Singer

Faezeh Leela Emadi, known by her artistic name Arghanun—a symbol of the collective Ney—believes in sound as a sacred passage to the soul. To her, when we dare to give voice to our inner song—letting it rise, shimmer, and move through us—it becomes a vessel that carries us home to our truest essence. In each of her performances, Arghanun draws from the timeless depths of Rumi’s poetry, weaving spaces where artist and listener co-create a living moment of presence - fleeting, luminous, and eternal. Click here to hear one of her most recent offerings, ‘Az Jamadi’.

Storyteller

Zahra Afsah explores the links between oral storytelling & Persian miniature painting, specifically the direct influences of the oral tradition in the Khamseh of Nizami of 1494-95. Zahra is dedicated to transforming the way stories are told, and has performed around the world sharing ancient wisdom through stories.

Poetry Performer

The beauty of the mystics’ verses is that, no matter which spiritual path we are walking, these timeless words will inevitably help us all to return home, again and again, to the divine bond which unites us all.

Laura has been performing mystical poetry around the world since 2016.

Whirler

Anna Rüya, a captivating whirling dancer, who was born in London to an Irish mother and an Anatolian Alevi father. Her diverse cultural background seamlessly weaves into the rich tapestry of her artistry. With a life long inquiry into dance, she found herself drawn to the mesmerising and spiritual practice of spinning. She delved into the intricacies of whirling through the exploration of her ancestry roots. 

Her lifework is not just showcases of skill and technique but profound explorations of the whirling dance's spiritual essence. Prepare to be transported into a realm where dance becomes a language that speaks to the spirit, a meditation that resonates with the soul, and a healing force that transcends the boundaries of time and culture.

Daf Player

Sara Fotros is a professional award winning percussionist based in London. She has performed at the national and international levels with various ensembles in Iran, the UK, and globally. As a recording artist, she has been featured on numerous audio and visual projects for several popular contemporary and traditional bands, including Ajam, who were prominently selected by the BBC.

Sara has co-founded the Zagros Percussion Ensemble, working closely with their students to create and perform rhythmic compositions inspired by Kurdish, Persian, and fusion music. In 2008, she won first place in the Daf Player’s Competition held in Kurdistan Province, Iran, at the Sanandaj Daf Festival, solidifying her reputation as a master of her craft.

Musician
www.niloufarshahbazi.com

Niloufar Shahbazi is a London-based composer and Kamānche player from Tehran, Iran. She began her musical journey at the Tehran School of Music and later completed a fully funded Master’s in Composition at the University of Tehran, receiving the Van Beek and Holland Scholarships and international recognition, including the Petrichor International Music Competition (2022).

She composes actively, working closely with performers and ensembles to bring her ideas to life, exploring sound as a living, breathing presence.
As a Kamānche player, she has performed across Iran and Europe, premiering new works and collaborating closely with composers and ensembles.
Since 2020, she has been an active member of Yarava Music Group, contributing to the creative and practical processes behind concerts, festivals, and performance projects.

Spoken Word Artist
www.ellayamor.com

Ellaya is an Israeli storyteller, Buddhism teacher and lover of poetry, with a deep affinity for Sufi poetry. Guided by her love of Rumi and Hafiz, Ellaya has developed a unique approach to performance, that delivers 13th century poetry as live and contemporary spoken word, creating a vibrant and mystical experience, infused with her own personal touch.

She is deeply committed to peace work through her art, offering performances as spaces for healing, remembrance, and connection across divides. Alongside her performances, Ellaya facilitates Living Poetry workshops—immersive, heart-centered journeys where poetry becomes a gateway to presence, embodiment, and the sacred dimension of human experience.

Writer

Nour is a poet, author and journalist from Palestine. She is currently publishing her first anthology ‘Bleeding Watermelon’ which will be available to purchase soon.