AZITA Sahebjam teaches classical ballet, Persian dance and tranian folk dancing. NCUK Pars Ballet now on tour From page 19 Vancouver and established a branch of the Pars National Balict here in 1990. Abdollah Nazemi ser up a branch in Los Angeles. With Sahebjam at the helm, the Vancouver group’s mission is to kcep Persian dance alive — Persian folk dance in its many variations, in partica- lar. The local group is very active in the community, participating in over 85 performances at numerous festivals and celebrations. The dance programs reflect the cultural com- plexity of the country. The dance styles, such as Shirazi, Bojnoordi, Bijan, and the often sumpruous supporting costumes vary according to the provinces they are drawn from. While it lasted in Iran, the Pars National Ballet was an important cultural institution. Said Sahebjam, “Actually this was very new for our coun- try. We tried to bring ballet to all ages in Iran. it wasn't just something for the rich people. It came to the university, to school, everywhere. It worked, but it was a very short time. “It is not enough. The classical ballet has more than 500 years of history around the world, but not in Ivan, not in the Middle East. Right now we don’t have the chance to teach ballet in [ran. Because of the religion, because of the regime, Pars National Baller doesn’t exist in Iran. She said that public folk dancing by women is even frowned upon, “Maybe for men some parts of folk dance are maybe OK, just inside 9 wedding ceremony or inside a house, but not for showing people.” After the revolution the ballet movement ground to a halt. Mer: couldn't teach women. Said Sahebjam, “When we left Iran we tried to keep our tradition, not exactly the ballet. It had meaning to keep the culture, the felk dances, that's the focus now.” She remains a firm believer in the benefits of ballet training however. “You have to get the technique of classical ballet.” The group in Los Angeles includes approximately 15 dancers. The group here is sup- ported by 20 or so mostly Persians aged 5% years to dancers in their 30s. Sahebjam is proud of what she and her fellow dancers have managed in Canada. “Our country is nor that big, but it’s big enough to have tons of ditferent dances, and different costumes and different music. “We have a let to show. Our government in Iran right now is not a very nice govern- ment. Everyone thinks Iranian people are equal to terrorists. It’s very hard for us because we have incredible artists in Iran. It's a most beautiful culture. Before we can talk together in English we can dance and you can see exactly what our people think. [t's very important to me.” A performance in February at the Centennial Theatre featured hundreds of costume pieces, including the neghab (mask) and shalite, a skirt inspired by the French tutu more than 150 years ago. Some of the elaborate costumes looked as if they were fabricated of spun gold. Given the reality in Iran these days it’s tough for her to pull the pieces together and remain authentic. “Right now we don't have a very good connection with our mother country, but if somebody goes there and asks me Azita what do you want, [ just think about shoes. I say I need tons of charogh. “They just laugh because in iran right now you can’t find them. You need to order them especially for someone to make them by hand,” she said. Sahebjam does not actively solicit funding for the troupe. “Our community is very young and we don’t have a background in Iran of charities and fundraising. We just stand by ourselves. There’s nothing behind us, no government moncy, nothing at all.” They collect some moncy trom classes and an annual show. Said Sahebjam, “Some part of thar I just pay by mysclf. Sometimes my husband says ‘Azira, that’s cnough, don’t spend ali of our moncy on tons of charogh,” but I believe it is very important.” The Vancouver Pars National Ballet is on the road right now. Earlier this week the dancers performed in New York City to celebrate Norooz, the New Year. They'll be touring to London, England March 21, and Nice on March 27. Then it’s on to Paris and Miami before returning to Vancouver. c * Couns Cou Cau Cou Cou Photo Para National Bsilet rm Save $$ on Beer ‘On Premise Wine & Beer Making” oupon SATURDAY HOCKEY: Vancouver Canucks meee the Toronto Maple Leafsat Maple Leaf Gardens in the last stup of their seven-game road trip. CBC, channel 3 at 4:30 p.m. SUNDAY JUNC AWARDS: Jason Priestley hosts the 1998 Juno Awards live from . Vancouver's GM Place starting at $ p.m. on CBC, channel 3. Shania Twain, Jann Arden, Our Lady Peace, Diana Krall and Sarah McLachlan are scheduled to perform during the show, MONDAY ACADEMY AWARDS: Billy Crystal hosts the 70th Academy Awards show live trom the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Airs on ABC (ch. 32), BCTV (ch. F1) and CHEK (ch. @) ar 6 p.m. TUESDAY MOVIE: 4% A Great Day in Harlem (1994) chronicles the day in 1958 when the brain trust at Esquire Magazine decided to shoot a porwait of New York City’s jazz greats. They put out the call for a morning shoor and (surprisingly) they cane — most of them straght frora playing all night. Lester Young, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, and many more appear in this classic documentary on BRAVO, channel 28 at E1 p.m. WEDNESDAY MOVTE: eit L’Enfor (1995) Claude Chabrol’s tale of a paranoid hate! owner convinced that his wife is being unfaithiul. 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