AboutPersianDance
APersonalPerspective
ByKatayounHutson
Characterizedbyitsfluidarmandhandmovements,Persian
dancereferstoclassicalandtraditionaldancestylesofIran,
onceknownasPersia.Youmaybefamiliarwiththeexquisite
craftsmanshipandartistryofPersianrugs.Persiansareknown
forachievementsinmanyareasofvisualandperformingarts.
AsinotherPersianarts,Persiandanceaestheticsareuniqueand
strikinglybeautiful.
WhenwetalkaboutthebroadercategoryofPersiandance,
sometimesweincludeIranianfolklorictraditions,ofwhichthere
aremany.Someoftheseregionaldancescanverygreatlyin
stylingandaesthetics.Incomparingthem,theysharesome
similarfootwork,stylingandfloorpatterns.
WhatismostremarkableaboutPersiandanceintheclassical
styleistheuseofthearms,handsandfloorspace.Whilethe
sweepingarmmovementsandexpressivehandsarethe
hallmarksofthisstyle,myownpersonalstyleanddancers
whoseartistryIadmire,IwouldfurtherdistinguishPersian
dancewiththefollowingcharacteristics:
• Movementsareinitiatedpoweredbythecore
• Handandarmmovementsarefluidand“noodley”-ThisisthetermRobynFrienduses,andIthinkitisaperfect
descriptionofsomePersianstylearmmovementsthatmaybestylizeddifferentlyinotherdanceforms,suchasFlamencoandOriental
(a.k.a.bellydance).
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Bodymovementsarelongandstretchyratherthanshortandtight
MovementsflowoneintothenextlikePersianwriting
Posesandstillnesshaveenergy
Footworkappearseffortlesstoshowcasetheupperbody
Armandhandmovementscanexpressabstractideasandcomplexemotions
Dancercanaddherownnuancetothemovementstoexpressherselfand
interpretthemusic
MyprimaryPersiandanceteacher,RobynFriend,emphasizesthelady-likeandelegantnatureofclassical
Persiandancethatisinherentinthemovements.That,isalwaysagoalinpracticingtechnique.WhatIlove
aboutPersiandance,firstandforemost,isthatitconnectsmetomyIranianheritage,which,inmyyounger
years,Ididnotappreciateverymuch.Asidefromthat,whatIloveaboutitisthatitischallengingindifferent
waysthanbellydance,emphasizingdifferentmusclesandthefocusoncomplimentaryskills,suchasupper
body,turnsandfootwork.Whiletheyaresoverydifferent,IlovePersiandanceforthesamereasonsthatIlove
Egyptianbellydance;thatis,thevarietyofculturalandartisticchoicestoengageyouraudienceandexpress
yourselfwithstrongpowerfulmovements,ormovementsthataremoresubtleandnuanced.
AftertwentyyearsofstudyingavarietyofMiddleEasternandNorthAfricandancestyles,Icontinuetobe
inspiredandfascinatedbythem.JustwhenIthinkIknowalot,IrealizeIwantandneedtolearnalotmore.
ThenIfallinloveagain.Ihopetheloveaffairneverends.
www.katayoundance.net