Ballet Afsaneh: Norouz 2008 SF City Hall - Persian Dance

Ballet Afsaneh performing with Nejad World Music for Norouz 2008 at San Francisco City Hall, Opening Ceremony with mayor Gavin Newsom.
"Ode to the Goddess Anahita: Dance of Nature - Sound of Creation"
Celebrating the rebirth of nature and the renewed hopes of spring, the Opening Ceremony performance for Norouz 2008 is dedicated to the powerful goddess Anahita -- the great mother goddess or Mother Nature -- venerated and worshipped in many cultures and by many names, since prehistoric times. In Persian mythology Anahita rules the waters and the fertility of the earth. Her sacred animals are the peacock and the dove. In this performance, created by Sharlyn Sawyer of Ballet Afsaneh in collaboration with music composer Mohammad Nejad and the Nejad World Music Center orchestra, the ancient Persian icons are portrayed, along with the folk dance of the Gilan region in present day Iran, a region known for its agricultural bounty. The celebration of Norouz marked the first day of the year in historic times. It is a celebration of our renewed hopes, the dream of a world at peace, and in harmony with nature.
Bahar o Maad -- Bahar o Maad
Spring has come, Spring has come!
Bringing flowers and joy to the world,
Celebrate the rebirth of nature and life everlasting!
--- Rumi

Sharlyn Sawyer, Artistic Director - Choreographer
Mohammad Nejad, Music Director - Composer

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Persian dance
• persian music
• world dance
• world music
• silk road
• central asia
• ballet afsaneh

[tubesrw]

Very nice! Bravo! It really pleases me to see something like this in an ocean of poor amateur performances in this genré, which is the result of the dire fate of Iranian classic and folkloric dances after the revolution of 1979. I hope all the hard work that was devoted to the cultural legacy of Iran in this field during the Pahlavi era will not be in vain, and that one day soon, when this Iran-loathing regime is gone, this art will flourish again! keep up the good work!

[sharlynsawyer]

@tubesrw Thank you so very much for your kind compliments. The arts must always seek to rise above politics and represent humanity at its finest. We sincerely hope that through our work as artists we will be able to provide a small contribution to the larger scope of Persian/Iranian history. --- the Artists of Ballet Afsaneh

[sfsepehr]

"Like" is not enough for such a masterpiece; as it's full of divine love itself, a dynamic alive miniature. Thanks Sharlyn not only for sharing it but also for such a great work you've been doing during several years of managing and teaching the Ballet Afsaneh and wishing to see you and your team in London sometimes plus you have to think about publishing some DVD's (but please for international region, not just for region 1!)

A huge fan of your works from London

[Celltypewhatkind]

i love this alot....