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Persian and sacred dance performances in Cumberland

The Huma bird is a legendary mythical creature both from ancient Persian and Sufi fables -it is said to never land and live its entire life during flight.
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The evening will feature sufi whirling, poetry and Persian dance performances by special visiting guest Farima Berenji and her Simorgh Dance Collective. Photo by Varol Ozkaner

The Huma bird is a legendary mythical creature both from ancient Persian and Sufi fables -it is said to never land and live its entire life during flight.

It flies invisibly high above the earth, impossible to spot through the human eyes. Also referred to as the bird of fortune, the Huma bird is a compassionate creature and symbolizes happiness.

According to the Sufi lore, once you catch a glimpse of Huma or its shadow even, happiness will ensue for the rest of your life.

The premiere performance of ‘Huma Wings of Light’ is happening on July 22 in Cumberland. The evening will feature sufi whirling, poetry and Persian dance performances by special visiting guest Farima Berenji and her Simorgh Dance Collective.

Farima Berenji is an award winning Dance Ethnologist and internationally acclaimed dance artist, choreographer, instructor, and an archaeologist specializing in ancient, sacred, classical, and folkloric dances of Persia, Ionia, and the Silk Road. Recognized as one of a 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.

Berenji has been coming to teach weekend dance intensives and retreats in the Comox Valley since 2013. The Comox Valley Simorgh Collective formed out of these weekend training sesssions. The group is committed to furthering studies in Persian dance and dances of the Silk Road under the guidance of Farima Berenji as part of her larger collective project Simorgh.

Collective members meet for regular practices at the Abbey Studio in Cumberland, facilitated by Cathy Stoyko.

Plan to join Berenji and her Simorgh Dance Collective for an inspiring evening of dance at the United Church in Cumberland, located at 2688 Penrith Ave (at First Street). Tickets are available for $15 at the door, $10 youth, under 6 free. The doors open at 7:30 p.m.; performance runs from 8 to 9:30 p.m. and, all ages are welcome.

For more information about this event contact Cathy Stoyko at (250) 218-0704.