Rana Gorgani

Whirling dervish

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R A N A G O R G A N I

Choreographer Artist
Derviche Tourneur

Linguistic Skills

  • French and Persian: Bilingual
  • English : Fluent
  • Spanish, Italian, Arabic,
  • Turkish: Basic Knowledge

Skills Annexes

Design and creation of all my stage costumes: material research, pattern making, and modeling.

Practice of the daf, frame drum : mastery of Sufi rhythms.

Academic Education

  • Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology and Anthropology of Dance, 2015/2016, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
  • Diploma in Dramatic Art with a focus on body improvisation and choreographic workshop, 2003/2006, Paris, France.

Teacher and Choreographic Artist

  • Founder of the Compagnie L’Œil Persan, artistic director and choreographer.
  • Conceptor and creator of educational programs for a diverse audience, focused on Persian world dances and Sufi dance.

Professional Experience since 2009

International School of Sufi Dance:
Founded by Rana Gorgani in 2024.
An immersive training program in Sufi dance offered through three independent modules.
A course designed to deepen the understanding of spirituality, technique, and creativity in Sufi dance. 

Academic and Educational Commitment since 2009

  • Conducting monthly workshops, seminars, and training sessions.
  • Organizing and actively participating in conferences and symposiums to promote the knowledge and recognition of Sufi dance.
  • Collaboration with UN Women France.

References (non-exhaustive list)  

INTERNATIONAL

SWITZERLAND

  • Ethnomusicology Workshops, Geneva
  • Museum of Ethnography, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Paléo Festival

GERMANY

  • Interfaith Festival, Stuttgart Cathedral
  • Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin

ENGLAND

  • Koko Theatre, London
  • October Gallery, London

ITALY

  • Artinvita – International Festival of the Abruzzo
  • Cinematica Festival, Ancona

LEBANON

  • Baalbek Festival, Baalbek

UNITED STATES

  • Charles B. Wang Center, New York
  • Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York

BRAZIL

  • Danças e Ritmos do Mundo Festival, São Paulo and Bahia

FRENCH

  • Institute of the Arab World, Paris
  • Guimet Museum, Paris
  • The South in Arles Festival
  • Institute of France, Paris
  • Petit Palais, Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris
  • National Stage of Belfort
  • Café de la Danse, Paris
  • Institute of Cultures of Islam, Paris

Major Artistic Contributions & Collaborations

  • « Nuit blanche à l’institut de France »
  • Performance "Dialogue with Shams," Cie A Contre Poil du Sens
  • Performance "Dervish Trance" with Haïdouti Orkestar.
  • Collaboration with Souffle Collectif. Performance in partnership with Marie-Agnès Gillot & Dimitri Chamblas.
  • Documentary "The Paths of the Sacred" with Frédéric Lenoir
  • Performance with Arthur Teboul: artistic creation
  • Birds on a Wire: music video directed by Jeremiah and performances
  • Duo with Simon Ghraichy & Clara Ysé: artistic creation
  • Duo with Habib Meftah: artistic creation
  • Performance "Shéhérazade" directed by Simone Menezez
  • Performance "Samâ, the Exiled Light," music composed by Pierre Thilloy and directed by Frédéric Fisbach
  • Performance "The Night of the Queens" by Penda Diouf
  • Performance in partnership with Abdelkader Benchamma
  • Literary and spiritual meeting with Afsaneh Behnia, author of the book "Le Marc de Café"
  • ONU Women on the ground in France and internationally - with ONU Women France
  • "Shéhérazade" in Berlin, from Orientalism to Feminism - with the Cartier Foundation
  • Festival "Cities of World Music" - collaboration with Souffle Collectif
  • Performance and Sufi dance initiation in tribute to Simone de Beauvoir
  • "Exil Expérience" - Monastery of Segries
  • "Olympic Flame - Paris"
  • Ôrizons Festival – Rana Gorgani Dervish Spinner, with Habib Meftah and Souffle Collectif
  • In partnership with the Cultural Agency of Dordogne-Périgord
  • Evening "Spirituality and Culture" at the Théâtre de la Concorde - Spiritual Health - Arts and Democracy
  • "Artistic Performance for the Fight Against Hunger" - Collaboration: With musician Amir Amiri
  • Institute of the Arab World, Tourcoing
  • Maison Folie, Tourcoing
  • Arabesque Festival, Montpellier
  • Opéra Garnier, Paris
  • Mille et Une Notes Festival, Limoges
  • Théâtre de la Concorde, Paris
  • Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Paris
  • Basilica of Saint-Denis
  • Sacrées Journées Festival, Strasbourg
  • Collège des Bernardins, Paris
  • Klap, Dance House, Marseille
  • Jerk Off Festival at the Carreau du Temple, Paris
  • La Scène Musicale, Paris

Artistic Event 2024

  • 07/03/2024

Artistic intervention : duo with La Chica
Inaugural evening of the Théâtre “La Concorde” with “La Chica” on the occasion of International Women’s Day. City Hall of Paris

  • 24/04/2024

Stop hunger
Fundraising dinner. Duo with Amir Amiri, Stop Hunger Foundation.La Scène Musicale, Paris

  • 04/06/2024

Spirituality and Culture Evening
With Habib Meftah. Rafael Institute – Integrative Health, Paris

  • 07/06/2024

Ôrizons Festival
With Habib Meftah. Cultural Agency of Dordogne-Périgord, Paris

  • 18/06/2024

Grand Zikr Sufi Ceremony, Souffle Collectif

  • 04/07/2024

Exil Experience 2024, Monastery of Segriès

  • 14/07/2024

Olympic Flame, City Hall of Paris

  • 28/08/2024

Performance: Relay of the Flame
Tribute to Simone de Beauvoir, City Hall of Paris

  • 26/09/2024

Shéhérazade, from Orientalism to Feminism
Pierre Boulez Hall, Berlin

  • 27/10/2024

Festival Cities of World Music
With Habib Meftah, Faiz Ali Faiz, Souffle Collectif, Paris

  • 04/11/2024

Closing Evening of the Spark Campaign
ONU Women France, Paris

  • 05/11/2024

Persian Poetry and Reading
Behnia Afsaneh, Yosra Mojtahedi

Download the CV in PDF format
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