Sashar Zarif

Sashar Zarif is an internationally renowned multi-disciplinary performing artist, educator and researcher whose artistic practice invites a convergence of creative and cultural perspectives. His interests are identity, globalization and cross-cultural collaborations. His practice is steeped in the artistry and history of traditional, ritualistic and contemporary dance and music of the Near Eastern and Central Asian regions. Focusing on Sufi and Shamanic dance and music rituals of these regions, he has developed a dance form he calls Dance of Mugham, a mature expression of his artistic investigation and practice. Sashar’s creative approach is called Moving Memories; a signifier for the in-depth study of memory that is a foundation of his practice. He has toured in over 40 countries across the Americas, Europe, North Africa, Middle East and across Asia, promoting cultural dialogue through intensive fieldworks, residencies, performances and creative collaborations. He taught at York University’s Dance Department between 2004 and 2017 as a contract faculty. In 2011, he received the honourary titles of Master of Dance from Uzbekistan State Institute of Choreography in Tashkent as well as Honorary Faculty Member at this institute for his work and contribution to dance in Uzbekistan. In 2012, Sashar Zarif was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. His latest publication is a chapter called “Carrying My Grandmother's Drum: Dancing the Home Within” in a book edited by Judith Rudakoff, which was published by the Intellect Books Ltd. This Chapter was nominated for Canadian Theatre Research Award in 2018.