Program Tribute to Tajikistan Afsaneh & Afsaneh Academy Gulkhor - Dance from the Kulob region in Southern Tajikistan Khorezm - Lively dance from the Khorezm region, in present day Uzbekistan Shodiana - Solo Tajik dance accompnied by doire Maida Maida - Contemporary Kulobi dance /Soloists: Miriam Peretz & Mariam Gaibova Music: Salokhiddin Fakhriev - doire Songs: Gulkhor & Maida - by Shabnam Sorayo

Khukh Tenger Mongolian Folk Ensemble Greetings - Mongolian nomads are well known for their polite and whole hearted hospitality. This dance shows eloquently the warmth and welcoming. Hundetgeliin Jalam Khar - The horse has strong inner connections to its birthplace, this performance shows a horse, sold to a place thousands of miles away, that is running back to the place it was born.

Niosha Dance Academy Gol-e-Hamisheh Bahar - Contemporary Iranian dance. Music: Arian Band Lavand - Contemporary Iranian dance. Music: Bijan Mortazavi Ronak - Folklore dance from the Azeri & Kurdi traditions Music: Bijan Mortazavi Choreography: Niosha Nafei Jamali

Zebek Yore Ensemble The Zeybek dances come from western Turkey, near the Aegean Sea. Arising from epic tales of heroism they the pride, confidence and courage of the Western Anatolian people. The word “Zeybek” refers to the protector of people and the dancers depict the confidence of such heroic figures in these dances. Dancers: Miray Simsek Dervisoglu & Ozan Anac, Deniz Askin, Arkin Terli, Banu Altindag, Esra Kose, Yasemin Ersoy Soloist: Yunus Sasmaz Duet: Emine Saritas Cukur & Tolga Cukur

Silk Road Fantasy Chinese Performing Arts of America The ancient Silk Road was once the trade and culture thoroughfare connecting China to the Middle East and Europe. Silk Road Fantasy, a cross-cultural performance by three performing art groups in Silicon Valley echoes the influence of ancient Persia (now Iran), on the culture of China. Musical Guests Iranian Musicians of Silicon Valley Farideh Louie - vocals, Malihe Farahmand - , tonbak, & dohol; Omid Sadravi - daf; and Ali Naderi - California Chinese Music Ensemble Duny Lam - yangqi; Yong Ping Tian - er-hu; He Cheng Liu - pipa; Zhang Yu - suona; Judy Chen - pipa; Cassi Chen - er-hu Dancers of Chinese Performing Arts of America (CPAA): Zhou Hui, Jie Huang, Michelle Xu, Yao Na, Virginia Jian, Christina Cheng, Wen Long Sun, Xing Jiu Liu, Rong Ke Guo, Shuai Chen Choreography: Ann Woo 2 Intermission - 20 minutes

Roya - The Dream Ballet Afsaneh and the Afsaneh Dance Academy Qashqa’i Folk dance - Afsaneh Dance Academy & Danceversity Students Lively dance of the Turkic nomads from South Western Iran. Afsaneh - Classical Persian Dance, Ballet Afsaneh “Rest yourselves, while I tell you a story about our people . . A legendary dream (Roya-e-Afsaneh) Of the beautiful land of wine, poetry, and love.“ A blue scarf becomes the wind-lofted dome of the heavens, and candle flames recall Zoroastrianism’s eternal fire. Magical figures appear, with fairy-like pari, soloist Mariam Gaibova performs the dance of the peacock Raghse Tavus, and Miriam Peretz performs a solo to haunting music, “Chahar Mezrab.” Inspired by images and iconography from Persian decorative art, medieval paintings, and classical literature the Afsaneh story is a dream of a legendary Persian past. Choreography: Sharlyn Sawyer and Miriam Peretz Music/Composition: Zaryab Music Ensemble, Neema Hekmat - santur, Pourya Khademi - violin, Sonja Drakulich - vocals, Ebrahimi Brothers, Mohammad Ebrahimi - and , Mehran Ebrahimi - daf and dahol Uzundara - Helene Eriksen - Soloist Causasian style traditional wedding dance from Armenia.

Tolou - Sunrise Shahrzad Dance Company In the style of classical Persian dance, this piece embodies the sensation of watching the sun rise: the slow transformation of the sky from dawn to light, the freshness of early morning air, and the warm and playful effect of the sun on nature. Dancers: Rebekah Fessenden, Kim Ganassin-Mendes, Anna Greenberg Spirit of Shamans Khukh Tenger - Mongolian Ensemble Mongolian nomads worship Eternal Blue Sky, where all spirits of ancestries are, and the message from blue sky is passed through the shamans.

Karadeniz - Black Sea Yore Folk Dance Ensemble A suite of dances from the Black Sea region of northwestern Turkey. Dance movements depict images and stories of fishing and the sea, featuring the sharp, fast footwork famous from the region. Dancers: Emine Saritas Cukur, Tolga Cukur, Deniz Askin, Arkin Terli, Banu Altindag, Esra Kose, Yasemin Ersoy Duet: Miray Simsek Dervisoglu & Ozan Anac

Lighting Design Sound Engineering Patty-Ann Farrell, Julian DeAmicis Tesser Call, Brian Walker Production Managers Production and Development Isaac (Emily) Frank, Betsy McMahon Janine Ryle

3 Performers Ballet Afsaneh Sharlyn Sawyer, Director - Miriam Peretz, Assistant Director Hailed by San Francisco- dance critic Alan Ulrich as “The top tier of world dance in the Bay Area….” Ballet Afsaneh was founded in 1986. The profes- sional performance ensemble of the California nonprofit Afsaneh Art & Culture Society, the ensemble presents over twenty performances annually in theaters, educational institutions and Central Asian community events; locally in the Bay Area, throughout the US, and abroad. Ballet Afsaneh seeks to promote positive visibility for the Central Asian community, preserve cultural assets for future generations, and to enrich the legacy of the expressive arts on the world stage. www.dancesilkroad.org Dancers: Farima Berenji, Emelie K. Coleman, Mariam Gaibova, Miriam Peretz, Hannah Romanowsky, Leila Sadeghi, Kristen Sague, Roz Samimi, Lisa Tilton, Parousha Zand. Afsaneh Dance Academy Miriam Peretz, Director Dancers: Claire Ajideh, Juliana Hebenstreit, Masha- Loukianenko, Lina Nazar, Chantal Schoenherz, Marta Serra Marti, Carolyn Uno. DanceVersity - Rachael Greer, Sage LaCroix, Manami Takashina, Lucia Riera Chinese Performing Arts of America Ms. Ann Woo, Director Since 1991 Silicon Valley based Chinese Performing- Arts of America (CPAA) introduces Chinese culture as an integral part of American society through the performing arts. CPAA presents these arts of exceptional beauty and richness so that such cultural treasures can be shared by the world. CPAA’s repertoire is as abundant, diverse and colorful as China itself, and includes dance, music, martial arts, and acrobatics, in delightful and enchanting performances. CPAA artists perform original choreography, music and traditional works informed by the rich 5,000 year history of Chinese arts. The principal dancers of CPAA are graduates of the prestigious Dance Academy, professionally trained in Chinese dance, drama, martial arts and western dance arts. www.chineseperformingarts.org For tonight’s performance CPAA is joined by local music ensembles; Iranian Musicians of Silicon Valley and the California Chinese Music Ensemble. Ebrahimi Brothers Mohammad Ebrahimi,- multi-instrumentalist Mehran Ebrahimimi, percussion Mohammad came to the US in 1984, and with the partnership of his younger brother Mehran, began to perform at local weddings, engagement parties and traditional Persian functions, bringing smiles and heart warming memories to all in attendance. Today the Ebrahimi brothers are often sought for traditional Per- sian events, as well as performing in international folk music venues. They also provide expert instruction for those interested in learning to play the traditional Persian instruments. www.bazmband.com Helene Eriksen A teacher and choreographer- of traditional dances of the Balkans and Islamic Orient. Helene lectures and publishes on dance ethnology and costume studies. She has conducted many research projects in Bulgaria, ex-Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Egypt, the ex-USSR, Tunisia and Morocco. Helene studied Dance Ethnology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and as a doctoral candidate in Folklore, Slavistics and Tur- cology at the Georg-August University in Göttingen, Germany. She performed with AVAZ International Dance Theater, Gypsy Dance Company and Jasna Planina Ensemble. After a year at the Folkdance Academy in Plovdiv, Bulgaria she was a guest of the Turkish State Folkdance Ensemble in Ankara. She di- rected her own ensemble Raqs-e Hilal in Germany and currently directs Helene Eriksen’s Traditional Dance Theater, in Seattle. She is in demand as a soloist and guest lecturer throughout the world. www.helene-eriksen.de 4

Khukh Tenger (Blue Sky) Mongolian Folk Dance Group Oyuntsetseg Damba, Director- Khukh Tenger group, meaning Blue Sky, is now established in San Francisco California. dedicated to promoting Mongolian culture by telling the story of Mongolian history and livlihoods through the arts. Through their cultural performances the group also seeks to contribute to conservation efforts and raise awareness about the pristine state of Mongolia’s environment. Members of Khukh Tenger are internationally recognized professionals and Mongolian State Merited Artists. They have received numerous international awards and have performed to promote Mongolian culture in Russia, China, South Korea, North Korea, USA, Belgium and Turkey.

Miriam Peretz Assistant Director Ballet Afsaneh Director Afsaneh- Dance Academy Miriam is- an internationally acclaimed performing artist and instructor. She was a principal dancer with Inbal Ethnic Dance Theater in Tel Aviv, and is now assistant artistic director, principal dancer and featured soloist with Ballet Afsaneh. Under her direction the Afsaneh Dance Academy and its instructors teach technique and impart a love for Central Asian dance in the SF Bay Area. Miriam’s love of dance has led her on a life long journey taking her throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. These opportunities for cultural collabora- tion have given her great inspiration to find ways the arts can help build bridges and create respect, love and unity among people of different backgrounds and spiritual traditions. Miriam’s artistic inspiration is derived from Central Asian dance, Sufi Whirling, and the spiritual traditions of Muslims, Christians, and Jews. She has also created several works as an individual artist, including “Miriam’s Well” an interfaith performance collaboration exploring , music, and spirituality. www.miriamdance.com

Niosha Dance Academy - Niosha Nafei Jamali, Director Soraya Shirkhodaei - Coordinating Director Ladan Ansarinia - Marketing Niosha Dance Academy (NDA) was founded in 1991 by Niosha Nafei, to teach traditional and modern Persian/Iranian dance to groups of students as well as individual instruction. Students of Niosha Dance Academy perform regularly in both Persian/Iranian as well as in multicultural dance events. Beginning and advanced classes are held throughout the San Francisco Bay Area on weekdays and weekends. NDA emphasizes regional Persian/Iranian dances such as; Ban- dari , Turkish/Lezgee, Baba Karam, contemporary modern/pop, and traditional Persian dancing. www.niosha.com Dancers: Sahar Ahghari, Nazmehr Marzban, Ariana Sadighpour, Yasaman Sadeghi, Susan Sadeghi, Rojeen Azadi, Lyra Latifi, Nadia Latifi, Roya Oreo, Ariana Reynoso, Nava Tamjidi

Shahrzad Dance Company - Shahrzad Khorsandi, Director Founded by Shahrzad Khorsandi in 1996. Based in Richmond, CA, the com- pany and the Shahrzad Dance Academy are a cultural training ground, using a structured curriculum of traditional Persian movement as a cultural foundation, while providing the space to artistically explore choreography in contemporary Persian dance. SDA provides on-going classes in classical and contemporary Persian dance for children and adults in the Bay Area. SDC is dedicated to exploring the boundaries of artistic expression through movement while staying true to the essence of traditional Persian aesthetics. www.dancepersian.org 5 Yore Folk Dance Ensemble Mehpare Pam Askin, Director Yore was founded by several folkdance- instructors to teach the basics of Turk- ish ethnic dances from different regions of Turkey. The objective of the group is organizing major shows, showcasing dances from various regions of Turkey, re- searching hidden cultural dances of Anatolia, and participating in local and inter- national festivals. One of the main goals of the ensemble is to train enough danc- ers, who could then become Turkish folk dance instructors for the community. Yore became a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization in November 2005. Now with a strong base of dancers and an audience of all ethnic backgrounds, Yore has evolved into an institution, supporting many kinds of ethnic cultural activities from Turkey. Celebrating the diversity of the Bay Area by providing a source for the rich Turkish culture, Yore has weekly practices in Stanford and Berkeley. www.yoredance.org Dancers: Pinar Bailey, Deniz Askin, Arif Cam, Banu Altindag, Gozde Yucel, Berrin Yilmaz, Serah Hook, Defne Gun, Gizem Elenur Isik, Ilgin Guler, Hakan Baba, Husamettin Erciyes, Ebru Usta Zaryab Music Ensemble Pourya Khademi, violin Neema- Hekmat, santur Sonja Drakulich, vocals Accompanying Ballet Afsaneh for tonight’s program are members of the Zaryab Music Ensemble who represent a collaboration of music artists from throughout the Bay Area. The ensemble specializes in a large range of styles and schools of music. They have come together to explore new artistic horizons and composi- tions drawing on their multi-national backgrounds. The mission of the Zaryab Music Ensemble is to promote cross-cultural understanding, peace, tolerance and environmental consciousness through the development of musical perfor- mances that can engage international audiences. The artistic focus represents a contemporary re-interpretation of Persian traditional roots, melding ancient Persian modal qualities and traditional instruments with modern musical sys- tems. www.dancesilkroad.org/zaryab

Happy Anniversary Afsaneh Art & Culture Society - Ballet Afsaneh 25 wonderful years, and it seems like only yesterday! But it was back in 1986 when Ballet Afsaneh first began performing in the Bay Area. The organization has grown with the support of the wonderful communities that we serve, to become a platform for many artists and cultural community leaders. With the help of so many who have given so generously of their time and resources through the years, the Ballet Afsaneh ensemble performs throughout the world. By establishing the noprofit Afsaneh Art & Culture Society many events and projects, such as the Festival of the Silk Road, can continue to promote the expressive arts, and provide support for future generations to come. “ Let the beauty we love be what we do...” - Rumi

DANCESILKROAD.ORG 6 Silk Road Bazaar

v Cultural Displays and Vendors v

Golnazar Ice Cream: Persian ice cream, Faloudeh! Snacks, Persian Tea & Cookies Minoo’s Flowers: Bouquets for the occassion Maruf’s Antiques: Textiles, fabric, scarves from Uzbekistan

Ojala: Turkic jewelry & books

Tajik Handicrafts: Fine embroideries and artwork – Sales benefit schools for needy children in Dushanbe Tajikistan

Doni’s Gifts: Persian crafts & arts

Style Story: jewelry, sari, shalwar kameez from India Artemis Arte: Unique fashions and crafts of Central Asia

Silk Road Map & Discussions: Courtesy of SFSU Department of Iranian Studies

v Artists and Performers Exhibits v

Afsaneh Art & Culture Society v Miriam Dance Ebrahimi Brothers v Helene Eriksen Niosha Dance Academy v DanceVersity World Dance for Youth Sonja Drakulich & Stellamara Musik v Pourya Khademi v Pezhham Akhavass v

Very Special Thanks Janine Ryle - Coordinator Silk Road Bazaar, Gina Grandi, Front of House coordinator, publicity consultant. Farima Berenji, volunteer coordinator and ticket sales manager for San Jose/Silicon Valley. Mr. Hassan Ghaemi, for lovely rugs used in the scenic design. Dr. Mitra Ara, Silk Road cultures information liaison. Gitty Mohasel & Doni Sardari, community outreach and ticket sales coordinators. Pat Brothers, for development work above and beyond the call of duty.

Volunteers Elaine Trotter, Maryam Dahooei, Ellen Brigham, Chuching Lee, Chi Gen Lee, Parisa Samimi, Melissa Miller, Lew Smith, Marta Serra Marti, Lori Shapiro, Whitney Greer, Emani Peretz, Erica C. Lingrell, 7

The Silk Road — the historic trade routes stretching 7,000 miles across Eurasia from the China Sea in the east to the Mediterranean in the west. Interweaving across continents and oceans, acting for thousands of years as conduits for the exchange of ideas, art, and trade. In a joyful convergence of these ancient and influential cul- tures, the Festival of the Silk Road brings together an inspired roster of dance and musical artists to celebrate the diversity and variety of the arts here in the Bay Area. Ranging from traditional to contemporary, the Festival creates a gathering point for exchange and creativity, a place to share our hopes, and embrace the commonalities and differences that shape our world. The Silk Road becomes a metaphor for us, for the meeting and exchanging of ideas, art and inspiration. On behalf of the artists and communities here today we welcome you to the celebration. We are honored to have you as our guests, and salute you for making art and hope a part of your lives. - Afsaneh Art & Culture Society Artists and Friends

Please take moment to fill out the short survey included inside this program. We appreciate the chance to get to know you, and make every event better than the last.

Thank you!

Afsaneh Art & Culture Society would like to thank the highly skilled, professional photographers who have devoted their time and resources to the festival. Their gen- erosity has empowerd our artists to better represent and share their artistic visions. Shalom Ormsby - shalomormsby.com Juan Carlos Pometta - eyeofpassion.com Thomas Snuggs - blui-photography.com Raymond Van Tassel - raymondvantassel.com Carl Sermon - CarlSermonPhotography.com Aliah Najmabadi, Robertino Regazza,

Festival of the Silk Road is supported, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San Jose. Additional support provided by Arts Council Silicon Valley.

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