THE TREE OF WISHES - poetry in dance

30.6.-6.7.2008

4th year of dance-music workshop with Sashar Zarif. This year we focused on exploring the tradition of Mongolian ritual circle dances around the sacred Wish-Tree. Also this year was a part of the workshops was the exploration of technique, expression and the meaning of dance fugures, folk and sufi songs of Central Asia, work in groups and the creation of simple costumes.

Dance music performance Wish-Tree – Poetry in Dance – presentaion of the workshop took place as a part of the whole evening show „Dance and Music of Central Asia Inspired by Sufi Poetry“ in Czech muzeum of music. The whole show became a part of exhibition project "Muzika etnika" as a Mirror of Cultures.

Reconstruction of sufi ritual lead by Sashar Zarif – A meditative experience of circular dances. The ritual always brings outstanding purifying experience.

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Your feedback:

Doris Wollenberg: "As a feedback, it is difficult to summarize everything all I feel in words. The whole week was very inspirating and mind opening for me. It's is not only amazing to see Sashar as an artist of dance and music but also as a person, who is able to connect people and make them go over their limits. He teaches something, that will last longer than techniqual details such as the attitude towards music and dance in general."

Veronika Hornerová: " The show on Sunday evening fascinated me completely. The accoustics of the former church added to an astonishing experience. The percussionist Hearn Gadbois and his collegue playing the sitaar created an almost meditative atmosphere, an outstanding environment for graceful dancers who have performed. The choreography created many impressive elements such as merging and singing rows of women, circle pictures and symbols. Rena Milgrom was dancing in a beatiful dress that I saw for the first time. She danced both with the groups of dancers and she improvised herself. She dazzled me with her movements which were very beautiful and elegant. Sashar Zarif prepared his dancers for show perfectly - his dance fascinated me. I felt a lot of possitive energy and happiness from him. He brought me literally into trance with his whirling in which I stayed till the end. The whole programme was crowned by asking viewers to come on the stage and join the dancing and singing. So I went home full of amazing impressions and inspiration."