Rumi Alive Festival
Reviving Persian Mysticism
in Music, Dance and Art
November 8-11, Prague
On September 30 many countries of the world celebrated the 800th anniversary of the birth of Jalaluddin Balkhi Rumi, called Mevlana.
The fact that UNESCO declared this year as International year of MEVLANA signifies that his thoughts convey an important message for current times.
Curiously, Rumi is the world's most widely read, published, and translated poet and people of many nations cite his works as a possible key to world peace. Prague can be proud of its image as a Central European spiritual center, to which a nonconventional four day festival Rumi Alive will contribute. The Festival is organized by Open Field foundation together with Maitrea association.
Patron of the Rumi Alive festival: Prof. PhDr. ThDr. Thomas Halik
The Rumi Alive Festival, like Rumi’s own work, expresses many colours and levels and provides a wide spectrum of information and experiences for both academic scholars and the general public.The aim of the Festival is not only to celebrate Rumi’s creative genius, but also to explore Rumi’s influence on contemporary artists.
Rumi's work speaks directly to the human condition through the form of wisdom stories with an emphasis on devotion, non-attachment and the suspension of judgement. Spoken from the heart, his teachings about love and freedom are unconventional and remain fresh and insightful after 800 years. The ghazals and poems, laden with metaphor and allegory, act as a portal to mystical experience for scholars and lay readers alike.
“Rumi combines the philosophical greatness of Plato, with the soul force and realization of a Jesus or Buddha, with the literary gifts of a Shakespeare.”
(Andrew Harvey, scholar of mysticism, poet, translator of Rumi)
The Festival will be open with the European premiere of documentary film, "Rumi Returning" on November 8 at Kino Aero. The film features exquisite images of turkish Mevlevi dervishes as well as current interpretations of Rumi from Turkish and American scholars, giving us the whole picture about Rumi's life and work.
Following will be a workshop/discussion with film makers Cynthia Lukas and Kell Kearns (USA).
On Friday, November 9, a Rumi forum will take place at the National museum. The date was intentionally chosen by the organizers, as the opposit of 9/11 and symbolizes a wish to reverse our current world situation.
Rumi forum will take the form of a panel discussion. International experts on Rumi's work will address the philosophical themes as well as practical analysis, for example the point of view of choreographer Sashar Zarif, who uses Sufi philosophy as a tool for teaching dance. Other guests of the panel discussion will be professors of Prague's Charles University – PhDr. Marek and PhDr. L. Kropacek, Krakow's Jagellonian University PhDr. Marek Smurzinsky, film makers and activists Cynthia Lukas and Kell Kearns, and we will hear also a Sufi master of Nimatollahi order.
Cynthia Lukas will speak on the theme "Why Rumi Is Returning Now."
Lovers of visual art and graphic design will appreciate a Creative Calligraphy workshop, where participants will explore the beauty of persian and other styles of calligraphy, will learn a few basics and create their own piece with different media. (Lead by Thomas Steinbach - Saturday, November 10, Gallery Nostress).
Three Workshops of Persian contemporary dance will be offered to dance students. The capability of the charismatic interpreter Sashar Zarif to transfer the beauty of the dance style to our people make his workshops in Prague always a huge success. (Dance studios Naboso and Zambra).
The pearl of the festival will be a concert Rumi Alive of Iranian multidisciplinary artist Reza Derakshani, together with American master drummer and percussionist Hearn Gadbois, Azeri dancer and Sufi singer Sashar Zarif, Czech dancer Rena Milgrom and guests. The work of all mentioned artists is inspired by Rumi poetry. (Saturday, November 10 from 8 p.m., Theater Divadlo v Dlouhe).
The Festival culminates on Sunday, November 11 with Sufi dance ritual in a gothic room at our New Town City Hall. Participants will be able to enjoy and experience the reconstruction of the ritual the way Sashar Zarif learned from different Sufi masters in Central Asia. All will be accompanied by live singing of ancient Azerbaijani poetry, traditional Nay flute and frame drum Daf. Everybody is welcome!
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CONTACT:
Rena Milgrom – director of the festival
renadance@gmail.com, t: +420 608 435 999, HYPERLINK "http://www.openfield.cz/" www.openfield.cz
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further information at: www.openfield.cz |
PROGRAM in short
Thu, November 8
8 p.m.
Rumi returning – film and discussion with the film makers Cynthia Lukas, Kell Kearns (USA) - Kino Aero, Biskupcova 31, Prague 3.
Friday, November 9
1- 6 p.m.
Rumi forum – National museum, conference room, Václavské n. 68, Prague 1.
speakers: PhDr. Smurzinsky (Jagellonian Univers., PL), PhDr. Marek, PhDr. Kropacek (Charles Univers., CZE), Sashar Zarif (York Univers., CAN), Cynthia Lukas and Kell Kearns (USA), Sufi master of Nimatollahi order (Iran/GB)
8-10 p.m.
Persian dance workshop with Sashar Zarif - dance studio Naboso, Školská 12, Prague 1.
Sat, November 10
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Creative Calligraphy workshop lead by Thomas Steinbach (GER)– Gallerie NOSTRESS, Dušní 10, Prague 1, exhibition of the calligraphy pieces follows untill November 17.
8 p.m.
Concert / dance “Rumi Alive” – Theater Divadlo v Dlouhé, Dlouhá 39, Prague 1.
performers: Reza Derakshani (Iran/USA), Sashar Zarif (Azer/Can), Hearn Gadbois (USA), Rena Milgrom (CZE)
Sun, November 11
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Persian dance workshop with Sashar Zarif– dance studio Zambra, U Zvona?ky 9, Prague 2.
6- 10 p.m.
Sufi dance ritual – New Town City hall – gothic saal, Karlovo nám?stí 23, Prague 1, lead by Sashar Zarif, accompanied by Reza Derakshani and Hearn Gadbois.
Mon, November 12
5- 8 p.m.
Persian dance workshop with Sashar Zarif - dance studio Zambra, U Zvona?ky 9, Prague 2
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