SUNDAY OCTOBER 9, 2011, AT 6:30 PM

In the Fire of Grace:
Dancing Rumi's Journey of the Soul

In this film Banafsheh interprets five stages of the soul's archetypal journey to union with the Beloved in movement that marries as Rumi's mystical vision does, the serene peace with the fierce gorgeous passion of the divine. She is accompanied by Andrew Harvey as the voice of Rumi, summoning her deeper into the flames of death and rebirth. Andrew Harvey is the renowned mystical scholar, Rumi translator, poet, spiritual teacher, writer of over 30 books, and architect of Sacred Activism. Harvey's Rumi is a thunderous, poignant Shakespeare of the soul, catching one unaware and making retreat impossible. The dances are illumined by discussions exploring the urgency of Rumi's message to our turbulent world and the devastating, glorious paradoxes of the mystical journey.

 

For the Persian Text Click Here

Music by ZARBANG, Davoud Azad, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Pejman Hadadi and Babak Sharifi
Featuring calligraphy by Nasrollah Afjaie

"As an embodied mystic of the divine feminine, Banafsheh's presentations are not performances but transmissions which transform your vision of dance forever. Dancer and dance become one initiatory flame of grace."
Andrew Harvey

"Part whirling dervish, part flamenco femme fatale, sensuous and audacious, Banafsheh's dance is a mesmerizing foray into the body as trance mechanism; a DNA strand, supple, fluid and noble, come to life."
Los Angeles Times

More information and to order dvds: www.namah.net

Clip of the DVD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxqtioVDnDc&feature=player_embedded

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Photo Exibit of Mehri Modiri Along With Screening of

In The Fire of Grace

Mehri Modiri is a photographer that specializes in portraits for Children, Family and Pets, including an in-depth background in Fashion photography and Weddings.
Born and raised in Iran, Mehri was exposed to beautiful landscapes and vibrant colors that inspired her to choose this profession. Starting out as an assistant photographer at 17, she quickly learned beyond the basics and lunched her own photography business. Specializing in capturing the unique emotions of her subjects through the lens, her reputation for this creative talent grew.

After moving to the United States she relocated to Orange County, California and furthered her education by advanced classes in Portraits, lighting, and Fashion Photography, at UCI, Orange Cost and Saddleback.

Mehri’s passion for photography and her unique talent soon caught the attention of celebrities and designers. Shooting magazine covers, billboards, and Fashion layouts, she was featured in OCPC magazine many times and did exclusive work for the famous Bijan of Beverly Hills, establishing herself in the Los Angeles area as well.

Her favorite subjects are her own children ages 9 and 4. Mehri enjoys using her two young models on a regular bases and feels children are the most remarkable subjects because they keep their emotions open.  Whether capturing their smiles, frowns, or sibling rivalries, their facial expression never fail to amaze her.

Mehri’s enthusiasm is contagious as she instantly relaxes her subjects with her humor and warm manner. Respected by those in the industry and her clients, she is always adequately equipped for any photo shoot either at her studio or on location.

With the ability to turn her photographs into words that speak to the heart, her eye for perfection in every shot has helped her build a loyal clientele. Residing in the Saddleback Valley with her family, she can be found frequently photographing special events in and around the area. 

Exhibiting now at The Cottage Gallery in Laguna Beach, CA, Mehri, was chosen from over five hundred submissions of art from around the world to display two of her photographs, for the gala, Night of A Hundred Angels.

Mehri Modiri
Mehri Photogaphy
(949) 280-9176
www.mehrizgallery.com