Videos by Simin Shakeri
Sar'dam is the platform or podium in which the Morshed or guru, or sport conductor, so to speak, ... more Sar'dam is the platform or podium in which the Morshed or guru, or sport conductor, so to speak, sits and carries out his task from there. Sar'dam is considered a holy and respect-worthy place. The Morshed sings lyrics with rhythm while beating on tumbak, a kind of Iranian musical instrument like percussion, and thus gives order to the practices performed by the sportsmen or pahlevans. Athletes are performing Bastani or Pahlavani rituals in Gowd of Zoorkhane. (Neyshabour, Khorasan)
- But one of those within the fortress was a woman, daughter of the warrior Gazhdaham, named Gor... more - But one of those within the fortress was a woman, daughter of the warrior Gazhdaham, named Gordafarid. When she learned that their leader had allowed himself to be taken, she found his behavior so shameful that her rosy cheeks became as black as pitch with rage. With not a moment's delay, she dressed herself in a knight's armor, gathered her hair beneath a Rumi helmet, and rode out from the fortress, a lion eager for battle. She roared at the enemy ranks, "Where are your heroes, your warriors, your tried and tested chieftains?"
Ferdowsi, Shāhnāmeh 6 views
An etude of 'Death of Yazdgerd'
A play and film by Bahram Beyzai
3 views
A group of Torbat-e Jam ritual dancers performing "Afar" dance,
And agricultural Afar, has an in... more A group of Torbat-e Jam ritual dancers performing "Afar" dance,
And agricultural Afar, has an inseparable relationship with time. Planting, growing, and harvesting time. 3 views
A part of 'The Father' play by August Strindberg
Directed by Michael Shahrestani
4 views
A short movie about one of the most popular ritual dancers (wooden horse and kormanj dancer) in K... more A short movie about one of the most popular ritual dancers (wooden horse and kormanj dancer) in Khorasan, Neyshaboor 1 views
Conference Presentations by Simin Shakeri
Hatan, the edges of a mountain or the lion of a grove, and Choob-bazi, dance with wood stick, are... more Hatan, the edges of a mountain or the lion of a grove, and Choob-bazi, dance with wood stick, are the most important circle dances left from the past in east of Iran, Khorasan. All movements of these dances are performed between the center and the circular environment made by the dancers."Usually, dances in Torbat-e-Jam, unlike Kurdish or Lori dances, people do not hold each other's hands and dance separately in a circular form with multiple rotations around themselves and around the center of the hypothetical circle. They are somehow watching their surroundings to be safe from the probable attack of enemies, because the nature around them is surrounded by open plains. The dances of the east of Khorasan are usually divided into two categories: festive and martial or epic dances. Of course, sometimes some mystical movements are also seen in the heart of these kinds of dances. For example, the dance of Hatan has mystical movements and represents the effort to reach the Creator. Festive dances have movements related to social traditions, such as: marriage proposal, circumcision ritual, Hanabandan ceremony (a celebration of the bride's farewell ceremony and is officially held on the last night of the bride's stay at her father's house). In some other dances, human relationship with nature is depicted. For instance, in the past farmers and people celebrated the harvest in order to respect nature. Over time, however, ritual dances have faded due to political and social conditions, and some forms have disappeared gradually. In the not-so-distant past, there were 10 types of ritual dances in Torbat-e Jam, but now only three of them remain completely". (Kiani, personal communica on, 2019) Perhaps the oldest and most important use of the circle in Iranian culture in the history of ancient Iran can be found in the circle that symbolizes the Farrah-e Izadi (divine grace). After the advent of Islam, we find its strong presence in a different way and in the form of a dome. In the dome, all points on the periphery of the hemisphere are constantly moving back and forth to the center, and the gathering of points at one point is a sign of unity. It is also a kind of connection point. In addition to Iranian civilization and culture, the circle and ring are a symbol of connection in almost all cultures. The circle form in the visual arts also implies timelessness, because it cannot be considered a beginning or an end to it. The concept of time (wheel, rotation of time, wheel of time, wheel of seal or sun) is clearly derived from the circle. The traces of this geometric form can be recognized in ritual and ancient dances such as circle dances as one of the most important human heritage in which the main means of transmitting the concept is the body. In these dances, the skirt of each dancer is placed in a beautiful circle around the axis of his body during rapid rotations. The Longoteh or the turban that each dancer wraps around his head is also circular in shape, and if viewed from an observer's perspective from above and vertically, the approximate form is seen below, a form that is not unlike the Sama dance.
Dances have been always noticed as an important cultural phenomenon over time. Ceremonial dances ... more Dances have been always noticed as an important cultural phenomenon over time. Ceremonial dances analysis and investigation which is presenting deep stories of history and myths can be effective to understand these dances better. Khorasan as an ancient land with magnificent geography is been full of vicissitudes in epochs, which today′s ceremonies have been deriving from those old histories. Fortunately, lots of researches have been done about Eastern Khorasan′s dances. However, we didn't conduct any comprehensive research yet about another common ceremonial dance called ʺWooden Horse Danceʺ which they are performing in different cities or even in other countries. This article with using different methods like: field observations, library researches and interviews with some of professional dancers, tries to achieve a comprehensive analysis and undertesting about the wooden horse dance concept and form in Khorasan area. After Mongol invasion to Khorasan, wooden horse dance formed, and it was used as a camouflage in practicing army motions and fake wars in front of opponents.
Papers by Simin Shakeri
The analysis of Kormanji کُرمانجیdance structure based on Adrienne Keappler’s Dance Analysis Sys... more The analysis of Kormanji کُرمانجیdance structure based on Adrienne Keappler’s Dance Analysis System
A part of the Dance Analysis Course, Choreomundus program, International Master's Degree of Dance Knowledge, Practice and Heritage.
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Videos by Simin Shakeri
Ferdowsi, Shāhnāmeh
And agricultural Afar, has an inseparable relationship with time. Planting, growing, and harvesting time.
Conference Presentations by Simin Shakeri
Papers by Simin Shakeri
A part of the Dance Analysis Course, Choreomundus program, International Master's Degree of Dance Knowledge, Practice and Heritage.
Ferdowsi, Shāhnāmeh
And agricultural Afar, has an inseparable relationship with time. Planting, growing, and harvesting time.
A part of the Dance Analysis Course, Choreomundus program, International Master's Degree of Dance Knowledge, Practice and Heritage.