Colorful Happenings
Mosaïque News: March 2010
Greetings!
I love spring. For me and my Iranian friends and family, it is a special time of year. It is the season of No Rooz, the Persian New Year! No Rooz is the most important holiday for Iranians. Regardless of their ethnic background, religion or economic status, Iranians all over the world celebrate No Rooz together. Dancing and music are an important part of No Rooz celebrations. If you have an opportunity to attend a local event, don’t miss out! I’ve highlighted a few in this issue that I think you will enjoy. My article titled “No Rooz Mobarak!” will give an overview of the holiday and its traditions.
This issue is packed with event information and educational tidbits. Take your time to learn a little about No Rooz in the main article, as well as the new sections, Q & A with Katayoun, and A Teachable Moment, inspired by my classroom experience. Enjoy!
Sincerely yours in mutual anticipation of spring,
No Rooz Mobarak! (Happy Persian New Year!)
The Persian New Year called No Rooz, (‘New Day’ in Farsi) is based on the ancient Zoroastrian calendars of pre-Islamic Persia (the country known today as Iran). In harmony with the rebirth of nature, No Rooz begins on the vernal equinox, the first day of spring. This year No Rooz makes its arrival on March 20 at 1:32pm Eastern Daylight Time.
A couple of weeks before the arrival of No Rooz, Iranian people thoroughly clean their house and set up the ceremonial table of Haft Seen or Seven S's. The seven items whose names start with the Persian letter "Seen" displayed on the Haft Seen table are:
1) Sabzi (sprouts, usually lentil or wheat): Representing fertility and rebirth of nature.
2) Seeb (apple): Represents natural beauty.
3) Samanu (a pudding in which common wheat sprouts are transformed and given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding): Represents the reward of patience.
4) Somagh (sumaq berry used as spice): Represents the color of sunrise.
5) Senjed (the sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree): Represents love.
6) Seer (garlic): Represents health.
7) Serkeh (vinegar): Represents age.
Other items commonly found on the Haft Seen table include a mirror, painted hard-boiled eggs, sweets, candles, coins, and a goldfish in a bowl.
The No Rooz holiday lasts two weeks. Celebrations begin on the eve of the last Wednesday of the old year, called Chahar-Shanbeh Suri (literally means Eve of Red Wednesday). People gather in the streets or even in their own backyards and jump over bonfires to burn away the bad luck of the old year.
On No Rooz, people will visit their elders and friends and exchange gifts. Children receive new crisp bills of money or coins from their elderly relatives.
The celebrations end with a relaxing and fun-filled day outdoors on the 13th day of New Year called Seezdeh Bedar, which means “getting rid of 13,” believed to be an unlucky number. On this day everyone goes on a picnic as it is considered unlucky to stay indoors on the 13th day. A hearty noodle soup called Aash-eh-Reshteh is served as the traditional meal.
No Rooz is a time to reflect on the past and make a fresh start. Whether it is renewing our relationships, our faith, or our resolutions, with the arrival of spring and the rebirth of nature, we too have the opportunity to start over with a clean slate.
Learn More at Featured Links:
Recipe for Aash-eh-Reshteh, Persian Noodle Soup, from Najmieh’s Kitchen by Najmieh Batmanglij
http://www.najmiehskitchen.com/nk_recipes.html
All About No Rooz from Persian Mirror, Modern Persian Magazine
http://www.persianmirror.com/celebrations/noruz/noruz.cfm
Amoo No Rooz and Other Persian Folk Stories by Ahmad Jabbari, Mazda Publishers, Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Amoo-Norooz-Other-Persian-Stories/dp/1568590652/ref=sr 1 1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267640323&sr=1-1
A Teachable Moment
~In education, a teachable moment is an unplanned opportunity a teacher can seize to offer insight while the attention and interest of the students is at an optimal level.
The holiday is officially called Aid-eh No Rooz. In the Persian language (Farsi), Iranians commonly wish each other Happy No Rooz by saying Aid-eh Shoma Mobarak. Aid means the celebration or "fête," Shoma is a formal or plural form of You, and Mobarak comes from Arabic meaning blessed. No Rooz Mobarak is used also, though it is not as common among Iranians. Perhaps it is more widely used among Afghans, Tajiks and other Central Asian cultures where No Rooz is widely celebrated as well.
This spring if you find yourself among friends or colleagues of Persian heritage, say to them “Aid-eh Shoma Mobarak.” You will make their day and put a big smile on their face.
Q & A with Katayoun
Inspired by the many thought-provoking, interesting and sometimes bizarre questions we receive from students and friends, we present a new segment of the Mosaïque newsletter. Send us your question and find the answer in a future issue of Colorful Happenings.
This question is rooted in a common misconception about Persian dance, and proves that not all Middle Eastern dance styles are in the category of "belly dance":
Q?
“Dear Katayoun,
I' m eager to know what your answer would be if someone tells there is no such thing called Persian Belly Dance!! I met a lady who said there is only Persian Folklore Dance and Classic dance but there is no Persian belly dance. I need your help on this Katayoun, as far as I know there IS a Persian style Belly Dance. I watched a lot of Persian belly dancers 20 years ago when I used to live in Egypt. The lady did not even give me a chance to explain to her! She was told by a very good teacher that there is no such thing as Persian Belly Dance. Can you give me more info on this please? It's been bothering me.” Bothered in Bowie.
A!
"Dear Bothered,
You want to know what my response would be if someone told me there is no such a thing called "Persian belly dance"; and that you are convinced that there is such a thing and you have seen it. Here is my response. It's true; there is no such thing called Persian “belly dance”. I'm afraid the lady is correct (even if she was rude and didn't give you a chance to explain). However, I have no doubt that you have seen this Persian belly dance as you say you have. Confused? OK, let's clear up the confusion.We (Iranians, or as some prefer, Persians) have a dance that can resemble belly dance, 'Bandari' which is really a tribal/folklore dance from the Persian gulf region and has some strong hip movements. These bandari hip movements are derived directly from the Arabic and African influences in that region.The Bandari music has a very distinct beat that is quite fast and vigorous with the bagpipe (now synthesizer in pop versions) being the only melodic instrument, unlike the full orchestra sound of Arabic belly dance music.
Another dance we have that has some moves that might look like belly dance is "Baba Karam."Baba Karam is often performed by female dancers with a black fedora, and sometimes she wears a men's white button-down shirt, but not always.Baba Karam is an interesting character dance with a blend of masculine energy and feminine sensuality and is performed by both men and women at social gatherings and parties. The characteristic movements are shoulder and head isolations, however there can be lots of hip circles and sometimes undulations with a few hip accents. The music is completely different from Arabic belly dance music. The melody is a whiny violin and the rhythm is a slow Persian 6/8 beat.
While these dances, or more correctly stated, characteristic movements of these dances, can resemble belly dance, they are not 'belly dance' (another misnomer, but that's a whole other book). I can see how they could be interpreted as a type of 'Persian belly dance' by outsiders. Iranians, however, would never call these dances 'Persian belly dance,' because to Iranians, belly dance is "Arabic dance" performed to Arabic music with a very different flavor and aesthetic. I hope this clears any confusion and that you are no longer bothered."
Do you have a question for Katayoun? Send it to katayoundance@hotmail.com.
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SPECIAL SECTION: No Ruz Events
Fri. March 12, 8:00pm
Radio Javan presents Ebi and Kamran & Hooman Live in Concert
Hyatt Regency Hotel
400 New Jersey Ave, NWWashington, DC
http://www.radiojavan.com/events/event/924
Sat. March 13, 8:00pm
Mom’s Against Poverty NowRuz Fundraising Celebration
Cherry Blossom Restaurant and Banquet Hall
Potomac Falls, VA
Celebrating Norooz while raising funds to support children living in poverty. 100% of proceeds will support ongoing projects. http://www.momsagainstpoverty.org/
Sun. March 21, 4:00 pm
Norouz Around The World
Bishop Ireton High School
Alexandria, VA
New Day, New Season, New Year, Norouz!
Nomad Dancers presents a festival of dance traditions to celebrate Persian New Year.
http://www.nomaddancers.com/events.html
AREA EVENTS
Sun. March 14, 12:00pm-4:00pm
Tiraz Dance Network presents “Essential Elements to Enhance Your Dance!”
Register by March 5 for early bird discount!
Reston Sport & Health Club
Sizzling Shimmies with Shahrzad and Voluminous Veil with Amustela. Tiraz members receive a discount. www.TirazDanceNetwork.com
Fourth Sunday of every month, 4:00pm–7:00pm
Monthly Hafla - Belly Dance Show organized by Samira Shuruk
Alf Laylah Wa Laylah Restaurant in Chantilly, VA. Features performances by dancers of all levels and professional headliners. This month’s show includes Mosaïque member and fellow classmate, Ayperi!
http://www.samirashuruk.com/Alf_Laylah_Hafla_DC.html
Tue. March 16, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Beginner/Intermediate Central Asian Dance Workshop with Olimdjan Beknazarov
Born2Dance Studios, Vienna. www.born2dancestudio.com
Fri. March 19, 8:00pm-10:00pm
Beginner/Intermediate Central Asian Dance Workshop with Olimdjan Beknazarov
Joy of Motion, Bethesda. www.joyofmotion.org
Sat. March 20, 5:30pm-7:30
Uighur and Afghani Dance Workshop with Olimdjan Beknazaraov
Joy of Motion, Bethesda. www.joyofmotion.org