Learn about the history and mystery of Iranian/Persian sacred dances, music, and rituals; then watch a beautiful dance performance, followed by the option to participate in a group dance.
Rooted in one of the world’s oldest civilizations, the traditions of Iranian/Persian sacred dance and music embody the profound wisdom of our ancestors. Observing nature, the stars, and the rhythms of life, they crafted movements expressing love, strength, and spiritual transcendence. These rituals continue to inspire cultures worldwide, preserving a legacy of mysticism and artistic expression. Author Dr. Farima Berenji presents her research upon the evolutionary origins and practice of Iranian rituals, beliefs, and dances, exploring how Iranian culture permeated global music and dance traditions, developing distinctly from its sister nations. All this is explored in her soon-to-be released book Companions of the Sun (Hohm Press, October 2025).
Dr. Farima Berenji is a distinguished world-renowned scholar with an MA in Anthropology, Archaeology, and an additional MA in Ethnochoreology. Her academic journey is marked by the achievement of an M.Msc. and a PhD in Metaphysics specializing in Iranian mysticism and rituals, and a postdoctoral degree in theory of healing through ancient Iranic rituals and spirituality “Dance as a Pathway of Healing and Spiritual Transformation.” She is also an integrated healing practitioner and an initiated master in the Iranian Sufi and mystic order. She brings a unique blend of academic rigor and spiritual depth to her work, performances, and teachings. As an award-winning and internationally acclaimed performing artist and choreographer, Dr. Berenji has been recognized as one of the foremost global scholars in Eastern mysticism and ethnochoreology.
Connect: Farima Dance - Website
Space limited. Reservations required: (415) 355-5626, email nbemgr@sfpl.org or sign-up at the reference desk (starting September 1st).
