List of Persian/Iranian Events for 2008-12-17

How Can the West Most Effectively Engage with Iran?
Chatham House Lectures
Event Info Host: Goldsmiths Politics Society
Type: Education - Lecture
Network: Global
Time and Place Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Chatham House - Royal Institute of International Affairs
Street: 10 St James's Square
City/Town: London, United Kingdom
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Contact Info Email: ylim@chathamhouse.org.uk

DescriptionSir Richard Dalton, Editor, forthcoming Chatham House Report, Iran: Meeting the Policy Challenges; UK Ambassador to Tehran (2002-06)

Contributors to the report who will respond in the discussion include:
Professor Ali Ansari, Director of the Institute of Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews
This event will mark the launch of a report which seeks to determine the various dynamics of Iran's current international relations with a view to providing firm policy recommendations for the success of future engagement. Richard Dalton will briefly introduce the key findings of the report before allowing the opportunity for a wide-ranging discussion involving specialist contributors to the project. This will include the nature of Iranian domestic politics and foreign policy, key regional relationships, energy politics and pre-emptive military action and international law.

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To register for this event contact Yeni Lim,
ylim@chathamhouse.org.uk, at least 3 days in advance quoting their name, student number, department, course, completion date and the event they wish to attend.

Persian Arts Festival’s Shab-e She’r – A Night of Poetry, Featuring performance by Sara Goudarzi from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Wednesday, December 17th, 6 - 8pm, Every 3rd Wednesday of the month

Bowery Poetry Club 308 Bowery, between Houston and Bleecker (F train to 2nd Ave)

Cover: $6

Co-curated by PAF Literary Arts Director, Richard Jeffrey Newman and Kaveh Bassiri, PAF’s Persian Poetry Night features a guest reader ranging from poets of Persian descent to authors of Persian inspired literature, translations of ancient poetry or modern novels. The event then includes an open mic that is open to all who would like to read their favorite Iranian poetry or their own original work in Persian or English. To sign up to read before the event, email poetry@persianartsfestival.org.

December’s guest reader will be Sara Goudarzi, Sara was born in Tehran and grew up in Iran, Kenya, and the U.S. Her father introduced her to poetry when she was two years old. Shortly after, she started performing poetry. She's shared a stage with artists such as Reza Derakshani, Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Said Moadel, and Michael Lemma. Sara holds an M.A. in journalism from NYU and is a New York City writer working on her first novel. Her non-fiction and poetry have appeared or are forthcoming in National Geographic News, the Christian Science Monitor, Scientific American Mind, Terry, and The Adirondack Review, among others. More info at www.saragoudarzi.com

Sara will read from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and will be accompanied by Arturo Martinez (Dspiritu Gitano), a Chicago born flamenco guitarist who began playing at the age of 13 in the tradition of Afro American music. He was soon drawn to flamenco "the black music" of Spain, because of its Gypsy, Arab and Jewish influences. He has accompanied famed artists such as Jose Molina, Jose Greco, Chuni Amaya, Joaquin Fajardo, Concha Vargas, as well as Maria Alba, Pilar Rioja and Andrea Del Conte. Arturo is deeply inspired by the culture and music of Iran. He lives and performs in New York City and can be heard Tuesday nights at Euzkadi in East Village.

For more information, visit PAF online at www.persianartsfestival.org

Beloved worldwide, the 13th century poet and mystic Rumi was the original whirling dervish. Led by Jelaleddin Loras, Master Musicians direct from Turkey and the MOA Whirling Dervish Ensemble celebrate Rumi’s mystical union with the whirling prayer dance of the Mevlevi Sufi Order. With flowing white garments and classical sufi music, the Sema ceremony has stirred the hearts of humanity with sacred beauty for over 700 years. Tickets available through www.brownpapertickets.com or by phone: 1-800-838-3006