A Gathering of Light for Yalda (Winter Solstice)
Presented by Diaspora Arts Connection
Join us for a night of unity through music, dance, and poetry in honor of Shabe Yalda as we envision peace and unity on earth, bringing light into the darkest nights of the year on Winter Solstice. Multi-instrumentalist Amir Etemadzadeh will lead a band of musicians featuring Azadeh Farpour (Vocals), Sara Saberi (Barbat and Vocals), Aydin Shaterian (Azeri Tar) and Amir Etemadzadeh (Percussion). Acclaimed Choreographer and dancer Miriam Peretz will lead the Nava Dance Collective in this production.
Saturday, December 9, 2023, 8:00 PM
Leon Event Hall, 5051 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94112
—
About the artists:
Miriam Peretz is an internationally celebrated dance instructor and performer. Over the past twenty years her signature dance style has spread across continents through her international dance collective Nava, and through the intensive training’s she offers worldwide. Miriam’s format draws heavily on sacred dances from around the world, Central Asian dance, devotional Sufi whirling and ritual. Her movement quality and aesthetics also incorporate her years of martial arts training, contemporary dance, Flamenco, and many other world dance forms.
Amir Etemadzadeh is a Middle Eastern musician, instructor, performer, and composer. Born and raised in Iran, he received extensive musical education throughout his youth. During his time at Tehran Music University, he focused on Tombak and Tar performance, while also learning vocal techniques and radif theory. After arriving in the U.S. in 2003, he expanded his instrumental repertoire, learning a variety of percussion traditions from around the world. Amir continued his musical education at University of California - Santa Cruz, studying Classical Composition and Arrangement, as well as Clarinet Performance. Shortly after settling in the United States, Amir realized his passion for teaching and spreading a love of music by starting Amir School of Music. Since the school’s founding, Amir is proud to have taught Persian and Middle Eastern music to more than 400 students.