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PERSIAN DANCE Classical Persian dance, is largely improvised and features delicate movements of the hands, arms, and upper-torso, as well as engagingly coy facial expressions and ecstatic turns. In Persian dance the arms float overhead as the dancer ethereally glides across the floor or sinks languidly into beautiful torso extensions; expressing through fluid shape-shifting a spiritual longing while reflecting ancient Persian symbology often appearing in mystical poetry such as fire, water, and other elements of nature. The social style of Persian dance, in contrast to the women’s solo improvised dance of the Arabic world (belly dance) with its emphasis on hip-work, is lighter and more delicate in nature, focusing more on upper body gestures, including shoulders accents, playful facial expressions, and hand flourishes. |