Additional Information

The full production of this work is made with mid-sized to larger theatre venues in mind, largely because of the scale of the dancing and the set requirements.

However, we are open to looking at stripped down versions of the work in certain instances and we would love to keep a fluid conversation open with presenters. We are an adaptable team who is passionate about this work being shared. We are also open to creating site-specific and/or gallery versions of this work, especially if venues are interested in displaying the artwork of Visual Artist and collaborator, Nargess Delia. We are compact and easily tourable with a small team: 2 performers, set designer/production manager, stage manager and lighting designer, and our visual artist collaborator, Nargess, can also accompany us on request of the presenters. Our set is tour-ready and easily dismantles completely/packs into only 4 compact containers.

We are excited to expand the reach of this work while deepening our desire as artists to continue to grow and mature inside of this work. We are excited about the broad scope of audience demographics we are already reaching, and the outreach capabilities that come along with this project.

ARTIST STATEMENTS ON CONTEXT

Arash Khakpour: “Forugh’s work is full of life, love and longing, yet full of death. I know from growing up in Iran that many people around me talked about her work as a forbidden reality, too forward, or too much. And the ways in which we should be talking and the ways in which we should not be talking as men and women. Forugh defied all of these binaries and all of this drew me to her magical poetry and body of work.

As I was growing up, I have felt that similar feeling of defying the norms about myself. In terms of pursuing a dance career at all, as a man, which has many stigmas attached to it in my culture. I feel the same now as an artist at times. Forugh awakens the courage in us to be courageous. This has always drawn me to Forugh’s work; her rigorous, rebellious nature has inspired many generations of artists since her death. Her writing, although being specific, is also timeless, transcends across cultures, and is full of humanity and love that goes beyond borders and ideologies. She longed for a world that could address and heal humanity's pain.

I think Alexis and I are drawn to Forugh and her work for these unapologetic tendencies and yet her humble nature of being, writing and expressing on the page. We strive for the same things in dance and choreography and long for a world that can address and heal its pain.”

Nargess Jalali Delia: “I am excited to work with non-Persian artists. I see this project as an opportunity to share this dance work and the legacy of Forugh with non-Persian audiences, who may never have had a chance to know about her poetry without this project.”

Alexis Fletcher: “I discovered Forugh’s poetry through Nargess and her visual art. There was a specific piece of hers that captivated me, which I learned was inspired by Forugh’s beautiful poem, Inaugurating the Garden. When I read the poem for the first time, I was moved to tears and felt so much of my own life inside Forugh’s words. From there, I started to research the work of this poet and felt viscerally connected to her writing. When I began dreaming of creating a response through movement I approached Arash – an artist I greatly admire and have always wanted to work with. We decided to create and perform together, and to bring together a mix of Persian and non-Persian artists to complete our team including costume design, original music composition, lighting design, and translation work between Farsi and English.

Arash, Nargess and Elika have welcomed me into their culture, language, and their very personal connection with Forugh in the most generous of ways. I am deeply touched and humbled by each of these artists, and by this work we are making together. I feel Forugh’s spirit is with us so strongly as I get to know her life story and her work more intimately.”