For a percussion trio & contemporary dancer

nazri

7 - 9 Feb 2025

Local Edition

Nazri is an intercultural hybrid performance conceptualised and composed by award-winning composer Dr Shervin Mirzeinali and funded by Creative Australia. This captivating production brings together music, dance, and the ancient Persian tradition of communal giving, transforming it into a mesmerising and deeply moving artistic experience.

At the heart of Nazri lies the ritual where cooking food transcends sustenance, becoming an expression of compassion, unity, and shared humanity.

Dr Elnaz Sheshgelani, an accomplished Iranian contemporary dancer, draws inspiration from traditional Persian dance to reimagine the ritual for the modern stage. She uses the chador (Iranian veil) and everyday cooking utensils—trays, skimmers, colanders, and beans—as poetic tools of storytelling. Her dynamic choreography embodies the essence of the ritual, seamlessly blending grace, strength, and innovation.

Adding depth to the performance are three virtuoso percussionists, each representing a distinct cultural tradition:

Maharshi Raval (Tabla)
Sohrab Kolahdooz (Tombak)
Niki Johnson (Cymbals & Bass Drum)

Together, they transform everyday cooking utensils into new sound objects, innovatively integrating their unique techniques and cultural influences. The result is a vibrant soundscape that captures the essence of Nazri (the ritual)—from the rhythmic clinking of pots to the sizzle of cooking food and the murmured voices of a community united in ritual. Their collaboration weaves together diverse cultural roots, creating a harmonious exploration of sound.

Storyline

“The dawn light, a canvas of soft gold and rose, peeked through the window. Nature’s alarm replaced the steady tick-tock of the old wall clock. It was 5 am, chador was swirled around her, kept by her teeth, as she descended the steps down to the parking, broom in hand.

The rhythmic dance of her chador became a whirlwind as she scrubbed the floor, clearing space for the colossal pot. Onions wept tears of laughter as they tumbled into the chopping bowl, potatoes giggled as they met the knife, and the lentils, like a chorus of tiny voices, hummed a song of anticipation in the cleaning tray.

Every year, on this day, the aroma of fragrant lentil stew would weave its way through the neighbourhood, a warm embrace for every doorstep. With a tray balanced on her head, she became a silent messenger of love, knocking on doors and offering smiles wider than the dishes themselves. It wasn’t just a meal; it was a tradition, Nazri, a thread woven with love and laughter.”