Chantelle Devi * Dance your prayers

Sufi Dance workshop

with

Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam

Around the month of January I heard about Shahrokh and his dance threw my iranian friends that live in India. I had expressed to them that I taken some classes with Miriam Pertez and that I was eager to explore more of Persian / Sufi Culture. Very proudly they spoke to me about Shahrokh and his success in Iran, France and around the world.

I researched his work and instantly feel in love with his dance.

Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam is an iranian dancer, actor, choreografer and producer trained and based in Paris, France. He is the Director of the Nakissa Dance Company.

Shahrokh's masculine expression hit me the most as well as his interpretation of fusion dance. I observed that he had studied Flamenco, Martial Arts and Indian Dance. The synergy that Shahrokh creates with Persian/Sufi dance with these other arts is to me, work of a genious!!

Being back in California for the Summer and Fall to study dance, I had the opportunity to take more classes with Miriam and gain a greater knowlegde of Persian Culture. I mentioned Shahrokh to Miriam and by surprise she was organizing a workshop with him and invited me to be part of it. I was totally shocked and happy!!

On the last weekend of October we had the opportunity to learn Sufi Culture with Shahrokh and Miriam. It was an experimental workshop with the intention to explore sufi whirling. The iranian community of the bay area and great fans of these 2 masters were present. It was an amazing group of all ages, dancers and non dancers, students and elders.

It was 3 days of ritual. A gathering of people for the love of dance and sufi music.

I learned the techniques to explore in sufi whirling and to be tuned with the rhythem, how to be in your centre and allow the freedom to come to you. Each day brought new feelings, emotions and sometime sadness. It was amazing and sometimes overwhelming to whirl with so many people in one room. But for the first time I experienced the potency of sufi whirling.

A deep exploration of the self.

A way to freedom.

A dance of being real and honest with life and yourself.

To witness Miriam and Shahrokh dancing was amazing and so inspiring.

I consider myself to be fortunat. To have experienced this culture with the world embassodores of Sufi/Persian Dance.

I am Grateful.

Thank you Miriam.

Thank you Shahrokh.

Gratitude to all the beautifull beings that shared this moment with me.