Shahrzad Hamzeh shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Shahrzad, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
It is tough for me to talk about my emotions. Whenever I am talking about dancing in general and what it means to me, or what is going on in my country, I start crying. It doesn’t matter if I am talking to a friend or giving an Artist talk. I just wrapped up an exhibition last week at UTDallas, and on the day of my Artist talk, a friend of mine told me, “Can you please not cry? Try not to cry, will you?” In response, I said that I cannot help it. And he asked me to try again. When I was speaking to the crowd and discussing one of the moments, I realized that being in Iran cannot help me achieve what I want artistically as a dancer. I felt a tinge in my throat. I knew I was about to cry, and then what my friend had said crossed my mind, and I laughed so hard.. In my head, of course not while speaking. It still makes me laugh in retrospect.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Shahrzad Hamzeh, and I was born and raised in Iran, where dancing is Illegal.
I am primarily a dancer, which is why I had to leave my home country to follow a career as a performer.
I mostly dance and perform. I identify as a dance educator. And I teach at SimplyAware Wellness Centre on Sunday evenings. I believe that dancing should be accessible to all, and most of all, it can be used as a tool to heal from trauma. Which is why I have developed my own style of dance, and I am calling it SHamzeh. Of course, the basis of this style is Persian dance, a style that is truly close to my heart. I am attempting to start a conversation on this beautiful art form because it has never truly been documented. Right now, I am writing my dissertation on the history and politics of Persian dance at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
This is a very tough question!
When I look at myself and what I have accomplished, I realize that many people have contributed to the person I am today. However, my father’s words had a stronger hold over the others as I was growing up. The one thing he told me, and anyone who was listening, at least once a day, was: “My daughter will conquer the world!” And for some reason, that is what keeps me going still. It feels like a responsibility, like he wants me to change the world. And sometimes I feel so tired and scared that I will disappoint.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You are the strongest person I know!
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Language!
My native tongue carries a lot of history. Ferdowsi, a renowned Persian poet, suffered greatly to preserve our language at a time when Arabic dominated literature and administration. I feel responsible for holding on to it.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
My body…
Dancing is my fight, and my movements are my weapons. I can still dance even without a title. And I can still dance if no one knows who I am, and I can still dance if I have nothing …. I will always have my dancing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shahrzad_hamzeh/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahrzad-hamzeh-4b48a3218/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faateme.hamze
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shahrzadhamzeh
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/shahrzadhamzeh/
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Image Credits
Photos by Shahrbanoo Hamzeh
