click
on image to see larger photos!Halparkeh
classical dance,traditional dance performance, middle eastern dance, persian dance, dance with live music, persian dance, sufism, Rumi, persian arts, iranian arts, dance instruction, percussion, inte
rnational dance, middle easclick
on image to see larger photos!
tern music, cross-cultural arts
Choreography by Shida Pegahi
Music: The Kamkars [music available from Kereshmeh]
Concept of Choreography
Halparkeh means dance in Kurdish. A vision drawn from my world. My personal history. And my personal relationship to exile, loss, crossings and freedom. Dance becomes a prayer place, a home place. Dance becomes longing, belonging. Where my American audience can gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the diverse nature of my culture. I come from Iran.
The Islamic Republic demands, enforces the separation of men and women in public and private spheres. Women's physical movement is restricted in public by covering their entire bodies.
Dance was banned. Dance jailed. Music jailed. Singing jailed.
Dance, this misunderstood concept in my culture. My choreography reflects the art and architecture of day to day moving nomads' lives. This rhythm and movement towards the higher and higher mountains. Dance and the freedom of dance without the traditional boundaries of sexual facial flirtations. With the usage of the mask I veil the facial language and open up possibilities for movement. A cross-cultural experience of moving bodies. Moving faces. Moving nomads. Moving dervishes. Moving movements. Dance. This dance is dedicated to loss of history. Loss of land. Loss of home.
Nostalgia and sorrow of exile, migration. The moment when ground dances beneath your feet.
-Shida Pegahi
mi, persian arts, iranian arts, dance instruction, prcussion, international dance, middle eastern music, cross-cultural art
