Gold pearl necklace forming a heart shape alongside the gold text 'String of Pearls' and the word 'Ensemble' on a black background.

Sufi Poetry
Storytelling
Music & Singing
Sufi Whirling

London-based ensemble performing Sufi poetry in English & Persian through music, voice and movement - available for festivals, cultural venues and private events.

New Event! July 31st 2026
‘The Rose & The Thorn’
String of Pearls Ensemble in collaboration with
the Dünya Dance Collective

Friday 31st July 7.30pm

Pentland Theatre, North Finchley, London

Book here!


In a world where roses and beauty are always accompanied by thorns and sorrow, we gather to remember the timeless wisdom of the heart

The Rose & The Thorn is an immersive evening by String of Pearls Ensemble and the Dünya Dance Collective, created to celebrate the collective’s inaugural launch. Together, twelve women invite audiences into inner and outer gardens — where the rose and the thorn are inseparable companions on the path of love.

Through Sufi poetry, storytelling, song, kamancheh, daf and the mesmerising presence of six Sufi whirlers, the evening unfolds as a living tapestry rooted in the sacred feminine and the mystic traditions of the East — arriving at one eternal remembrance:

‘As long as there are poppies, one must live‘
Sohrab Sepehri — تا شقایق هست، زندگی باید کرد

Bring your heart and soul and enter the garden with us.

The performance includes both English and Persian language weaved together.

String of Pearls Ensemble: Zahra Afsah, Anna Ayyildiz, Leela Emadi, Sara Fotros, Malahat Haddad, Avin Noorbakhsh, Laura Merri

Dünya Dance Collective: Anna Ayyildiz, Minou Sadeghi, Zohre Örnek, Mitra Zadno, Zahra Mohamoud, Pankhuri Mehndiratta

در جهانی که حضور گل و زیبایی همواره با خار و اندوه همراه‌است، گرد هم می‌آییم تا حکمت جاودانۀ دل را به یاد آوریم

گل و خار شبی فراگیر و چندحسی از سوی گروه رشته ی مرواریدها و گروه رقص جمعی دنیا است که به مناسبت نخستین اجرای رسمی این گروه هنری خلق شده است. دوازده زن، مخاطبان را به باغ‌های درون و بیرون دعوت می‌کنند؛ جایی که گل و خار، همسفرانی جدایی‌ناپذیر در مسیر عشق‌اند

از خلال شعر صوفیانه، قصه‌گویی، آواز، کمانچه، دف و حضور مسحورکنندۀ شش سماع‌گر صوفی، این شب همچون تابلویی زنده گشوده می‌شود؛ ریشه‌گرفته در جوهر زنانگی و سنت‌های عرفانی شرق، و سرانجام به یک یادآوری جاودانه می‌رسد:

»تا شقایق هست، زندگی باید کرد« —سهراب سپهری

دل و جان خود را همراه بیاورید و با ما قدم به این باغ بگذارید

این اجرا به زبان‌های فارسی و انگلیسی برگزار می‌شود

گروه رشته ی مرواریدها:
زهرا افصح، آنا آی‌ییلدیز، لیلا عمادی، سارا فطروس، ملاحَت حداد، آوین نوربخش، لورا مِری

رقص جمعی دنیا:
آنا آی‌ییلدیز، مینو صادقی، زهره اورنک، میترا زادنو، زهرا محمود، پانخوری مهندی‌راتا

“An Evening with Rumi was a brilliant piece of artwork.
A masterpiece. And this is an understatement.”
— Harriet Rodrigues

قابل توجه دوستداران مولانا

String of Pearls Ensemble offer heart-opening performances that bring the timeless beauty of Rumi’s poetry to life.

Through the original Persian verses and English renderings, we create transformative experiences that awaken the soul and connect us all.

Come join us for inspirational verses, good humour, rich poetic metaphor, timeless wisdom & a journey home to the heart.

“Like an oyster shell we have our mouths open,
for the cloud of your pearl-scattering grace has come”
— Rumi, Ghazal 126 - Arberry

String of Pearls Ensemble is dedicated to the transmission of sacred poetry, music and song as a contemporary performative art. Rooted in Sufi and Persian spiritual traditions and expressed in both English and Persian, our work honours lineage while speaking clearly to the present moment, allowing cultures, languages and inner worlds to meet within a shared field of listening.

Each performance unfolds as a complete arc, in which poetry, storytelling, song, music and whirling are placed with intention and reverence. The poetry of Jalāl ad-Dīn Rumi, one of the great masters of the Sufi path, stands at the heart of the work, alongside related mystical texts — not as literature to be explained, but as living sources of wisdom, capable of opening inward attention and subtle recognition.

We perform in theatres, concert halls, sacred spaces and festivals, offering evenings shaped by stillness, clarity and depth. These events are neither purely concert nor ceremony, but rest at a quiet threshold between art and devotion, where sound and language become vehicles for remembrance.

The ensemble came together through years of performing and travelling, meeting on the road through shared projects and parallel paths. What binds us is not only artistic affinity, but a shared spiritual orientation, deep mutual trust, and a commitment to listening — to the material, to one another, and to the subtle intelligence that moves through the work.

String of Pearls continues as a disciplined, devotional practice in artistic form.

Offered in the Sufi spirit of good will to all.

With love,
Laura Merri

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair and blue eyes, wearing gold earrings and a brown velvet jacket, sitting against a brick wall.

The Ensemble

  • Person in white shirt and black hat singing into a microphone outdoors.

    Leela Emadi

    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’.

  • Black and white photo of a woman with long hair standing in front of a stone wall, wearing a sleeveless top.

    Zahra Afsah

    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.

  • Smiling person with blue eyes wearing a blue dress and earrings against a dark background.

    Laura Merri

    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.

  • A woman with red hair smiling, sitting in front of a brick wall decorated with pink and white lilies.

    Anna Rüya

    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.

  • A woman is playing a large, round drum with her right hand in front of a dark background, illuminated by bluish light.

    Sara Fotros

    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.

  • Malahat Haddad

    Born in Rasht, Iran, into a music-loving family, Malahat developed a passion for singing from an early age, performing at family gatherings and local events.

    At 18, she began formal music studies and trained in Persian traditional singing with renowned masters Mari Biabangard and Hengameh Akhavan. She has since performed in numerous concerts across Iran and, after moving to the UK, has continued collaborating and performing widely.

    In 2024, she performed at Kings Place, London, and the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall.

    Alongside performing, Malahat has spent many years teaching Persian vocal music, mentoring students with dedication and experience. She is currently preparing her third album, an ambient music project, for release.

  • Avin Noorbakhsh

    Avin Noorbakhsh is an Iranian kamancheh player, improviser, and composer based in London, currently studying Music by Research at City, University of London. Rooted in Persian musical traditions while shaped by contemporary experimental practice, her work moves through repetition, texture, and slowly evolving sound worlds. Through improvisation and intercultural collaboration, she explores music as a space for deep listening, memory, and transformation.

  • A woman with brunette hair in a ponytail, wearing a black shirt, is sitting and playing a traditional stringed instrument with a wooden body and a vertical neck, using a bow.

    Niloufar Shahbazi

    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.

  • Smiling person wearing a red dress with a necklace and decorative feathers

    Ellaya Mor

    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.

  • Woman wearing a hijab and lavender blazer, smiling and sitting in a cafe with plants and menu screens in the background.

    Nour Elassy

    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.

Testimonials

  • 'On both occasions we have hosted String of Pearls Ensemble, their work has been fascinating and engaging for audiences of all ages and across different cultures. It is beautifully crafted. As an all-female ensemble from diverse cultural backgrounds, whose members work together closely and creatively, String of Pearls Ensemble are true role models and a pleasure to host. Their multi-layered approach, using different art forms to share the richness and depth of Persian arts, is highly effective in drawing in a wide-ranging audience.'

    Katherine Ives, Director, Lauderdale House, Highgate

  • 'I saw String of Pearls’ captivating and unforgettable performance at RumiFest 2025. They are a unique blend of poetry, storytelling and music that pierces your soul with the essence of Rumi. They took my breath away and left my spirits soaring. I’ve never experienced anything like it!'

    Jamsheda Ahmad

  • ‘The room was set ablaze with Divine Love; one could palpably feel this love saturated throughout the entire room. The feeling of home was rekindled within our hearts. Many people didn’t want to leave the room upon the completion of Laura’s powerful transmissions’

    Nicole Hemmer, Feminine Leadership Mentor

  • 'When I heard Leela sing traditional Iranian songs in Persian, her sound went like a soul awakening arrow straight to my heart, an unforgettable moment.’

    Anne Ashton, Audience Member - Nowruz, Lauderdale House, London

  • 'String of Pearls Ensemble is a committed women-led performance ensemble whose work is rooted in community and shared cultural experience. Their work creates a space where they can develop their voices, connect with one another and engage audiences through a shared cultural language. This kind of work matters. It builds community from within and offers a platform for aspiring women artists to be seen and heard on their own terms.'

    Mehrdad Aref-Adib, Curator & Artist, Lauderdale House Nowruz Festival

  • 'From the depths of our hearts, thank you for the gift you shared with us on Saturday. Your performance was far more than art, it was an experience of the soul. The way Laura carried the words of Rumi in English, with such clarity and warmth, and the way Leela recited them in their original Farsi and her beautiful voice, brought us closer to the essence of his poetry. Your performance created a harmony that was as uplifting as it was profound.'

    Zahed, Mehregan Festival Performance

Group of six people standing together in front of a brick wall, smiling and engaging with each other, with flowers and artwork in the background.
Four people standing together indoors in front of a brick wall, posing for a photo. They are dressed in formal and colorful attire, with integrated jewelry. There is a large bouquet of pink lilies in the background.
Group of six people posing indoors against a brick wall, with a woman sitting on the floor in front holding a large circular art piece, and others standing or sitting behind her.
Three women dressed in colorful evening gowns, smiling and laughing together at a social event with a brick wall and flowers in the background.
A woman playing a large hand drum on stage, with her eyes closed, wearing a black shirt and an embroidered vest, under stage lighting.
A woman dancing on stage, wearing a black top and a large white skirt, with her arms outstretched and head tilted back.
A woman with dark hair pulled back, wearing a dark patterned jacket, holds a large, round cymbal in front of a dark background, with a focused, intense expression.
Two women are sitting in a meditative pose with eyes closed, against a red background with green plants nearby.
A woman with short dark hair, wearing a sparkly sleeveless dress, earrings, and a beaded necklace, is looking down with a gentle expression, in front of a red curtain with small white dots and a green plant.
A man with dark hair and a beard, wearing a black shirt, holding a small traditional stringed instrument, seated against a red curtain backdrop, with a green plant nearby.
A woman performing a song or storytelling on stage with a red curtain backdrop, gesturing passionately with her right hand, while a man with a beard looks down at an instrument, possibly a piano, in a dimly lit room.
Musicians performing on a stage with an audience watching.
A woman with long dark hair wearing a black dress with colorful embroidery, standing with her arms outstretched and eyes closed, inside a room with wooden walls, curtain, a large pink umbrella, and music stand, possibly singing or performing.
A performance on stage with five musicians and a woman conducting, in front of an audience in a large hall with yellow curtains and decorative plants.
Four women and one man sitting outdoors in front of trees, smiling at the camera. The women are dressed in casual, colorful clothing, and the man is wearing a blue polo shirt with sunglasses hanging from his collar.
Two women standing close together smiling at the camera, with a yellow background and shadow patterns.
Four people smiling and standing close together, with two women in the middle having their hair flying in the air, likely due to movement or wind, in an indoor setting.
Two women sitting against a brick wall, one holding a wooden harmonium, the other holding a drum with intricate design.
A woman in a black and gold embroidered vest raises her arms expressively while two others, seated, observe her with musical notes in front of them. They are indoors with a maroon fabric backdrop.
Four musicians sitting and smiling, with sheet music stands in front. A large maroon drapery is in the background.
Three people hugging closely with smiles, wearing colorful headscarves and shawls; background of a roof and sky.
People sitting around a large circular canvas with a dance illustration, illuminated by a fire in the background, during a nighttime outdoor event.
Two women in white long dresses perform a traditional dance with embroidered round umbrellas in a warmly lit art gallery or performance space, with an audience seated and watching.
A woman is performing flamenco dance on a small stage in front of an audience, with two women sitting and speaking into microphones nearby. The audience is seated and watching the performance, with some holding programs or papers.
A woman with short, multicolored hair singing passionately with eyes closed in an indoor setting, possibly at an art gallery or performance space.
Woman with long dark hair singing or performing with her hand on her chest, wearing a black dress with a red sash and necklace, in a warmly lit room with brick and wood decor.
A woman with dark hair, wearing earrings and a black top with colorful embroidered flowers, holding a book titled 'Restoring the Lee' in an indoor setting with brick walls and warm lighting.
Woman with closed eyes playing a violin in a dimly lit room, with artwork on the wall behind her.
A woman dancing with her arm raised in front of an audience, while another woman plays a violin on a stool in a cozy gallery setting with framed artworks on the wall.
A woman with short dark hair and glittery eye makeup appears to be singing or expressing emotion, with her eyes closed and lips parted, wearing a black top and a gold chain necklace.
A woman with long dark hair wearing a black dress, red belt, and orange beaded necklace, smiling and seated against a brick wall with framed artwork behind her, in an art gallery or exhibition setting.
A woman wearing a black top with colorful embroidery around the neckline, standing in an art gallery with framed artwork on a brick wall in the background, and flowers in the foreground.
A woman playing a traditional stringed instrument in an indoor setting with a painting of women in traditional attire and a flower arrangement in the background.
A woman with long black hair, wearing a black outfit with a red belt and necklace, is pointing and speaking to an audience in an art gallery. A seated woman with dark hair and a black top is nearby. The audience is watching attentively in a dimly lit
A woman with short hair holding a rose close to her chest, standing indoors with a blurred background and people in the distance.
A woman with long dark hair dancing in a dimly lit room, wearing a flowing red skirt with a yellow leaf pattern and a beige top, with a small audience watching her. To her left, a musician playing an instrument, and to her right, a woman sitting with
A woman with dark, wavy hair closed her eyes, touching her chest with her right hand, standing indoors with a brick wall and a painted wall in the background.
Two women in flowing white dresses perform a dance with a large embroidery hoop hanging from a stick in an indoor art gallery or gallery setting, with an audience seated and watching attentively.
A person in a white dress bowing on the floor during a performance, surrounded by seated audience members watching attentively.

Please get in touch to find out more.
As well as putting on performances, we’re open to collaborations & creative ideas.
Get in touch if you’d like us to contribute to your event or festival.

We’d love to hear from you.