BIO Banafsheh Sayyad

Banafsheh Sayyad is an internationally acclaimed Persian sacred dance artist, transformational teacher, and the creator of Dance of Oneness, a pioneering style that fuses rigorous dance technique with spiritual embodiment. Born in Iran, where women are forbidden to dance publicly, Banafsheh has dedicated her life to bringing liberation, joy, and inner awakening to all through movement.

Her electrifying and original dance vocabulary integrates Flamenco, Tai Chi, Gurdjieff Movements, Dervish Whirling, and the sensuous ecstasy of Persian dance, creating what critics describe as “a fusion of ancient forms with a postmodern punch” (LA Times). She is recognized as one of the few bearers of authentic Persian dance worldwide, an innovator of Sufi dance, historically performed only by men. Her work has been celebrated as the first truly contemporary form of Persian dance, establishing a unique artistic language of its own.

With an MFA in Dance from UCLA and an MA in Chinese Medicine, Banafsheh performs and teaches globally, from Los Angeles to New York, Europe, and Turkey. Coming from a long lineage of performing artists, she is the daughter of legendary actor, director, and writer Parviz Sayyad. Through her art, she invites audiences and students alike to embody presence, freedom, and the ecstasy of being alive.