Connecting to Traditional Sacred Dance | Farima Berenji | TEDxYYC

Dance is one of the oldest of human activities that still connects us with our ancient ancestors. Different societies in different times have used dance in different ways. It can entertain and inspire; it can expose vulnerabilities and embolden; it can spiritually uplift and heal; it can tell stories and teach. Revisit the sacred purpose of dance and why it’s still important today. Farima Berenji is an award winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist with a lifelong passion for dance and its ability to bring meaning and spirituality to our lives. She is also a deeply talented dance ethnologist and archaeologist. A third generation artist, she travels worldwide to record, research, lecture, perform, educate, and to inspire creativity through dance and movement.

Berenji is the founder and artistic director of the Farima Dance Company and the worldwide Simorgh Dance Collective. She has spent her life studying, researching, and performing with master teachers and performing artists throughout the world, including her home countries of Iran and Azerbaijan, as well as other Silk Road countries. Her passion for dance in general, and more specifically the sacred, classical, and folk dances of the Silk Road have led her on a stunning journey learning, teaching, promoting, and performing for audiences all over the world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx