World Music and Dance Around the Fire

Marisa Ortiz, Intercultural Talent Consultant is honored to present for DreamWeek 2023:

World Music celebration by Austin-based band Atash; fire in Farsi, partnering with San Antonio World Dance Leaders: Lopita Nath in Indian Classical Kathak; Suzanne Walker in Belly Dance; Genevieve Obregón in Flamenco and Mary Jane Hernández in Folklórico.

From North India, through the Middle East and North Africa; from the Iberian Peninsula to the Americas, Sufi music has traveled with our ancestors. We all share these ancient music and dance traditions that move our souls.

Austin-based Atash harmonic energy with our most talented traditional dancers will be showcasing the connection of our cultures in a musical celebration. http://atash.com/

UIW History Professor, Asian Studies Chair and Founder of Rhythmics Kathak School, Lopita Nath, PhD will start with Kathak dance from North India.

Karavan Studio Teacher Suzanne Walker, known in the world of Belly Dance as Suzanne Suzanne, will follow showcasing Belly Dance that travelled throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Raíces de Arte Español and Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Flamenco Teacher and master bailaora Gevenieve Obregón will continue demonstrating how the dance evolved into Flamenco.

And Ballet Folklórico Festival 30-year dancer and San Antonio Fiesta performer Mary Jane Hernández will then show the connection as it came to the Americas in the form of Son Jarocho from the Mexican state of Veracruz, where all immigrants arrived in the Gulf of México.

The dancers will then partner in pairs to appreciate the enormous similitudes in between the dance traditions with the magical and powerful Sufi music by the eight musicians of Atash, which means "fire" in Farsi.

Atash vocalist Mohammad Firoozi and band director Roberto Riggio lead the band with incredible energy that builds an irresistible momentum inviting the audience to join the dancers and engage in a healing dance based on our ancient cultural roots.

Come and join us for this unique opportunity to desegregate San Antonio through the power of World Sufi Music and traditional dance.

Host or Publisher Marisa Ortiz, Intercultural Talent Consultant