The Abbey Studio in Cumberland welcomes back international dance artist and scholar Farima Berenji for an evening of Persian traditional and sacred dance performances, poetry and sufi whirling on Friday April 15.
The evening will begin with dance performances by Berenji and by Simorgh Dance Collective (her student performance group based here in the Comox Valley.)
Also, expect to see a variety of women’s traditional and scared dances by guest dancers coming for the workshops that weekend.
Following the dance performances, Berenji will teach personal and spiritual Sema (Sufi Whirling) as well as other turning practices, while listening to sacred poetry and music.
Berenji 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.
Berenji is strongly connected to spirituality and 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 Berenji visit farimadance.com.
For the event on Friday, April 15, feel free to bring and share a poem, percussion instruments and/or snacks.
People that wish to participate in the Sema Gathering are encouraged to wear white or light-coloured clothing and, wear socks or soft-soled shoes for whirling. Admission is by donation at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., performances start at 8 and the Sema Gathering will happen between 9-10:30. We hope that you join us for a magical evening of whirling and traditional dances from the Silk Road!
Berenji will also be teaching dance workshops that same weekend and leading a healing circle aka Zikr on Saturday evening April 16th 7-9 p.m. The Zikr is open to all and is by donation. There are only a few spots left in the weekend dance intensive, those interested in the dance workshops, visit cathystoykodance.blogspot.com for full details. For more information call Cathy at (250) 218-0704 or email cdstoyko@uniserve.com. All workshops and evening events are happening at the Abbey Studio, located at the corner of 1st & Penrith Ave. in Cumberland.