© 1997-2002 Sashar Zarif,

 

Workshops and Classes:

Azerbaijani Dance 

Azerbaijani Dance is a graceful art form and powerful tool for working with the physical body as well as a spiritual discipline. the class aims at developing a basic dance vocabulary stemming from Azerbaijani training driven from both classical and folkloric art forms. Through repetition, we search for in -depth understanding of movement as the emphasis will be put on musicality and phrasing to enhance the spirit of dancing together. Utilizing movement patterns and exercises this class involves dancers' relationship with the floor (earth/ground), the release of energy through the body, the centralization of movement, strength and speed.  
In Azeri dance, expression is one of the main aspects of the dance. It is also based on three main aspects of the dance. It is also based on three main facts: the mood of the person, the setting which the dance is taking place, and animal animation. The Azerbaijani dance depicts 'Life'. It is, therefore, based on natural movements and is not confined to symbolic gestures. It is subtle and true to life covering a very large canvas.

The former, the so-called technical part, is an abstract dance with a tremendous sense of rhythm and joy of movement.

HISTORICAL SOURCES. Azerbaijani roots can be traced far back into antiquity. Archaeological excavations have yielded rock paintings of silhouetted ritual dancers with musical instruments dating from the 5th to 3rd millennia BC a Stone Age percussion instrument called Gaval-das ('frame drum of stone') from Kobustan and prototype of a wind instrument made of bone from Mingaechaur.
  

 
 The Artistic Objectives 

The creation of these dances is an statement of self, an extension of self, which is accompanied with a sense of personal power, an empowerment. Sashar Zarif will take the students to this journey by dance, demonstrations, stories and drama, which will offer:    The learning of ancient creative ways of using the healing power of dance and the profound importance of symbolic movements

Development of a better understanding of foundation and disciplines that creates a successful dance

Experience for any dancing body

The sensitization of grace and creative body language

Exposure of story telling based on the formation of the dance or the meaning behind a gesture

Increase energy level, strengthen muscles and bones, and burn calories   

 

 

Workshops 

All workshops can be tailored to your specific curriculum and teaching needs within your available time frame.Most workshops can be presented in a 2 1/2 or 3 hour format. More in-depth material will be covered during a full day training or in multiple sessions. When possible, teachers are encouraged to try out these techniques in their classrooms, and share their questions, observations, and experiences at a follow-up session. Written lesson plans, bibliographies and a music resource list will be made available to all participants.

Here are two different ideas,

Option One
1-full day workshop
2-1/2hr intermission
3-dance demo

Option One
1-full day workshop
2-1/2hr intermission
3-a short choreography for students to perform in a mini performance
4-a mini performance organized at the end of the day
5-few performances by Sashar and possibly other dancers at the mini performance

(the mini performance will create the opportunity for the students to experience the performing factor as well as to see a full performance with full costume)   

W ORKSHOPS ON TOUR

 

Azerbaijani Traditional Dance

Stemming from traditional Azerbaijani dance training, the class aims at developing a basic dance vocabulary, co-ordination, strengthening and flexibility, development of a stronger sense of use of the body in, directions in space, musicality, weight shifting and balance. This class offers a practical method of mental and physical movements, and techniques to apply in Azerbaijani Dance forms. This will involve posture, breathing and body awareness, which develops mental strength. Students will have the opportunity to learn the ancient circle dance, warrior dance of lesginka and the Nobel dance of Ghaytaghi.

   

 

Azerbaijani Traditional Female Dances as a form of therapy

All forms of art, including dance, have a therapeutic role in their particular society. They were formed because of the he needs to express or overcome oppression. An example of these types of art is the Azerbaijani female dances. This form of Azerbaijani dance, used to be performed only among the females, formed as a result of the social oppression. This form, in itself, seems to offer a metaphorical union of the masculinity and feminine elements. Therefore this form of dance serves a meditative purpose, which fosters sensitivity to inner images, a meditative purpose, which fosters sensitivity to inner images, a condition of relatedness to the inner world.

 

Silk Road
a Journey of dance Styles

This Class brings together a wide range of dance styles with Sashar Zarif, in a charged atmosphere of energy, excitement and anticipation. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience technical, theoretical, historical and therapeutic aspects of different forms of Azerbaijani dance. the class will also include a comparative study between Azerbaijani dance and the dance forms of Central Asia such as Persian, Uzbek and Tadjik.

 

Sacred Circle Dances

In a circle dance experience one would move beyond personal power and gain a sense of that greater power that is rooted in a greater love. By engaging in an experience, which frees one from ones usual controlling patterns of thoughts and feeling, one enters a work of creativity and personal revolution.

 

Persian Dance

The central project of this class/workshop, designed for both professional dancers and students, is to identify, analyze and learn the movements and factors currently contribute and have historically contributed to the Classial, folklore and solo improvised dance in an Iranian context. This is reflected both currently and historically practiced styles of persian dance. Sashar draws a portrait of dance by detailing its movement practices and describing and analyzing the aesthetic and creative impulses utilized by cultural body language and character of perians. By showing the ways in which persian dance shares important formal aesthetic and creative elements with other Iranian expressive forms such as calligraphy, music, and traditional theatre through the use of geometry and improvisation, Sashar demonstrates how dance is firmly linked with other Iranian art forms.

 

Creative Movements

Dance has been called “poetry in motion” because it can capture the essence of an idea or feeling through a gesture or movement phrase. This workshop equips you to experience the interpretation of social attitude, music and poetry through dance. Through improvisation and choreography, participants will explore the images, metaphors, mood and meaning of attitude, music and poetry from eastern cultures.Dancers will be shown how to incorporate props, music and stories to engage life in creative movement. Special attention will be paid to supporting the needs of Dancers with short attention spans or diverse learning styles through the use of creative movement activities designed to help to unlock their natural learning abilities. (No previous movement experience is necessary.)