Banafsheh

"Part whirling dervish, part flamenco femme fatale" (Los Angeles Times) Iranian-born Banafsheh Sayyad communicates the universal message of Persian Mysticism in a passionate yet meditatively fluid way, an interplay between trance and directed movement. Her explosive movement is sensual and ritualistic, an organic trance of impeccable technique gone wild, while staying in touch with the inner landscape. She reconnects us with the power of the ancient priestesses, here to vitalize, liberated and heal. Banafsheh draws from her extensive background in Persian dance, Sufi ritual, Tai Chi and Flamenco to present a new form, rooted in tradition yet universal, "fusing ancient forms with a postmodern punch" (Los Angeles Times). Her movement is comprised in part by the Persian alphabet she has translated into gestures and movement, which when put together one dances out words and poetic stanzas, often taken from the works of the great mystic poet, Rumi, whom she has lived with extensively, resonating with his fierce yet gentle essence that beckons each and everyone to break through conformity and limitation to find their own individual glory.

Internationally known for her innovative movement vocabulary and high artistic and educational standards, Banafsheh is one of the few bearers of the authentic Persian dance form in the world and considered a pioneer in Contemporary Persian dance. Banafsheh’s form is what “for the first time one could call contemporary or modern Persian Dance– a dance with its own artistic language, neither Eastern like Arabic and Indian nor Western as in Flamenco, or Modern European. The dance form created by Banafsheh Sayyad can only be called the Banafsheh Dance, representative of Persian culture much like how Flamenco is particular to Spanish culture...” (prominent Iranian critic, Shokooh Mirzadegi).

Banafsheh holds an MFA in Dance from UCLA where she taught Mystical Persian dance. Also an acupuncturist, Banafsheh draws from her knowledge of Persian mysticism and the Taoist view of the internal functioning of the body to discover movement that is at once healing, self-illuminating and connected to spirit. Banafsheh's work has been presented extensively in festivals and by presenters in North America, Europe and Australia where she has gained tremendous audience and critical acclaim. Banafsheh also teaches workshops in North America, Europe and Turkey. She teaches weekly classes in Ecstatic Ritual, Persian Dance & Flamenco and Chakra Awareness in Santa Monica and Westwood, California on Mondays and Wednesdays. For more information visit www.banafshehsayyad.com

“Banafsheh’s body moved in a trance, exuding a supernatural power as the vortex which seemed to take the submitting body higher and higher became really perceptible. ”
Stefan Franzen, Badische Zeitung, Germany

"Part whirling dervish, part flamenco femme fatale, sensuous and audacious, Sayyad’s dance is a mesmerizing foray into the body as trance mechanism; a DNA strand, supple, fluid and noble, come to life."
Victoria Looseleaf, Los Angeles Times