Banafsheh Sayyad
Experience the astonishing light of your own being through a unique combination of sacred dance, Eastern energy medicine, and the Divine Feminine archetypes that connect with your chakras — bringing you back home to your body and your holy sensuality.
Gain a visceral experience of the Sacred Feminine to live a life of embodied love, bliss, and inspired wellbeinng.
How do we access our sacred depths in a world that is wrought with conflict, competition, and self-preservation?
How do we cleanse ourselves of the stress, polarization, and agitation in our world and reconnect with the purity of our souls?
Banafsheh Sayyad, an acclaimed mystic and teacher of embodiment, affirms that few practices can — and bring us into coherence with our own divinity — like sacred dance.
Through sacred dance, we consecrate ourselves with a visceral awareness of what it means to be alive, surrendering our egos to the oneness of All That Is... and the possibility of what could live in us and through us.
When we free our bodies, we also free our emotions, our mind, and even our soul.
that opens us to living love. It’s not about making perfectly choreographed moves; it’s about following our inner intelligence, natural flow, and uniqueness.
Reconnecting with this organic rhythm offers a more direct path to liberation.
At a time when our survival relies on our ability to live harmoniously with each other and our planet, . It grounds us in divinity — and a new kind of physical and spiritual equilibrium that makes it joyful and easy to .
In this transformative 12-module journey from Banafsheh, a profoundly awake spiritual teacher, you’ll have the opportunity to to become a vessel for the love, compassion, and divine wisdom of the Sacred Feminine. You’ll emerge more free, relaxed, and whole.
You’ll explore powerful, bold, grounding, compassionate, and inspiring new potentials, ,and tune in to your greater physiology using Eastern energy medicine techniques.
You’ll find the Earth as your true foundation and discover what you need to release for the fullness of the union of body and soul to be possible with the Black Madonna...
… you’ll see through the heart of the Sufi mystic Hazrat Rabia, allow Egyptian goddess Sekhmet to fan the flame of empowerment in your solar plexus chakra, feel held in the soul of the world with Sophia…
... and cultivate symbolic sight and powerful intuitive abilities with the Egyptian goddess Isis.
Anyone can learn and benefit from this form of divine healing practice.
Banafsheh shares powerful healing practices and balancing body systems.
She also shares how dances such as , the whirling dance of darvishes, and the great spiral are based upon …
… and possess immense alchemizing power that , heightens your health and intuitive skills, and grounds you in the present moment.
These dances also and the vast Oneness from which your life unfolds — and from which we receive and manifest our deepest desires into the world.
As the founder of Dance of Oneness and a renowned mystic, Banafsheh performs and teaches internationally, initiating people into the spiritual wisdom of their bodies.
During your in this course, you’ll deepen your connection with your body, exploring your body as both a tangible miracle and a vessel for miracles that’s capable of shifting, influencing, and shaping your consciousness.
Are you ready to welcome the Sacred Feminine to rise within you — allowing love, compassion, wisdom, and reverence for the Earth to flow unimpeded into every facet of your life?
Embark on this profound journey to connect with the Sacred Feminine archetypes that most resonate with you — and live the path of embodied love through Sufi and expressive dance.
During this experiential course, you’ll:
- Experience a visceral understanding of the Sacred Feminine by exploring what her many attributes invoke within your soul, body, and life — including your physiology
- Discover the hidden aspects of the Sufi path as the Sacred Feminine path of embodied love
- Activate deep awareness of your body’s sacredness — and experience your body as both a miracle and a vessel for miracles
- Balance your root chakra with inspiration from the Black Madonna — and deepen your bond with the Earth as the root and foundation for all of your movement
- Activate your life force, learn specific movements and key meridian points to balance your body systems — and heal ailments and alleviate pain throughout your body
- Harness the radiance of eros with the goddesses Inanna and Aphrodite to activate and open your sacral chakra — and learn to balance the energies of yin and yang through the expanded Infinity Dance practice
- Revolutionize your attitude toward your body
- Explore transfiguration — and the union of matter and light, particle, and wave
- Deepen the practice of Sama — to untangle and release layers, habits, thoughts, and emotions that block the flow of the Divine in you
- Feel balance, harmony, and coherence between your feminine and masculine energies
- Learn to embody grace and fuse the sensual and the ethereal through mystical Persian dance
- Activate the Mingmen (Gate of Life) meridian point to cultivate power and vitality, build energy, and increase libido
- Reclaim your sexuality as sacred — and dance ecstatically to experience sensuality as your natural and holy birthright
- Activate a sense of balance and the ability to remain present, grounded, and centered in the midst of turbulence by moving in spirals
- Allow the energy of the lion to fan the flame of your solar plexus chakra — and activate self-authority, sovereignty, and confidence through the fiery and empowering movements of Flamenco
- Activate self-reliance, resilience, and self-esteem — and develop steadfastness to become unstoppable
What You’ll Discover in These 12 Modules
In this 12-part transformational intensive, Banafsheh guides you through the fundamental skills and competencies you’ll need to experience holy sensuality and the astonishing light of your own being through sacred dance, Eastern energy medicine, and the Divine Feminine archetypes that connect with your chakras.
The Beauty of On-Demand
This course features step-by-step teachings and experiential practices from Banafsheh. Each session builds harmoniously upon the previous ones, so you’ll develop a complete holistic understanding of the practices, tools, and principles you’ll need to experience holy sensuality and the astonishing light of your own being through sacred dance, Eastern energy medicine, and the Divine Feminine archetypes that connect with your chakras. Your purchase includes 24/7 ongoing access to your course content, allowing you time to review the materials at your own pace and integration.
Note: If you have NOT experienced Banafsheh’s Cultivate a Body of Light With Sacred Sufi Dance teachings before, you’re welcome to take this advanced training but we ask you to complete the foundational Cultivate a Body of Light With Sacred Sufi Dance 7-module program on your own as a prerequisite. It will be included in your registration and can be completed before or in tandem with this advanced intensive.
Module 1 Mapping Your Journey Into Oneness
Who is the Sacred Feminine? And how is she revealing herself within your soul, body, and life?
The oldest and most enduring image of the Sacred Feminine is the Great Mother. Humanity has imagined her as the immensity of cosmic space, the Earth, and nature.
As the invisible dimension of the soul, the Great Mother inspires and instills within us a sense that the Universe is an organic, alive, and sacred whole...
... one in which humanity, the Earth, and all life on Earth participate as her children.
During the opening week of class, you’ll explore deeper insights into the true nature and purpose of the Sacred Feminine — and where she intersects with your physiology and chakras.
You’ll also journey deeper on the Sufi Path — the path of living love — and learn about Chinese meridians to help maintain inner balance...
... and establish the foundational principles of Dance of Oneness for correct posture and mind-body-soul alignment.
As you map your journey into oneness, you’ll:
- Begin your journey to experience the Sacred Feminine by exploring where she reveals herself within your soul, body, and life
- Explore the hidden aspects of the Sufi Path as the Sacred Feminine path of embodied love
- Experience the posture and alignment needed to operate at your fullest potential
- Learn about the pathway of Qi throughout the meridians of your body
- Activate deep awareness of your body’s sacredness — and begin to experience your body as both a miracle and a vessel for miracles
Module 2 Earth Dance Prayer of the Root Chakra
The mysterious Black Madonna is both the Cosmic Mother and the Earth Mother. Your connection with the Earth as Gaia is key to receiving sustenance for your mind, body, heart, and soul — and for your dance.
This week, you’ll learn how to call upon the Black Madonna’s fierce yet tender essence and innate vibrance to ground yourself in the present moment, establishing deeper presence and overall health in your body.
You’ll focus on form and technique — experiencing the Earth as the foundation of all of your movement... learning how to execute dance and daily life movements freely and safely... and understanding how economy of movement can help you live life with more capacity.
You’ll also discover how the Sacred Feminine works with the Yin meridians, or pathways of energy, in your legs and hips — and how allowing the Sacred Feminine to emerge within you and your life can help you live as one with the Earth.
As you explore the Sacred Feminine through your root chakra, you’ll:
- Balance your root chakra with inspiration from the Black Madonna — and deepen your bond with the Earth as the root and foundation for all of your movement
- Attune yourself to the pathway of energy in the Yin meridians of your legs and hips
- Revitalize yourself and deepen your connection with the Earth through tribal Middle Eastern dance
- Learn specific movements to heal ailments in your legs, knees, ankles, and feet
- Gain tools for getting out of your head and directing your awareness into the rest of your body — to feel whole and live with more capacity
- Activate the healing powers of the kidney point on the soles of your feet
Module 3 Dance of Yin and Yang
Open yourself to the sheer radiance of eros, and reclaim your sexuality and your body as sacred with the goddess Inanna.
The Sumerian goddess of love, eros, and fertility, Inanna is considered the Queen of Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld.
This week, you’ll be initiated into a dance to balance the polar energies of yin and yang — the feminine and masculine inside yourself.
You’ll learn about the key role your yin and yang kidneys play in the overall health and vibrancy of your body from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and explore an important meridian point to activate power and vitality.
This week, you’ll:
- Harness the radiance of eros with the goddess Inanna to activate and open your sacral chakra — and learn to balance the energies of yin and yang through theexpanded Infinity Dance Practice
- Learn about goddess Inanna and embody her confident sensuality to integrate the light and dark within you
- Feel the bliss of being in your body and release the limiting emotions of shame and guilt
- Activate the Mingmen (Gate of Life) meridian point to cultivate power and vitality, build energy, and increase libido
Module 4 Embrace Holy Sensuality
Freely and ecstatically express your sensuality as natural and holy with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, eros, and beauty.
Aphrodite represents the flood of corporeal energy and is at the same time heavenly, thus opening up the celestial, spiritual realm.
This week, you’ll discover why true sensuality is an expression of how you love yourself in the moment — feeling natural and at ease with what is.
You’ll learn about the anatomy and physiology of your hips...
... and call upon Aphrodite through dance to overcome the survival emotions of fear, anxiety, suffering, hostility, anger, judgment, shame, and guilt — liberating your body and your energy.
As you begin to feel free within your body and open the chains of the past, you’ll create more energy in your field to create the future you truly want.
As you embrace your holy sensuality, you’ll:
- Activate your life-force and let it set your whole body ablaze — energizing and elevating you through the Shake to Ignite Joy Dance Practice
- Embody the sensual grace and beauty of Aphrodite
- Reclaim your sexuality as sacred — and dance ecstatically to experience sensuality as your natural and holy birthright
- Feel and embody your own beauty with radiance
- Learn how to heal ailments that involve your hips, pelvis, and lower back through movement
Module 5 Core of Empowerment
This week, you’ll learn how to dance to e mpower yourself and take up residence in your body with sovereignty from the empowered Egyptian goddess Sekhmet — the Lioness who guides us to believe in ourselves.
You’ll develop the ability to hold and shine your light in any circumstance as you own your ferocity and balance it with compassion.
Banafsheh will guide you through movements — inspired by Sekhmet and the fiery Flamenco — that activate self-authority and strength, awakening the solar energy of the lion within you.
Flamenco gives us the strength to stand with confidence in all that we are, teaching us the posture of resilience and preparing us to face life’s challenges with the inner strength and power of dignity.
As you allow the Sacred Feminine fire of Sekhmet to fill your body, you’ll know with certainty that nothing in the outside world can limit the human spirit, especially when the spirit is alive with love.
As you explore the core of your power, you’ll:
- Allow the energy of the lion to fan the flame of your solar plexus chakra — and activate self-authority, sovereignty, and confidence through the fiery and empowering movements of Flamenco
- Learn how to embody Sekhmet’s powerful lioness attributes
- Build stamina and cultivate wholeness through the Circles and Spheres Dance Practice
- Activate self-reliance, resilience, and self-esteem — and develop steadfastness to become unstoppable
- Learn key meridian points that support optimal digestive function
Module 6 Integrating Your Physical Chakras
Just how do your chakras work together in a harmonious and unified way to support you on the Sufi Path to embody love through the Sacred Feminine?
Consider the first three chakras, which are the physical chakras of your body:
The more rooted and connected you are with the Earth, the more you are able to connect with your eros and free up your life-force to ignite the full potential of your whole body and being...
The more you embody your eros in a healthy and unashamed way, the more empowered and confident you feel...
And the more you accept, like, and love yourself... the more you are able to honor your roots, all people, and living beings.
The domains of influence in these chakras form an important constellation in dance and movement. ..
... providing groundedness, vitality, and balance between feminine and masculine energies, and deepening your experience and capacity for sensuality, centeredness, relaxation, ease, stamina, endurance, discipline, resilience, and power.
For most people, chakras one through three, along with the throat chakra, tend to be closed and require the most focus and energy to activate and open.
In this module, you’ll revisit knowledge gleaned from the Sacred Feminine and the embodied dance practices shared by Banafsheh within previous modules to further integrate the insights and inspiration held within the root, sacral, and solar plexus chakras.
This week, you’ll:
- Deepen your understanding of the interrelatedness of your physical chakras
- Integrate the insights and inspiration held within the root, sacral, and solar plexus chakras
- Revisit the gifts and wisdom of your first 3 chakras — gleaning higher insights from the Sacred Feminine and the embodied dance practices shared by Banafsheh within previous modules
- Review and deepen dance and movement sequences from the previous modules
Module 7 Waves of Love From the Heart Chakra
Let the rose of your heart blossom into love, compassion, and courage with inspiration from Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene (teacher to the Apostles) both of whom model unconditional love and compassion.
This week, you’ll experience your heart as the gateway to the quantum field of love...
... exploring and opening the pathways of the heart and pericardium meridians through movement.
You’ll also learn about the anatomy and physiology of the lungs as the wings of the heart, how to balance unconditional love and forgiveness with courage, and how to embody the energy of your heart as you deepen and expand your experience of The Waves of LoveDance Practice.
As you experience the sacred physiology of your heart, you’ll:
- Discover your heart as the gateway to the quantum field of infinite consciousness
- Call upon and embody the courageous and loving energy of Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene
- Learn from the wisdom of your lungs, which works in concert with your heart — and open and balance your heart chakra through an expanded Waves of Love Dance Practice
- Explore key heart and pericardium meridian points that reduce tension and help treat insomnia
- Alleviate pain in the upper back and shoulders, open chest constriction, and resolve breathing issues through movement
Module 8 Surrendering to Love
Activate your center of creativity and will... and cultivate ease in expressing your truth with Rabia, one of the only women mystics in the Sufi Path who lived in the 8th century.
This week, allow Rabia to inspire you to surrender to the Beloved and courageously express your truth by being anchored in the heart.
You’ll deepen your experience of the ecstatic practices of Sama (whirling) and Zikr (chanting) as two of the main pillars of the Sufi Path — and explore variations of the Sama....
... and be introduced to Persian dance as a graceful dance of adoration and a dissolving into ecstasy through sensual yet ethereal movement.
You’ll also develop the ability to balance discernment and surrender, create union between your mind and heart as you liberate your authentic voice... and learn how to create ease in your neck through awareness and movement.
As you explore the gifts of your heart chakra, you’ll:
- Embody the energy, wisdom, and gifts of the Sufi mystic Rabia — and experience total adoration of the Beloved
- Liberate your voice and experience your throat and expression as the bridge between your heart and mind
- Learn to embody grace through Persian dance as a form of ecstasy that is perfumed with the poetry of the Persian mystics
- Create coherence between your body, heart, and mind through the sacred Sufi dance of Samaand variations of this profound practice
- Surrender and become still enough to hear the intuitive guidance in your heart through a seated meditation following the Sama
- Learn ways to alleviate issues with the neck and throat
Module 9 The Wings of Love
Expand your inner vision, imagination, and wisdom this week...
... and cultivate symbolic sight and powerful intuitive abilities with the Egyptian goddess Isis, the Great Mother of life, death, and regeneration.
The wisdom of the sixth chakra tells us that whatever we focus on grows — that the only thing that can grow is what you give energy to. All things are possible when you believe they are.
You’ll explore the Egyptian goddess Isis, the Great Mother of life, death and regeneration this week to let your imagination take flight in union with your heart... and learn how activating the pineal gland can help you draw what you most desire.
You’ll also learn to dance with veils and activate coherence and balance between your intellect and intuition.
As you dance on the wings of love, you’ll:
- Explore and activate the pineal gland as your inner eye or third eye
- Embody the intuitive powers and wisdom of the Egyptian goddess Isis — and learn ways to draw in what you most desire
- Dance with veils in the Wings of LoveDance Practice
- Learn how to heal and alleviate headaches and issues with the eyes
Module 10 Sacred Union - The Crown Chakra & Shekinah
The crown chakra is our connection to the greater field of consciousness and what motivates us to seek an intimate connection to the greater in everything we do. Our dance is about experiencing this connection.
As you call upon Shekinah, the feminine godhead from the mystical Jewish tradition of the Kabbalah, you’ll activate the crown chakra and a sacred union of the divine feminine and masculine.
You’ll move in spirals of all kinds — the most advanced human movement — as the visible world comes into manifestation through the spiral...
... with the divine mystery at its innermost level and physical forms of matter at the outermost.
You’ll also learn about the anatomy and physiology of the spine and brain with an emphasis on the pituitary gland... and continue to deepen your experience of dancing with veils.
As you explore the Shekhinah and the crown chakra, you’ll:
- Learn about the Shekhinah and embody her union with the Sacred Masculine
- Activate the teachings of the crown chakra with the Spiral of LifeDance Practice
- Deepen your experience of dancing with veils
- Activate a sense of balance and the ability to remain present, grounded, and centered in the midst of turbulence by moving in spirals
- Experience an intimate connection with the Beloved through dance
Module 11 The Sacred Geometry of the Body - The Soul Chakra & Goddess Sophia
The soul star, or eighth chakra, is the energetic portal to your higher awareness and soul-level purpose. It is your connection or gateway to the greater Universe and the cosmos.
As the seat of your subconscious mind, it also interplays with your dream space as the transpersonal chakra of unity awareness... or consciousness of the greater whole or oneness, of which we are all a part of and can embody in human form.
Accessing such expanded awareness enables you to transcend the limitations of your human perception and remember that you are not alone — because All Is One.
This week, you’ll be inspired by the loving wisdom of Sophia, a Gnostic feminine archetype who represents the soul of the world... into embodying your soul and stepping into your unlimited self.
You’ll explore transfiguration, the union of matter and light, particle, and wave... deepen the practice of Sama and its variations, and begin to receive direct transmissions from the Source.
You’ll also deepen your experience of Persian dance as an expression of liquid light.
As you explore the sacred geometry of the body, you’ll:
- Activate the teachings of the soul chakra and develop clarity about your purpose in life
- Embody your soul and be inspired by the loving wisdom of Sophia — the soul of the world
- Explore transfiguration — and the union of matter and light, particle, and wave
- Experience spirit and matter, soul and body as one and feel interconnected to All That Is
- Experience movement as liquid light through Persian dance
- Deepen the practice of Sama — and untangle and release layers, habits, thoughts and emotions that block the flow of the Divine in you
Module 12 Living the Path of Embodied Love
How can we consistently live the path of embodied love in our burning world?
During your final class with Banafsheh, you’ll review and further integrate important insights, practices, and teachings from previous weeks and experience a visceral understanding of the Sacred Feminine by exploring what her many attributes invoke within your soul, body, and life...
... and which of the sacred archetypes resonates most with you — whether the qualities you feel you have or ones you feel you need to develop.
You’ll be invited to reflect on what — in light of your purpose and your calling — doesn’t serve you anymore even if it has been very worthy in the past...
... and what aspects of your life require a little sacrifice in order for you to become who you are meant to be — remember, sacrifice means to make sacred.
Ultimately, you’ll learn how to embody the Sacred Feminine within your day-to-day life so you can embody the love, beauty, harmony, wisdom, compassion, discernment and justice to elevate yourself and our world.
During your final class, you’ll:
- Integrate important insights, practices, and teachings from previous weeks — and explore how to embody the Sacred Feminine in your day-to-day life
- Review and deepen the dance and movement practices you learned in previous weeks
- Explore the transformational arc you have experienced over the past 12 weeks
- Feel balance, harmony, and coherence between your feminine and masculine energies
- Experience a visceral understanding of the Sacred Feminine by exploring what her many attributes invoke within your soul, body, and life
SPECIAL BONUS OFFER
In addition to Banafsheh’s transformative 12-module course, you’ll receive this special bonus offering to complement the course and take your understanding and practice to an even deeper level.
Embodying Our Feminine & Masculine Energies Through the Kabbalistic Tree of Life
Video Dialogue With Banafsheh Sayyad and Rabbi Jeff Foust
In this video featuring Banafsheh and Rabbi Jeff Foust, longtime student and teacher of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, you’ll be immersed in the mysteries of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life in an inspiring and engaging way. Rabbi Jeff offers mystical insight, philosophy, and history as context to better understand the Tree of Life — and shares a profound experiential exercise in how to embody it.
The Real Aphrodite
Video Teaching From Maryam Sayyad
This video teaching by Maryam Sayyad, Banafsheh’s sister, paints a provocative and engaging picture of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love — and the relationship of love and loss that engenders spiritual growth. The Aphrodite she presents is multidimensional, embodying both the light and dark aspects of love. Maryam Sayyad has a MA in Mythological Studies with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute where she is currently completing her PhD in Mythology.
Reflections on Chinese Medicine & the Wu Female Whirling Shamans
Video Dialogue With Banafsheh Sayyad and Anastacia White
In this video dialogue between Banafsheh and Anastacia White, one of the matriarchal wisdom keepers of the Chinese Sciences, describes three of the vital substances that exist in our bodies, and help maintain the life and health of our bodies from the perspective of Chinese Medicine. The substances they discuss are Qi (Life Force), Jing (Essence), and Xue (Blood). Anastacia also gives an overview of the 5 Spirits which include Shen (Consciousness), Hun (Ethereal Soul), Po (Corporeal or Animal Soul), Zhi (Will), and Yi (Thought)... and introduces the tradition of the enigmatic Wu female whirling shamans who existed thousands of years ago.
Mary Magdalene or Miryam of Bethany: Her Legacy to Us
PDF Teaching From Anne Baring
Anne Baring, wisdom keeper, Jungian analyst, author and historian, presented this engaging paper at the Scientific and Medical Network in December 2021. She has graciously made it available only to the registrants of Banafsheh’s course. She presents the latest findings on Mary Magdalene as the wife of Jesus, and his appointed teacher to the disciples to whom he bestowed the title of Miryam the Migdalah or Miryam the Tower — which he said would stand by him in the future. You can also watch her presentation to see the images she refers to.
Oneness Yoga: Surrendering to the Ground of Being
Video Teaching From Banafsheh Sayyad
In this mixed level yoga and stretching practice, Banafsheh will guide you on a journey from rigorous asanas to a lying down meditation that will ground you deeply in the wisdom of your body. You will experience how the deeper you go, the more you merge with the ground of being and the oneness of All That Is. When you go inside your sensation deep enough you realize there is only one sensation — your sensation is everyone else’s sensation… and the sensation of the Earth and all the elements.
What People Are Saying About Banafsheh Sayyad…
Canada
Here’s What You’ll Receive
Twelve Pre-Recorded 90-Minute Sessions
Experience a unique opportunity to learn from sacred dancer and choreographer Banafsheh Sayyad, the founder of Dance of Oneness® — from the comfort of your own home. Each session includes a streaming video option and will guide you to experience holy sensuality and the astonishing light of your own being through sacred dance, Eastern energy medicine, and the Divine Feminine archetypes that connect with your chakras.
Twelve Transcripts of Sessions
In addition to the high-quality videos and MP3 audios, you’ll also receive session transcriptions. You can then review, print, and highlight the most important insights and practices you were given.
Exercises and Questions for Each Lesson
Between sessions, you’ll have the option of completing related exercises, practicing new tools, and answering questions to accelerate your learning and integrate each lesson.
An Unprecedented Opportunity to Join the Online Course, Liberate Your Body With Sufi & Expressive Dance
Your Satisfaction Is 100% Guaranteed!
If you don’t absolutely LOVE Liberate Your Body With Sufi & Expressive Dance — or don’t feel that it meets your needs — please submit your refund request form 14 days from your date of purchase and we’ll happily issue qualifying customers a refund.
More Praise for Banafsheh Sayyad
Mystical scholar, spiritual teacher, and the founder of the Institute of Sacred Activism
Internationally acclaimed spiritual author and lecturer
Editor-in-Chief at LA Yoga Magazine
About Banafsheh Sayyad
Banafsheh Sayyad is a Persian master sacred dancer, choreographer, acupuncturist, transformational teacher, activist, and founder of Dance of Oneness®. A deeply profound and accessible spiritual teacher of embodiment, Banafsheh performs and teaches internationally, initiating people into the wisdom of their bodies. Her signature style of “holy wildness infused with ancient wisdom” activates transformation and illumination in those who watch and dance with her from around the globe.
Banafsheh invites the dancer within to remember, reclaim, and resource the innate healing intelligence spiraling both in us and all around us. Her easeful instruction and welcoming spirit empower students to feel a true sense of belonging in their bodies. Students often experience more passion in their lives by integrating wisdom teachings from throughout the ages.
She is among the few virtuosos of authentic Persian dance in the world, and a pioneer in creating a liberated feminine expression in the Sufi dance genre, previously performed only by men. Her modality, Dance of Oneness®, is both a spiritual path and a science of embodiment. It is a fusion of three dimensions — healing, wisdom teachings, and the rigorous technique and self-expression of the art of dance.
Banafsheh has a master’s degree in dance and choreography from UCLA, and a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her award-winning work has been presented throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Her dance film In the Fire of Grace, with Andrew Harvey, traces Rumi’s journey of the soul in dance.