Mark your calendars, international touring dance artist, instructor and scholar Farima Berenji will be at the Abbey Studio in Cumberland April 15/16/17 for an inspiring weekend of Persian traditional and sacred dance. On Friday evening April 15th Farima will lead a Sema Gathering aka Sufi Whirling following dance performances by Farima, Simorgh (Farima's Comox Valley Dance Collective) and special guests. Sat. and Sunday Farima will be teaching dance workshops at the Abbey and leading an evening healing circle/Zikr, see more details and registration below.
Farima travels worldwide to perform, teach dance and wellness. Her love and passion for dance and history has led her on an extraordinary life-long journey throughout the world, from her home countries Iran and Azerbaijan to other neighboring Silk Road countries such as Armenia, Kurdistan, and Turkey. Farima is strongly connected to spirituality & healing and is under the guidance and teaching of Mevlana Order Sufi master and dervish Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç of Turkey. She hopes to guide people to the historic beauty and richness of the Silk Road culture and to help people find their inner bliss through dance, music, and sacred healing. For more info about Farima visit farimadance.com
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Dancers coming from out to town, there are many guest houses and B&B's within walking distance to the studio, I'd be happy to help you with arranging accommodation in Cumberland.
I hope you can join us for a magical weekend of dance and sufi whirling!
I hope you can join us for a magical weekend of dance and sufi whirling!
Cathy Stoyko
(250) 218-0704
cdstoyko@uniserve.com
Friday April 15th, 7:30PM-10:30PM
Dance Performances and Sema Gathering aka Sufi Whirling
The Abbey Studio in Cumberland is pleased to welcome back international dance artist and scholar Farima Berenji for an evening of dance performances, poetry and sufi whirling. We will start the evening with dance performances by our special guest Farima. Also, expect to see performances by Simorgh (Farima’s Comox Valley Dance Collective) and guest dancers coming for the workshops that weekend. Following the dance performances, with Farima’s guidance we will learn personal and spiritual Sema (Sufi Whirling) as well as other turning practices, while listening to sacred poetry and music. Everyone welcome (not just for workshop participants)
Saturday April 16th, 10:30-4:30 (potluck lunch/Q&A 12:30-1:30)
Dances of Azerbaijan
We will take the legendary Silk Road to Azerbaijan and learn the history, culture, music, and costuming of Azerbaijan.
The people of Azerbaijan are proud, rich in tradition, and are extremely melodious. Azeri dances are often performed at formal celebrations such as weddings and birthdays. Azerbaijani dances illustrate the nation and its people. They are distinguished by their quick tempo, optimism, and portrayal of bravery.
The workshop is followed by a series of fun Choreographies such as the flower dance and saucer dance and if time, Farima will teach some Kafkazi/ Lezghi style!
**Please make sure to bring with you a set of thimbles and a set of teacup (small) saucers.
Saturday evening Farima will lead a healing circle/Zikr 7:30-9PM
(all welcome not just workshop participants)
Sunday April 17th, 10:30-4:30 (potluck lunch/Q&A 12:30-1:30)
Dance of the 7 Sacred Birds
Dance styles, turns, and healing movements based on the 7 sacred Indo-Iranian/ Persian birds.
In ancient Persia, there were 7 sacred animals, birds, and flowers that believed to have carried the spirit of the Gods. In this workshop, students will learn to incorporate the movement, feeling, expression and healing power of these birds and to discover their own spiritual bird!
Persian sacred dance is inspired by Persian poetry and miniature artwork. These enchanting movements and feelings have an ancient past, all, which comes from a culture spanning 10,000 years. Numerous archeological objects and temples have been found that shows the connection between animals and dance. These animals were a symbol of the power of life and represented as a spiritual instrument and these 7 sacred birds each represented a certain Persian God or Goddess. These rituals and movements are considered as the earliest known form of Persian dance and the origin of sacred dance.
Early bird price for the full weekend dance intensive including evening events Friday and Sat. $175, before March 15th or $225 after
Dance workshop Saturday, one day only 10:30PM-4:30PM
$100 before March 15th or $125 after
Sorry, no more Sunday only spots left.
Register with cash or cheque at the Abbey Studio, bring payment to scheduled classes or call to arrange a time to drop off (250) 218-0704
OR
Register by mailing a cheque made out to-
Cathy Stoyko, Box 1196, Cumberland B.C. V0R 1S0
For more info contact me by phone at (250) 218-0704
or email at cdstoyko@uniserve.com