"Part whirling dervish, part flamenco femme fatale" (Los Angeles Times), the award-winning work of Iranian-born Banafsheh Sayyad communicates the universal message of Persian Mysticism in a passionate yet meditatively fluid way, an interplay between trance and directed movement. Her explosive movement is sensual and ritualistic, an organic trance of impeccable technique gone wild, while staying in touch with the inner landscape. She reconnects us with the power of the ancient priestesses, here to vitalize, liberated and heal.  Banafsheh draws from her extensive background in Persian dance, Sufi ritual, Tai Chi and Flamenco to present a new form, rooted in tradition yet universal, "fusing ancient forms with a postmodern punch" (Los Angeles Times).  Her movement is comprised in part by the Persian alphabet she has translated into gestures and movement, which when put together one dances out words and poetic stanzas, often taken from the works of the great mystic poet, Rumi, whom she has lived with extensively, resonating with his fierce yet gentle essence that beckons each and everyone to break through conformity and limitation to find their own individual glory.

Internationally known for her innovative movement vocabulary and high artistic and educational standards, Banafsheh is one of the few bearers of the authentic Persian dance form in the world and considered a pioneer in Contemporary Persian dance. Banafsheh’s form is what “for the first time one could call contemporary or modern Persian Dance– a dance with its own artistic language, neither Eastern like Arabic and Indian nor Western as in Flamenco, or Modern European. The dance form created by Banafsheh Sayyad can only be called the Banafsheh Dance, representative of Persian culture much like how Flamenco is particular to Spanish culture...” (prominent Iranian critic, Shokooh Mirzadegi).

The daughter of the legendary Iranian filmmaker, theater director and actor, Parviz Sayyad, Banafsheh is a recipient of the prestigious James Irvine Foundation grant in Dance. She holds an MFA in Dance from UCLA where she taught Mystical Persian dance. She has studied with some of the great masters in dance and choreography including Antonia Rojos, Victoria Marks, David Rousseve and Donna Uchizono. Also an acupuncturist, Banafsheh draws from her knowledge of Persian mysticism and the Taoist view of the internal functioning of the body to discover movement that is at once healing, self-illuminating and connected to spirit. Banafsheh's work has been presented extensively in festivals and by presenters in North America, Europe and Australia where she has gained tremendous audience and critical acclaim.

Banafsheh performed in the first UCLA Dance Alumni Concert this year. She was recently invited to the Dance Center of Columbia College for a week-long residency including Master classes in the department as well as in the community, culminating in 3 performances with her dance company NAMAH and long-time music collaborators, ZARBANG.  She has an upcoming residency at the Orientale Festival at the prestigious Tanzhaus in Dusseldorf, Germany, where she and members of ZARBANG have been commissioned for new work. Banafsheh will teach 3 classes during this residency. In 2008, she completed her fourth week-long residency since 2005 in the Orientale Festival.

The 2007 residency, Turn For Love was borne out of Banafsheh's transformative experience in Turkey, where she participated in a historic 40 day and night ritual of Sema or Whirling Ceremony led by Oruc Guvenc and Tumata.  She began to transfer the phenomenal effects of this experience, which include total aliveness and love via her new line of work, both in performance and workshops. Turn For Love has also been performed at Fresno State University, the Egyptian Temple iMadrid and Tanzhaus, Dusseldorf.

Banafsheh  teaches workshops in Dance of Oneness® across North America, Europe and Turkey including Esalen Institute in California and Kripalu Center in Upper Massachusetts, where she taught recently with the well-known mystic and scholar, Andrew Harvey. In addition to workshops in Mystical Dance & Ritual, Dance of Oneness includes a workshop featuring live music called TrancenDance & Drum Ritual drawing from ancient and mystical Persian movement and rhythm. This workshop has a large educational component on Rumi and Mysticism and works very well in conjunction with her performances. Banafsheh also gives talks and lecture/demonstrations on Persian Dance and Sufism.

Banafsheh is available for solo performances; with the live music of ZARBANG; ensemble work with her company NAMAH;  guest appearances with dance and music ensembles; and workshops as well as choreography commissions.