Iranian dance history is characterized by many fascinating and also tragic incidents. It seems to be completely unknown to the outside world yet recently is being known partly because of the current archaeological discoveries and excavations in Iran over the past decades. Single dancers or groups of dancers represented on pottery from prehistoric Iranian historic sites like Tape Sialk attest the antiquity of this art in Iran. Achaemenid Persians learned to dance, just as they learned to ride horseback, and considered the practice suitable exercise “to develop bodily strength.” Other discoveries made it possible to have access to material and evidence for the origin of Persian dance, ever since the appearance of the cult of Mithra about two thousand years before our calendar. By virtue of these bases, Iran can be considered as one of the ancient world empires, which methodically and actively was devoted to the development of the art of dance.
Music also has had an important role and impact on the lives and cultures of different Iranian ethnic groups throughout Iran’s long history. This history spans a long period, which comprises five millennia.
The political & religious restrictions on the traditional Iranian dance & music after the revolution have never led ethnicities to forget their rich traditions in Iranian dance and music.
This dance and music tour to Iran is one of the best loved experiences where you get to see and hear top class live Iranian music and dancing while your travel to Iran.
After your arrival in Tehran, you will be met by our representative for the transfer to your hotel. The morning is at your leisure to relax. After lunch, begin your tour of Tehran. Visit the Crown Jewels Museum with its impressive collection of precious gems and dazzling works of art. Continue on to Sa'dabad Palace and the Museum of Reza Abbasi, named after the most famous miniaturist of Safavid era. The museum, opened in 1977, exhibits artifacts dating back to prehistoric and Islamic periods, and is particularly rich in calligraphy.
Depart by surface to Rasht, the capital city of Gilan province, is one the most important cities of this region. This city is situated in a vast plain at a distance of 30 km from the Caspian Sea in the slopes of the northern Alborz Mountain Range. The Caspian Sea province of Gilan is one of the most picturesque areas of Iran. Those unfamiliar with Iran, are often startled to find a lush, semi-tropical jungle area in which tea and rice are grown. The clothing, with its full skirts covered with ribbons, comes from the village of Qassemabad. One of the most popular dances of this colorful region is the dance in which the tasks of growing and harvesting rice are depicted with mimetic movements. It is called Qassemabadi . In the afternoon, you will enjoy the great dance performance of Gilaki group.
You will have a full day tour in this thousand-year-old village which resembles an anthropological and architectural museum. Masouleh is located 60 km southwest of Rasht and 25km west of Fooman in the western most part of Gilan Province. Even though Masouleh is close to the Caspian Sea, but it is 1,050 meters above sea level. The difference between the highest and lowest points in the village itself is 100 meters. The architectural style of the homes in Masouleh is stair shaped and is remarkable. They are continuous and uninterrupted and have been built in the heart of the mountain. A very interesting point about the homes in Masouleh is that courtyards and roofs are basically meaningless and do not serve their traditional roles and instead serve as pedestrian areas for passersby just like a street would.
Move toward Ardabil. This afternoon is at your leisure to do any shopping or exploring.
You will have a half day tour in this city in northwestern with 340,000 inhabitants (1996),situated on a plateau 1500m above sea level, 70 km from the Caspian Sea. Ardabil is famous for its good climate in summer, yet cold winters and springtime. The city offers its visitors warm mineral springs, which has made the city a popular resort for the rulers of Persia. You will enjoy Azeri dance performance in the afternoon. There are a number of Azerbaijani dances; these folk dances of the Azerbaijani people are old and extremely melodious. It is performed at formal celebrations and the dancers wear festival clothes or Chokha cloaks. It has a very fast rhythm, so the dancer must have inherent skill. Azerbaijan’s national dance shows the characteristics of the Azerbaijani nation. These dances differ from other dances with its quick temp and optimism. And this talks about nation’s braveness. The national clothes of Azerbaijan are well preserved within the national dances.
Leave toward Sanandaj via Takht-e Solayman.
You will have a half day tour in Sanandaj, a city in western Iran, and capital of Kordestan province. Its old bazaar is noted as a place to buy Kurdish handicrafts.
The area around Sanandaj is known for its many mountain caves, hot springs, and freshwater lakes, many of which cater to tourists. Sanandaj is an ancient city, in existence when the Achaemenid Empire was established by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. You will become excited by visiting the special dance performance of the Kurdish group. Kurdish dance is a group of traditional hand-holding dances. It is a form of round dancing, with a single or a couple of figure dancers often added to the geometrical centre of the dancing circle. Kurds sing and dance in most of their festivals, birthdays, New Years, Newroz, marriage and other ceremonies. It’s noteworthy that these folkloric dances are mixed-gender. The dancers, hand in hand, indicates their unity in history. These movements differ in different parts of Kurdistan from the variety point of views, and joy and worry have their own special place. Traditionally, there are three types of Kurdish Classical performers - storytellers , minstrels and bards. Many songs and are epic in nature, such as the popular Lawik's which are heroic ballads recounting the tales of Kurdish heroes of the past like Saladin. Heyrans are love ballads usually expressing the melancholy of separation and unfulfilled love. Lawje is a form of religious music and Payizoks are songs performed specifically in autumn. Love songs, dance music, wedding and other celebratory songs, erotic poetry and work songs are also popular.
Leave Sanandaj to Khorram Abad via Kermanshah. You will have the chance to become familiar with famous men studied the Iranian Dance and Music scientifically in Kermanshah.
Khorram Abad, city in western Iran, located in the Zagros Mountains, and capital of the province of Luristan. Khorram Abad is a market center for the farm products of the region and an industrial center manufacturing synthetic fibers and processed foods. Khorram Abad is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities for which there is archaeological evidence. You will enjoy a half day city tour in Khorram Abad in the morning and traditional Lor dance performance of this region in the afternoon.
Depart by surface to Susa. On the way you will visit Dezful, Shushtar and Choqa Zanbil. Stay overnight in Susa.
Move toward Ahvaz. In the Sassanid era, Ahvaz enjoyed glory and prosperity. Since Ahvaz lies close to the sea, it is one of the most prominent cities as regards commerce and trade. Ahvaz has experienced many tragic events during the course of history. Regional uprising and attacks by foreign forces have often caused heavy damages to this city. You will enjoy the traditional dance performance of this region in the afternoon. The Persian Gulf dance , known as bandari (from the port cities) is performed in one of the hottest areas of the globe. The region has historically served as the trading depot and confluence of the Arabian, Persian, Indian, and African worlds. Under Islam these groups mixed and created a unique musical and dance tradition with elements of all of these areas The cloth for the traditional dress was often imported from India and other areas, which until this century were more accessible by sea than the arduous land routes from the interior of Iran. Perhaps due to the extreme heat and humidity of this region, masks are worn in place of veils.
Move toward Bushehr, the city is in southwestern Iran with 180,000 inhabitants (2003 estimate), situated at the northern end of a narrow peninsula connected to the mainland by tidal marshes. It is the capital of the Bushehr Province, and its full name is Bandar-e Bushehr.
Bushehr has two ports, an outer deep, which is exposed and an inner more shallow one. In the afternoon, you will enjoy the dance performance of BUSHEHR group (Dashti & Bandari).
Move back toward Shiraz. On the way you will visit the nomads of Fars and become familiar with their traditional dance. The Qashqai, like most nomadic peoples in Iran, continues to wear their colorful costumes as everyday wear. The tribal confederation of the Qashqai were made famous by two films, "Grass" and "People of the Wind", which depicted their nomadic lifestyle and the movements of their huge herds of animals from summer quarters to winter quarters, throughout the province of Fars in southwestern Iran. Their rugs, carpets, and other weavings are world famous. The women are famous for the dance chupi, while the men engage in stick play (chub-bazi) which invariably attracts the interest of anthropologists and filmmakers alike.
Shiraz is traditionally known as the city of Roses and Nightingales, but has become known in recent times as a seat of intellectual learning. It was home to Sa'di and Hafez, the famed Persian poets, and is considered the cradle of Persian Civilization.
One of the highlights of any tour of Iran is a visit to Shiraz and to neighboring Persepolis, the capital of Darius.Persepolis, which in Greek literally means the capital of Persia, lies 36 miles north of Shiraz. Persepolis is the ultimate expression of the ancient Middle East. Construction began by Darius the Great (521 - 468 BC) as the focus of the mighty Achaemenian Empire nearly 2,500 years ago. Spend a full day exploring these mighty ruins. Your tour will also include the Kuh-i-Rehmat, Nagsh-e-Rustam (Relief of Rustam) and Nagsh-e-Rajab. In the afternoon, you will enjoy the music and dance of Dervishes (Sufis) in Shiraz. Enjoy a half day tour with visits to the Eram Garden, the tombs of the Persian poets Sa'di and Hafiz, Nasirol-Molk Mosque, Afif-Abad Garden, the Church of Saint Simon the Zealot, Vakil Mosque, and the Shrine of Shah-Cheragh "King of Light", noted for its dazzling mirror tiles. You will become familiar with the traditional music of Shiraz. Sufi whirling (or Sufi spinning), is a physically active meditation which originated among Sufis, and which is still practiced by the Sufi Dervishes of the Mevlevi order. It is a customary dance performed within the Sema, or worship ceremony, through which dervishes aim to reach the source of all perfection, or kemal. This is sought through abandoning one's egos or personal desires, by listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one's body in repetitive circles, which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun. At night fly to Isfahan.
Isfahan is a wonder. Truly a city of splendor, legend has it that the city was founded at the time of Tahmourass or Keykavous. During the Safavid Era (sixteenth and seventeenth century AD), Isfahan was a city of Gardens and Palaces. As a major trade center of its time, Isfahan's was known as "Half the World." Your half day tour includes the famed Imam Square (Naqsh-e-Jahan), a huge square second in the world to Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Tour the architectural marvels of Sheikh Lotfollah and Imam Mosques, Aliqapu Palace, Chehel Sutoon Palace, and also visit one of the most famous bazaars in Iran, where you can purchase the arts & crafts for which Isfahan is so well renowned. In the afternoon you will have the chance to become familiar with the traditional music in this city.
Today's half day tour includes Hasht Behesht, Vank Church, the spectacular and historic Friday Mosque as well as the famous bridges. In particular, the "33 arch bridge" or "Si o Se Pol" dates from 1602 and is a colorful meeting place for locals to gather, drink tea, and refresh themselves. You will enjoy the traditional Iranian dance.
Fly to Mashhad. You will enjoy Khorasan dance performance group in the afternoon. The Kurdish population of Bojnurd was forcibly moved to this area of Khorasan, in northeastern Iran by Shah Abbas in the seventeenth century. The women's clothing, which features a relatively short skirt, is unique in Iran. The men's home made footwear are elaborately embroidered, using silver and gold thread. There are several dances found in this region and the dance using sticks for maintaining the rhythm is very colorful. The music, like that of Western Afghanistan is largely cast in 7/8.
Fly to Zahedan. You will have the chance to enjoy the traditional Baluchi dance and music of this region in the afternoon. The Baluchi tribes and clans are divided among numerous groupings and the women's elaborate embroideries reflect their tribal identification. Geographically situated between the worlds of Iran and the subcontinent, the music and dances reflect elements of both of these cultural legacies.
You will have a half day tour in Tehran to visit the Archaeological Museum with its fine collection of artifacts, including a stone capital of a winged lion from Susa, and a sixth century BC audience hall relief of Darius the Great recovered from the Treasury at Persepolis. The museum contains items that date back from Sumerian Period (4500 BC) to the contemporary. Also, visit the Ethnological Museum, which houses unique wax works depicting a wide array of indigenous Iranian cultures. Later visit the Carpet Museum with its superb collection of Persian rugs and carpets, and tour the Glass and Ceramic Museum. You will have the chance to become familiar with the modern dance and music and discuss the comparison between traditional versus modern dance and music of Iran.
This morning you will transfer to the airport for your departing international flight.
