyeh street, Haddad Building, Sioufi sector, Achrafieh, Lebanon
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.

Sufi Week at Shakti Wellness Center
2019-11-05 - 2019-11-09 | Shakti Wellness Center, 2nd floor, Ghazaliyeh street, Haddad Building, Sioufi sector, Achrafieh, Lebanon
Five days of whirling, dancing, meditation, singing and breathing with Farima Berenji

Dance of the Soul Honoring Rumi
2019-12-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Center for Creative Living, 1460 Koll Circle, Suite C, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Sema, Semah, Sacred Dance, Music, and Poetry Honoring Sheb-i Arus
Join us this night to celebrate our fellowship in love and spirit with whirling dance (Sema and Semah), meditation, music, and poetry. Sheb-i Arus commemorates the death and thereby union between the Persian mystical poet Rumi and the universe.
We will open with sacred and mystical Sufi poetry (Farsi and English), meditation with sacred sounds, candle gazing, Hu meditation, healing circles with ancient Zoroastrian rituals, journey into whirling with live and recorded music, then close our gathering with prayer. sacred circles and zikr.
Farima’s monthly Sema Gathering offers a unique expression of sacred culture, inspired by nature, ancient Iranic rituals, and the beautiful spiritual traditions of Sufism. We will whirl and journey together to celebrate love, unity, and allow the light to enter our soul.
Open your heart! Listen! Turn, dance, and move in anyway that makes you feel alive!
Our gathering welcomes musicians and other spiritual or healing teachers to come and share their art.
$15-20 sliding scale donation. Your donation is greatly appreciated to help cover cost of rent.
Light snacks and drinks will be available.
Musicians — Feel free to bring your instruments and join our music circle. Let your heart guide your music during our open floor Sema.
Semazens — Open your heart and whirl!
Lovers, Seekers, and Watchers — Come and join our sacred circle. You are welcome to set and feel the healing energy, bring a poem to share, join our Zikr, pray with us, or just laugh or cry as we journey together to be closer to the light.
Guidelines and Tips

We kindly ask for no talking on the whirling floor and to keep the Sema area quiet at all times. Respect yourself as well as those around you.
For this gathering please wear comfortable clothing, whirling skirt (optional), socks or soft-soled shoes. Avoid eating a large meal 2 hours prior.

Farima Berenji
Farima is an award winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, instructor, dance ethnologist, 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, empower, and inspire. A Dervish and travels worldwide to research, perform, teach, and inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance. Farima is founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, a member of the International Dance Council (CID-UNESCO), and a 2018 TEDx lecturer.
As a scholar, Farima presents new archeological discoveries and research upon Sufism and its connection to the ancient Zoroastrianism, the human body, and its symbolic meaning in the Universe along the pathway to the soul. She will introduce you to ritual movements celebrating the grace and joy of life and to a society where and when people lived in harmony with each other and with nature. She teaches her own unique movement and techniques that are researched and inspired during her various studies in Khaneqas (Sufi Houses) and Fire temples of Khorasan, Kurdistan, Tehran, Azerbaijan, Altai Mountains, Turkey, and Shiraz.

Sacred Dance Gathering and Workshop
2019-12-23 11:00 - 14:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | St. Mary’s School, Alexandra Centre, Adscombe St., Manchester, England, M16 7AQ, United Kingdom
Discover the power and mystery of whirling as a gateway for self-growth and spiritual enlightenment through movement, music, and meditation. Inspired by nature, ancient Iranic rituals, the science of whirling, and the beautiful spiritual traditions of Sufism, join Farima to learn the essentials of whirling meditation including preparation, balance and posture, controlling dizziness, self-focus, breathwork, and more.
Whirling in the practice of devotion, healing, and meditation originated thousands of years ago with the ancient Persians using it as way of connecting the body and soul. Today, Sufis use it as a powerful meditation ritual with music, poetry, and movement. Based on this centuries-old Sufi ritual, whirling can unite mind, heart, and body.
Before Coming

Please wear comfortable clothing and plan to wear socks or soft soled shoes.
Bring water.
Avoid eating a large meal 1-2 hours prior.

No experience necessary to begin participating. With help anyone can learn and master whirling techniques while respecting one’s own limitations.

Persian Art Conference 2019
2019-12-26 - 2019-12-30 | Hilton London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4, London Heathrow Airport, London, TW6 3AF, United Kingdom
Farima will present a lecture and perform at the 2019 Persian Art & Letters Conference in London.
Farima will also present a workshop in Persian Classical dance.
Persian Art & Letters Conference Theme: “Dawn of Hope – بامداد امید”.
All plenary sessions will be offered in Persian and English, with dedicated programs for children and junior youth, as well as evening entertainment, arts exhibition, and much more.
More details of conference program…
Register…

Journey of the Simorgh
2020-01-11 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center, 555 Middlefield Rd, Atherton, CA, 94027, United States
A dance and music concert by the Simorgh Dance Collective, adapted from the Persian epic Conference of the Birds by Farid ud-Din Attar. Featuring Persian sacred, classical, and folkloric dances choreographed by Farima Berenji, Persian music performed by Homeyra Banejad and Ensemble, and expertly narrated by award winning actor and director Sadegh Hatefi.
“It was in China, late one moonless night,
The Simorgh first appeared to mortal sight.
He let a feather float down through the air,
And rumors of its fame spread everywhere.”
~Farid ud-Din Attar
Doors open at 6:30 PM

Journey of the Simorgh
Farid al-Din Attar (c. 1145 – c. 1221) was a Persian poet and one of the greatest Sufi mystical writers and thinkers, composing at least 45,000 couplets and many brilliant prose works.
In Attar’s epic poem, The Conference of the Birds, the birds of the world gather to decide who is to be their king. The Hoopoe, the wisest of them all, suggests that they should find the legendary Simorgh, a mythical Persian bird. The Hoopoe leads the birds, each of whom represent a human fault which prevents one from attaining enlightenment. Of the many birds that begin the journey, only thirty birds survive to reach the dwelling of the Simorgh. There, the birds approach the throne contemplating their reflections in the mirrorlike countenance of the Simorgh, only to realize that they and the Simorgh are one.
Simorgh (SEE-morg) in Persian can also be read as Si (thirty) Morgh (bird).
“If Simorgh unveils its face to you, you will find
that all the birds, be they thirty or forty or more,
are but the shadows cast by that unveiling.
What shadow is ever separated from its maker?
Do you see?
The shadow and its maker are one and the same,
so get over surfaces and delve into mysteries.”
—Farid al-Din Attar, The Conference of the Birds (translated by Sholeh Wolpé, W. W. Norton & Co., 2017)

Tickets
Tickets: $35 advance, $40 at the door

We have a special offer for those that love what we do or are ready to love what we do. In addition to a Journey of the Simorgh ticket obtain a ticket to Tarsa on February 22, 2020 in San Jose with a special two ticket package offer. Receive $10 off the combined price of both tickets at $50, advance tickets only.
Select the Dual Concert Purchase Offer when purchasing admission. Following your purchase you will receive a discount code to receive a free ticket to Tarsa redeemable at http://tarsa.bpt.me.
Farima Berenji – Artistic Director, Choreographer
Farima Berenji as the Simorgh
Farima Berenji is an Iranian-born scholar and an award winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, choreographer, instructor, lecturer, dance ethnologist, and archaeologist specializing in classical, folkloric, and sacred dances of Persia and the Silk Road. Her training spans a lifetime of intensive collaboration and research with master artists, scholars, and spiritual teachers worldwide. She is the founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, a worldwide collaborative devoted to teach dance technique, interpret, illustrate, present, and perform dances of the Silk Road. Farima performs, offers workshops, and lectures worldwide upon request and has appeared in the US, UK, Austria, Czech Republic, Turkey, Mauritius, and Iran. Read more..
Sadegh Hatefi – Director, Actor, Narrator
Sadegh Hatefi as Attar of Nishapur
Sadegh Hatefi is a director, screenwriter, author, and award-winning actor, known for Ghodrat (2007), Simorgh (1987) and Battle of Oil Tankers (1994). He has been director of the films and theatrical productions Story of Rumi and Shams, Simorgh, and Muhammad: The Messenger of God.

Farhang Heydari
Farhang Heydari Farhang Heydari is an amazing Iranian actor who will be one our lead birds! Farhang is a graduate of cinema from Tehran Bagheh Ferdoos University. He has been acting since the age 8 and has been in award winning movies such as Chahar Darvish (4 Dervishes), Panjomin savar-e sarnevesht, Crossing the Minefield, and Pishtazan-e fath.

Simorgh Dance Collective
Simorgh Dance Collective The Simorgh Dance Collective is a world community of artists devoted to cross-cultural dialogue and artistic collaboration through traditional, classical, and sacred dance styles of the Silk Road. The Collective currently has member companies and artist affiliations in Alaska, British Columbia, Turkey, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Read more..

Homeyra Banejad and Ensemble
Homeyra Banejad and Ensemble Homeyra Banejad is an Iranian daf player and vocalist. As a member of the Iranian Musician Union of Iran she has performed in Iran and the US with Sima Bina, Hamed Nikpay, Simin Ghanem, and many more artists!

Nariman Assadi
Nariman Assadi Nariman Assadi was born in Hamedan, Iran on January 1, 1992. Raised in Tehran, he always felt drawn to percussion instruments. At the age of thirteen, he began studying tombak under Master Amir Mogharab Samadi. From 2008 to 2013, Nariman performed at Vahdat Hall as a soloist and with the Persian Percussion Ensemble at Pars Academy, the premier music academy for children. After mastering tombak, he then began learning Daf under the great Master Bijan Kamkar. With a strong understanding of the daf and tombak, Nariman started learning barbat (Oud) under Master Mohammad Firouzi.
In 2015, Nariman immigrated to the United States. He immediately began his professional music career by performing and attending festivals. In 2017, he started learning percussion performance and world music with Professor Daniel Kennedy at Sacramento State University. Along with being a member of various ensembles, Nariman also teaches daf, tombak, and music for children.

Whirling Workshop Series 1: Exploring Sense of Self
2020-02-04 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Historic Villa, Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, PO Box 158, Saratoga, California, 95071, United States
Learn the fundamentals of turning and how it enables you to find a sense of self and a connection between body, mind, and spirit. Discover the vital balance in the rhythm of your breathing, movement, posture, and concentration. At first, it can take great effort to combine all of these elements in harmony, but with practice, you will learn to whirl indefinitely, relax, and open the heart, body, and mind.
Register online
For more information, call the Montalvo Box Office at 408-961-5858 10am-4pm Mon-Fri.
About the instructor, Farima Berenji
Farima Berenji is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, instructor, dance ethnologist, and choreographer. Recognized as one of few world experts and scholars of Persian dance history, Farima infuses spirituality into her dance and teachings to impassion, empower, and inspire. Specializing in ancient, sacred, classical, and folkloric dances, she travels worldwide to research, perform, teach, and inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance. Farima is founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, a member of the International Dance Council (CID-UNESCO), and a 2018 TEDx lecturer and performer. Read more…

Tarsa
2020-02-22 19:00 - 20:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | Performance Arts Center, Evergreen Valley College, 3095 Yerba Buena Rd, San Jose, CA, 95135, United States
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 played live and expertly narrated by award winning Iranian actor and director Sadegh Hatefi.
The story is as follows: San’an, a celebrated sheikh, spends 50 years of his life studying God, eventually acquiring a following of 500 disciples, fell in love with a Christian maiden of great beauty, Tarsa. San’an abandons all he has to follow this girl and journeys to Rome in search of Tarsa. When his disciples hear about this, they pray to God that Shaikh San’an would return to the right path.
Featuring

Sadegh Hatefi (Iranian actor and director) as messenger, narrator
Farima Berenji as Tarsa
Ali Aminipour (Iranian actor and film director) as Sheikh San’an
Dances by the Simorgh Dance Collective
Music by Homeyra Banejad and Ensemble

Dialogue will be in Farsi with English subtitles.
Tickets
Tickets: $25 advance, $30 at the door, $50 VIP (online only).

Farima Berenji
Farima Berenji as Tarsa
Farima Berenji is an Iranian-born scholar and an award winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, choreographer, instructor, lecturer, dance ethnologist, and archaeologist specializing in classical, folkloric, and sacred dances of Persia and the Silk Road. Her training spans a lifetime of intensive collaboration and research with master artists, scholars, and spiritual teachers worldwide. She is the founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, a worldwide collaborative devoted to teach dance technique, interpret, illustrate, present, and perform dances of the Silk Road. Farima performs, offers workshops, and lectures worldwide upon request and has appeared in the US, UK, Austria, Czech Republic, Turkey, Mauritius, and Iran. Read more..

Sadegh Hatefi
Sadegh Hatefi as Attar of Nishapur
Sadegh Hatefi is a director, screenwriter, author, and award-winning actor, known for Ghodrat (2007), Simorgh (1987) and Battle of Oil Tankers (1994). He has been director of the films and theatrical productions Story of Rumi and Shams, Simorgh, and Muhammad: The Messenger of God.

Ali Aminipour
Ali Aminipour as Sheikh San’an
Ali Aminipour is a producer, director, and actor. He is manager of the Doran Art Group.

Simorgh Dance Collective
Simorgh Dance Collective as The Mystics
The Simorgh Dance Collective is a world community of artists devoted to cross-cultural dialogue and artistic collaboration through traditional, classical, and sacred dance styles of the Silk Road. The Collective currently has member companies and artist affiliations in Alaska, British Columbia, Turkey, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Read more..

Homeyra Banejad and Ensemble
Homeyra Banejad and Ensemble Homeyra Banejad is an Iranian daf player and vocalist. As a member of the Iranian Musician Union of Iran she has performed in Iran and the US with Sima Bina, Hamed Nikpay, Simin Ghanem, and many more artists!

Whirling Workshop Series 2: Emptiness as Fullness
2020-03-03 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Historic Villa, Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, PO Box 158, Saratoga, California, 95071, United States
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 learn turning techniques and movements as we explore the notion of emptiness as fullness.
Register online
For more information, call the Montalvo Box Office at 408-961-5858 10am-4pm Mon-Fri.
About the instructor, Farima Berenji
Farima Berenji is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, instructor, dance ethnologist, and choreographer. Recognized as one of few world experts and scholars of Persian dance history, Farima infuses spirituality into her dance and teachings to impassion, empower, and inspire. Specializing in ancient, sacred, classical, and folkloric dances, she travels worldwide to research, perform, teach, and inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance. Farima is founder and artistic director of the Simorgh Dance Collective, a member of the International Dance Council (CID-UNESCO), and a 2018 TEDx lecturer and performer. Read more…

Dance of the Soul: Sufi Whirling Gathering
2020-03-07 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sol Collective, 2574 21st St., Sacramento, CA, 95818, United States
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 – a gateway for self-growth and spiritual transformation– through movement, music, love, and stillness. Be moved by beautiful, sacred music.
Overview
Our gathering is NOT a performance. More details about sacred dance and Sema training may be found here.

First join for a welcoming circle and Farima will lead us into her unique 4 element breathing meditation or 7 mode music meditation and relaxation.
We will progress into various Sufi whirling workshop techniques, styles, and rules (Turkish Sema, Khorasan Sema, Ancient Iranic Sema, Baktashi Sema, Uyghur Sema).
Next we will progress into a prayer and open floor whirling with both live and recorded world sacred music, poetry, and drumming.
We will close with a Zikr (Sufi Prayers), ancient Iranian Shamanic rituals, sharing, a gratitude circle, and Sohbet (Sufi Talk) by Dervish and Semazen, Farima Berenji.

Farima’s teachings are based on ancient Iranic 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.
Farima’s monthly Sema Gathering offers a unique expression of sacred culture, inspired by nature, ancient Iranic rituals, and the beautiful spiritual traditions of Sufism. We will whirl and journey together to celebrate love, unity, and allow the light to enter our soul.
Open your heart! Listen! Turn, dance, and move in anyway that makes you feel alive!
Register Online
Guidelines and Tips

Please have a yoga mat or pillow to sit on.
We kindly ask for no talking on the whirling floor and to keep the Sema area quiet at all times. Respect yourself as well as those around you.
Please wear comfortable clothing (white or light colored if possible) and wear socks or soft soled shoes.
Avoid eating a large meal 1-2 hours prior

Farima Berenji
Founder and Artistic Director, Worldwide Simorgh Dance Collective, 2007
Founder and Director of Dance of the Soul ® and the Awakening and Lioness Project ® (Ancient Iranic Warrior Dances and Rituals, 2013)
Farima Berenji is an award winning Dance Ethnologist and internationally acclaimed dance artist, choreographer, instructor, and Sufi dance master. Recognized and certified as one of the few world scholarly experts of ancient and mystical Iranian dance ethnology by UNESCO, she travels worldwide to record, research, lecture, perform, educate, and to inspire dynamic creativity and rejuvenation through dance and movement. She is a Magi (Iranian Shaman Master) and a Sufi.
Farima has worked as a UN scholar, researching and led an excavations team of Iranian archeology emphasizing the preservation of ancient and mystical Iranic dances. Farima’s dance and spiritual training spans years of intensive research with master artists, scholars, and spiritual teachers worldwide. She comes from the Sufi Order of Yarsan of Iran and has devoted her life into researching and brining back the ancient Sufi traditions of Iran and the origin of Sema (Khorasan Sema).
Farima teaches her own original research findings, methods, techniques, and exercises to uncover the connection between the soul and dance movements based on the book she is writing ‘Seven Sema’ the connection of human soul and the 7 sacred elements of life. Her signature dance projects (dance of the soul and the lioness) combines Persian and Near Eastern sacred and mystical dance forms, history, poetry, and the Sufi and healing rituals of ancient Iran Persia, the Altai Mountains, and Central Asia.
As a scholar, Farima presents new archaeological discoveries and research upon Sufism and its connection to the ancient Zoroastrianism and Sufism, the human body, and its symbolic meaning in the Universe along the pathway to the soul. She will introduce you to ritual movements celebrating the grace and joy of life and to a society where and when people lived in harmony with each other and with nature. She teaches her own unique movement and techniques that are researched and inspired during her various studies in Khaneqas (Sufi Houses) and Fire temples of Khorasan, Kurdistan, Tehran, and Shiraz.
Farima is one of the few Iranian women who has been allowed to teach, write and perform the Gwati and Vahishta Sema Rituals in Iran and around the world and has been recognized by Iran and UN as the pioneer of bringing back the original mystic Rituals of Khorasan. She is the first Iranian woman to have received the CID-UNESCO award and certification and is currently the dance ambassador of UNESCO, the first Iranian woman artist to receive the National Folk Dance Association award, and the first Iranian woman healer and dancer to have been chosen for TED Talk. Farima is the recipient of the prestigious UN award and has been recognized by Congressman Mike Honda, by the Iranian Women’s Rights Committee “30 Voices,” Music and Cultural Organization of Turkey. Farima was the first Iranian, to have been invited and perform during a reception for US President Obama, Governor of Alaska, UN, EU, Ambassador of Canada, and Ambassador of Spain. Read more…

Norouz: History and Meaning
2020-03-08 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Center for Creative Living, 1460 Koll Circle, Suite C, San Jose, CA, 95112, United States
Norouz is the traditional spring and new year celebration of Persian and Central Asian people. Norouz means “New Day” and it falls on the March equinox, the first day of spring. Families on Norouz get together and wait for the exact time it is declared, exchange gifts and eat a traditional food. It’s a time to get together and celebrate ancestry and family.
Farima will introduce the meaning of Norouz and will speak of its fun traditions, symbolic meanings, folk tales, mythology, and more.

CANCELLED - Norouz Gala
2020-03-14 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Campbell Community Center, 1 W. Campbell Ave, Campbell, CA, 95008, United States
CANCELLED
due to concerns regarding the risk of exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in mass gatherings
Celebrate Norouz with dance performances by Farima Berenji and the Simorgh Dance Collective.
Nowruz celebrates the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar. Nowruz has been celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years.

CANCELLED - Naw-Ruz Performances
2020-03-22 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Cultural Integration Fellowship, 2650 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA, 94118, United States
CANCELLED
due to concerns regarding the risk of exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in mass gatherings
The Simorgh Dance Collective will be showcasing Persian and Silk Road dances in honor of the Persian celebration of Spring–Norouz.
Guests are most welcome at this joyous celebration on the occasion of the Spring Festival. Enjoy an array of international talents followed by a lunch reception.

Virtual Persian Social Dance Lesson
2020-04-11 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Join us online for a fun social dancing workshop and party. Follow along with Farima as she illustrates Persian social dance moves and styles for parties and weddings. Discover her secrets for being the best social dancer at Persian parties. Stay to the end for improvised dancing to some fun Persian pop music.
A delightful way to workout at home and prepare for your next party!
Donations appreciated! Zoom video conferencing link will be sent following registration.
Register

Dances of Uzbekistan Intensive
2020-05-02 10:00 - 2020-05-30 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
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, Turkestan, Turkey and Armenia are planned for Summer/Fall.
Class meets weekly on Saturdays. Register by the first monthly class for $15/week for the month of May or pay $20 per class. Discounts are available if additional courses are taken during the month from farimadance.com.

Online Performance and Fundraiser
2020-05-02 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Enjoy an online program of Silk Road dance and music performances by the Simorgh Dance Collective without leaving your home. Featuring Farima Berenji, Rashid Shadat, Mona Gafari, Homeyra Banejad, Nariman Assadi and the Simorgh Dance Collective.
Register with Eventbrite to receive the live video streaming link. When you register you have the opportunity to help support the Simorgh Dance Collective, all artists, and the arts by making a donation of $1 or more.
You also have the choice of making a donation through our non-profit fiscal sponsor.
Register
