Afsaneh Ballet
Afsāneh Ballet (Persian: گروه رقص افسانه) is a non-profit cultural organization devoted to the art, dance, music, and poetry of the Iranian cultural continent (Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Caucasus, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan). The word "Afsaneh" is a Persian word and means "myth" or "fable". The dynamic group presents performances and activities featuring dance, poetry, and music of the Silk Road — the historic trade route that stretched thousands of kilometers across Central Asia from the China Sea in the east to the Mediterranean in the west. Afsaneh Ballet is considered to be one of the foremost proponents of world dance and Persian dance in particular.[citation needed]
In 2003, Afsaneh Art and Culture Society launched a translation project. The aim of this project is to increase the visibility of the contemporary Iranian literature on the world stage, create a greater opportunity for the literature to be part of the modern conversation and to receive its deserved international recognition.
In 2005 the organization launched a cultural exchange project with artists in Tajikistan. The Tajik Dance Initiative engages Tajik artists, scholars and arts administrators with their international counterparts, creating opportunities for collaborative work, and support for the dance artists and related expressive arts of Tajikistan.
Performers and collaborators
- Sharlyn Sawyer (Caucasian/American), Director
- Aliah Najmabadi (Persian/Norwegian)
- Sahar Dehghan (Persian/Iranian)
- Miriam Peretz (Israeli/Moroccan), Assistant Director
- Rosa Rojas (Mexican/American)
- Tara Pandeya (Indian/German)
- Hannah Romanowski (Russian/American)
- Farima Berenji (Persian/Iranian)
- Leila Sadeghi (Persian/Iranian)
- Mariam Gaibova (Tajik)
- Wan-Chao Chang (Taiwanese)
- Jade Raybin (Caucasian/American)
- Behrouz Sadeghian (Persian/Iranian)
- Neema Hekmat (Persian/Iranian)
- Pourya Khademi (Persian/Iranian)
- Ashkan Ghafouri (Persian/Iranian)
- Pesham Akhavass (Persian/Iranian)
- Kaveh Heydayati (Persian/Iranian)
- Salokhuddin Fakhriev (Uzbek/Tajik)
- Tameem Afzali (Afghan/American)
- Mohammad Nejad (Persian/Iranian)
- Aziz Herawi (Tajik/Afghan)
- Siamak Pouyan (Persian/Iranian)
- Sherene Melania (Assyrian/American)
- Emelie Mahdavian (American)
Awards
- The Persian Center of the Bay Area
- The Shabe-Ashanaee Persian Cultural Organization
- The Persian Students Association of Stanford University
- Iranian American Society of New York
- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom humanities achievement award
- Afghan Coalition
- Iranian Federated Women's Club-Payvand School
See also
External links
- A collage of dance performances by Afsāneh Ballet, 2008, YouTube: [1] (4 min 22 sec).
- Short excerpts of two dances by Mirian Peretz with Afsaneh Ballet, 2007: [2] (3 min 32 sec).
- Excerpts of two performances by Afsaneh Ballet, San Mateo, California, 2007: [3] (1 min 18 sec), [4] (1 min 7 sec).
- A performance by Afsāneh Balleh at San Francisco City Hall Rotunda in celebration of the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, March 2007, YouTube: [5] (7 min 32 sec).
