EDUCATION
University of Hawai’i at Manoa Honolulu, HI 2004 to 2007
M.A. Dance Ethnology, May 2007
Thesis: “Dance, Mysticism, and Sensuality: Perspectives from Tajikistan,”
advisor: Judy Van Zile
Field research in Tajikistan from July to December 2006
Western Washington University Bellingham, WA 1998 to 2001
B.A. Anthropology, Magna Cum Laude, June 2001
Minor in Spanish
Field research in Morocco from January to June 2001
The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA 1991 to 1993
Physics, Eastern Philosophy, Anthropology, Indian classical dance (Orissi)
CONFERENCES & PRESENTATIONS
“Mysticism, Sensuality, and Emotion in Tajik Dance.” 25th Symposium of the International Council for Traditional Music’s Subgroup on Ethnochoreology. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 2008
“Dance in Central Asia and Iran.” Guest lecturer for “Dance in World Cultures,” Professor Judy Van Zile, University of Hawai’i, Spring 2007
“Introduction to Iranian Dance.” Guest lecturer/instructor for “Introduction to Dance,” Professor Elizabeth Fisher, University of Hawaii, June 2006
“Dance in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan: Russian Influences and Cultural Adaptations.” Paper presented at the 17th Annual Graduate Student Conference, School for Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Studies, University of Hawai’i, March 2006
“Dance in Central Asia and Iran,” “Dance in Morocco,” and “Bellydance.” Guest lecturer for “Dance in World Cultures,” Professor Judy Van Zile, University of Hawai’i, Spring 2006
“Performers, Prostitutes, and Pederasts: Dance and dancers in Iran, Afghanistan, and the Iranian diaspora of the western United States.” Paper presented at the Dance Ethnography Forum, Leicester, UK, January 2006
“Gender and Power in Morocco.” Guest lecturer for “Sex and Gender in Culture,” Professor Judith Krieger, Western Washington University, Fall 2000
AWARDS & HONORS
Scholarship, John & Gertrude Moir Educational Fund, University of Hawai’i, 2006-2007
Travel Award, Arts & Sciences Advisory Council, University of Hawai’i, 2006
-to support thesis fieldwork in Tajikistan
Scholarship, John Young Scholarship in the Arts, University of Hawai’i, 2006
Travel Award, College of Arts and Humanities, University of Hawai’i, 2005
-to participate in a training session for dance ethnologists in Trondheim, Norway Departmental Tuition Waiver, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, 2004 to 2007
Travel Scholarship, School for International Training, 2001
-to support Arabic language study and field research in Morocco
Taylor/Anastasio Undergraduate Research Award, 2000-2001
-award for Sociobiology research paper, “The sexual double standard: Evolution
of controls on female sexuality”
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Central Asia, Iran, Morocco, and diaspora communities
Dancers, entertainers, and marginalized peoples
The politics of art, subversive art, control of artistic expression
Visual culture (arts, television, propaganda, and advertising)
Adaptability of Islam, Islam and syncretism with other belief systems
Islam, sexuality, and gender issues
Spiritual expression
Nationalism, migration, and the concept and packaging of “culture”
LANGUAGES
Intermediate Proficiency in Farsi
Intermediate Proficiency in Spanish
Rudimentary Moroccan Arabic
DANCE PERFORMANCE AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Delshodeh Bellingham & Seattle, WA 2007 to current
Dance of Iran and Central Asia
-Co-founder, Manager, Artistic Director, Choreographer
-Instructor, Persian and Tajik dance, La Vida Dance Studio, Bellingham, WA
-Performance at TurkFest, The Seattle Center, October 2007
-Performance at the Seattle Folklife Festival, May 25, 2008
-Performance at the Iranian Festival, The Seattle Center, June 28, 2008 -Performance at the Firehouse, Bellingham, WA August 8, 2008
-Performance at Turkfest, The Seattle Center, October 19, 2008
-Performance at Town Hall, Seattle, for Nooruz (Spring Equinox) March 21, 2009
-Performance at the Seattle Folklife Festival, May 25, 2009
-Performance at the Iranian Festival, June 20, 2009
Soloist, Tajik Dance Dushanbe, Tajikistan December 2006
-Performance of classical & regional dances of Tajikistan for television broadcast
Soloist, Iranian Dance Honolulu, HI 2004 to 2006
-Instructor, Persian dance, Manoa Dance Studio, Honolulu, HI
-Performer/presenter, “Summer in the Park,” Honolulu Department of Parks and
Recreation, Summer 2005
-Performances at the University of Hawai’i: Fall Footholds Concert 2004, Center
for South Asian Studies’ Concert, Spring 2006
-Performances at Iranian holiday parties in Honolulu, HI
Shourangeez Seattle, WA 2001 to 2003
Live music, song, and dance of Iran
-Co-Founder, Manager, Artistic Director, Choreographer
-Workshop Instructor: Bastyr University non-credit classes, Seattle, WA; The
Circle Dance Studio, Seattle, WA; Pacific Dance Works, Bellingham, WA
-Annual performances at the Northwest Folklife Festival
-Performances at over a dozen Washington state elementary schools via
participation in “Folklife in the Schools”
-Performances at cultural events, Iranian holiday parties, community colleges, and
universities throughout Washington State
Banat Sahar Bellingham, WA 1997 to 2004
Live music, song and dance of North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia
-Co-Founder, Manager, Artistic Director, Choreographer
-Instructor, Pacific Dance Works, Bellingham, WA
-Workshop Instructor: Oddfellows Hall, Orcas Island, WA; Ballard Fire House,
Seattle, WA
-Annual participation in the Northwest Folklife Festival
-Biennial participation in the Arab Center of Washington’s Arab Festival at the
Seattle Center
-Performances at Whatcom Community College, Western Washington University,
and miscellaneous venues from Seattle, WA to Vancouver, BC, Canada
WORK EXPERIENCE
Small Business Owner Bellingham, WA November 2007 to current
La Vida Dance Studio
www.lavidadancestudio.com
Research Specialist Bellingham, WA April to August, 2008
Group Health Cooperative
Fieldwork Team Leader Dushanbe, Tajikistan July to September, 2007
Tajik Dance Initiative