Persian Dance Fundamentals Part 1
In this course, you will learn the beautiful and elegant movements of Persian dances from Iran in Katayoun's signature format. Persian dance is a challenging dance style to perform, yet the fluid movements can seem deceptively simple. Beautiful arms, hands, and postures are the hallmark of this style, along with leaning poses, graceful controlled steps, and dazzling turns!
While belly dance and Persian dance are different styles historically, musically, and culturally, many dancers study the two forms side by side as they complement one another in a dancer's repertoire and offer excellent cross-training.
In this part 1 of the fundamentals, we will focus on Persian Dance Positions, which is comprised of body alignment principles, arms and feet positions, as well as the beautiful characteristic hand movements and gestures. We will then put them together in combinations to practice transitioning from one position to the next with fluidity and grace. These combinations and transitions will be the foundations of the choreographed routines explored in other courses on this site.
About Me, Your Instructor
Originally from Iran, I began performing as a teen pageant girl in Virginia Beach, VA. After an illustrious career as a performer, teacher, author, and studio owner in the Washington, D.C. area, a leap of faith drew me to California where my soul and my art were reborn. I am always learning and growing where my creative instincts take me. I bring this evolving spirit with methodology and focus to my teachings.
My repertoire includes seven styles of Iranian/Persian dance and six styles of Arab/Egyptian dance. My ideas about these various cultural forms and performance styles are informed by the following, over the span of my own life experience, as well as 20+ years in the belly dance industry:
- Participation and observation in social and community dance in-culture
- Learning from heritage Arab and Iranian music and dance masters
- Watching and studying a large number and diverse array of heritage dancers and others
- Research and experience of the cultures’ languages, customs, traditions, and aesthetics
- Study and performance of variety of folk and popular songs spanning S.W.A.N.A region (South-West Asia/North Africa), ie. rhythms, voice and dance
- Independent exploration and creative work as an artist, performer and instructor
My teaching format and methodology is informed and shaped by:
- Teacher training at UVA’s School of Continuing & Professional Studies
- A decade in the classroom as a language teacher
- Two decades teaching dance and fitness to all ages and abilities
In 2019, while living in San Diego, I was recruited as a backup singer for Dornob Collective (Persian traditional songs) by its founder, Mr. Farhad Bahrami, a kindred artistic spirit. Mr. Farhad’s vision and creative impulses resonated with me as I was eager to expand my understanding of Middle Eastern music(s) and its fusion tendencies.
I joined the vocal section of Mr. Farhad's Middle East Ensemble at Grossmont College where I learned to sing in Arabic, Armenian, Turkish, and Farsi for the inaugural concert. Shortly before the pandemic lock-down, I made my professional singing debut with Los Bandaritos (Afro-Arab music from the Persian Gulf), led by Mr. Mahmood Shamshiry, for San Diego Museum of Art’s Nowruz Celebration.
I have contributed content to the Belly Dance Business Academy, Al Farah Magazine for Oriental Dance in Norway, and The Belly Dance Bundles of 2020 and 2021. I have taught workshops at belly dance festivals and was a presenter at the National Dance Education Conference in 2018 and 2019. I have authored and published books, which you may find useful:
The Beginner's Guide to Belly Dance: How to Start Your Journey Informed and Empowered
During the pandemic year 2020, I shifted my teaching and performances to online. While I had started this virtual learning space in 2017 with about 75 registered students, it has since grown to 500+ students.
With my signature style and format, my goal is to help you explore culture-specific dance intuitively. Whether it’s for personal wellness, creative expression or performance art, the courses here will help expand your range of expression, movement vocabulary, cultural knowledge, as well as your physical skills and abilities. You can also use these courses to simply enjoy moving and being in your body.
I invite you to join me on an exploratory journey of multicultural and artistic discovery on this secure and easy-to-use learning platform.