Collaborations

The Rumi Concert

STORYDANCER – SOLO

Unique and provocative, Zuleikha’s soul-stirring solo and collaborative performances combine creative expression with embodiment of story, dance, rhythm, mimicry and humor.

The stories, animals and feelings Zuleikha dances bring delight as she mirrors the human journey. In the mesmerizing flow of living traditions, and the humor and sparkle of the ancients, Zuleikha reveals the soul of our common humanity.

Zuleikha has pioneered a new and wonderfully expressive way of moving in rhythm. Combines with great ‘expressivity’ and dynamism, as a performer, she creates a powerful visual and aural experience. – Glen Velez, Grammy Award-winner and master drummer
She has performed across the world, at festivals, theaters, conferences, gatherings and others including :
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland, Cancer Benefits, India, Lensic Performing Arts Theater, NM, SF Theological Seminary, CA, Grace Cathedral, CA, James A. Little Theater, NM, Railyard Performing Center, NM, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., Johns Hopkins Medical Center, MD, Zenith Institute, Switzerland, Osterloh Center for Mindfulness, Germany, and others.

PHOTO: Solo Performance, Railyard Performing Arts Center, Santa Fe, NM, photo ©Katy Johnson

Performance Quotes and Press Quotes

COLLABORATIONS

Zuleikha joins together with world musicians and poets to make magic. These performances create a glow of humor and depth of virtuosity. Performances in collaboration is another way of creating community—crossing the borders of many cultures.

With Tracy Silverman for the Aurora Concert, we brought the training of our different art forms and love of music into an ‘open conversation’ of feeling, listening, and ‘being’ into a form of motion and sound… art becoming.”—Zuleikha (Left Photo)

Collaborations include: Babatunde Olatungi master drummer and music ambassador from Nigeria, cellist David Darling, world percussionist Glen Velez, vocal and instrumentalist Jai Uttal, cellist composer Eugene Friesen, avant garde composer/musician Terry Riley, Nubian oud master Hamza El Din, fusionary musician Kitaro, pianist composer Aaron Stern, master oud musician Rahim Alhaj, Coleman Barks, poet and translator of Rumi, electric violinist Tracy Silverman and many others.

PHOTO: Collaboration, Warehouse 21 Theater, Aurora Concert, Zuleikha with Tracy Silverman

THE RUMI CONCERT

An ecstatic feast of poetry with music, dance, story and humor from the 13th century mystic Rumi

The Rumi Concert is a stunning collaboration of artists, bringing the lyrical and spiritual power of Rumi to life in a remarkably moving performance, a multidimensional feast of poetry, music, dance and story.

Poet and translator Coleman Barks performs the poems of Rumi, a 13th century ecstatic poet of unparalleled lyrical and spiritual power. He is joined by storydancer, Zuleikha, whose magic of dance, song and story animates the genius and rapture of Rumi’s poetry along with collaborations with acclaimed international musicians and composers

Since the time Zuleikha met Coleman Barks, scholar, legendary poet and translator of the works of 13th century mystic Rumi, they have together founded and collaborated in more than 50 concerts with well known world musicians.”

Just now, Barks says, I feel there is a strong global movement, an impulse that wants to dissolve the boundaries that religions have put up and end the sectarian violence. It is said that people of all religions came to Rumi’s funeral in 1273. Because, they said, he deepens our faith wherever we are. This is a powerful element in his appeal now.

Since its inception, The Rumi Concert has grown, drawing collaborations with acclaimed international musicians and composers. In March of 2018, Coleman with Zuleikha and musicians brought this performance to an audience of over 2000 at the Washington National Cathedral.

I was there! The cathedral was packed! An amazing international audience and stellar offerings by all. I was transported to the stars. Deep gratitude to Zuleikha for producing this amazing concert. —anonymous

For more information: rumiconcert.com

A MESSAGE FROM ZULEIKHA

“A long time ago, dance was the way that all sacred ceremonies were actualized. The body in invocation always held the mana, the energy of that which is blessing. Moved through inspiration, dancers were seen as living temples. Their training took place in sacred space and time, and it was an honor to become a dancer in this capacity.” — ZULEIKHA

A MESSAGE FROM ZULEIKHA

“A long time ago, dance was the way that all sacred ceremonies were actualized. The body in invocation always held the mana, the energy of that which is blessing. Moved through inspiration, dancers were seen as living temples. Their training took place in sacred space and time, and it was an honor to become a dancer in this capacity.” — ZULEIKHA