Then when they saw the torment as a dense cloud approaching their valleys, they said happily, “This is a cloud bringing us rain.” But Hûd replied, “No, it is what you sought to hasten: a fierce wind carrying a painful punishment!”. It destroyed everything by the command of its Lord, leaving nothing visible except their ruins. This is how We reward the wicked people.
(Paris, June 12, 1999)
At that moment, in that melancholic room within a 19th-century apartment, as I awaited her arrival, I was thinking about how I was about to meet a woman whose name would be remembered for centuries as an unparalleled patron of the art and culture of my country. She had left behind an unforgettable legacy for future generations. The small and large picture frames scattered around the room seemed to narrate bitter tales that had cast shadows over this woman's destiny but also witnessed a splendid bygone era. Finally, the moment I had been anticipating arrived, and I was about to converse with someone whose influence, during the peak of the arts' grandeur in Iran, remained ever-present, her name eternally intertwined with the Iranian arts.
Establishing contact with her and her family during those final years of the 1990s was never as easy as it would be today. There were no social media or websites to connect, nor the possibility of sending emails as we do now. Out of necessity, I approached Queen Silvia of Sweden and requested her assistance in arranging this meeting. With her kindness, she made this possible. And so, a 29-year-old young man, harboring great dreams of reviving a lost cultural heritage, found himself face-to-face with her for the first time to present his ambitious plans and seek her support.
This woman, Farah Pahlavi, Her Majesty the Shahbanu of Iran, the Queen of Arts, despite enduring immense hardships, truly earned the title given to her by her nation: the mother of Iran.
ابتکار اول
رضاشاه پهلوی، بنیانگذار سلسله پهلوی در ایران، به عنوان بخشی از دیدگاه گسترده‌تر خود برای مدرن‌سازی و اعتلای فرهنگ ایرانی، برنامه‌هایی برای ساخت خانه اپرا در تهران داشت.
بنیاد
پادشاه ایران محمدرضا شط پهلوی شخصاً از خانم نینت دووالوا برای تشکیل یک گروه باله مشاوره خواست.
آکادمی باله
آکادمی ملی باله ایران توسط نژاد احمدزاده تأسیس شد. وزارت فرهنگ فضایی را به هنرستان موسیقی تهران اختصاص داد. احمدزاده برای برقراری ارتباط با مؤسسات برجسته باله در ایالات متحده به ایالات متحده اعزام شد. ویلیام دلار برای کمک به شروع آموزش باله در ایران به تهران دعوت شد.
تاسیس
مرداد: تاسیس شرکت باله ملی ایران به عنوان اولین موسسه دولتی باله ایران. نژاد احمدزاده به عنوان مدیر هنری این شرکت منصوب شد.
Graham Visits Iran
April: Martha Graham and her dance company visited Iran and staged "Appalachian Spring" at Farhang Hall.
De Warren Joins Ballet
July: Robert de Warren arrived in Tehran as ballet master and principal choreographer of the Iranian National Ballet, along with his wife Jacqueline de Warren. As his first ballet for the young company, de Warren staged "La Péri", based on a Persian tale originally choreographed by Ivan Clustine for Les Ballets Russes de Serge Diagilev in 1912.
Roudaki Hall Inauguration
October 26th: Inauguration of the Roudaki Hall Opera in Tehran by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and Empress Farah.
August: Iranian National Ballet moved to its new home at Roudaki Hall Opera. National Ballet Academy of Iran moved to its new premises in the grounds of the newly built Amjadiyeh Sport Stadium.
May: Robert de Warren left the Iranian National Ballet to found, on the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Arts, the National Folklore Society of Iran and its affiliates; The Mahalli Dancers of Iran troupe and the Conservatory of National and Folkloric Dances of Iran.
April: Completion of Tehran's Roudaki Hall Opera construction, at the time, among the ten best equipped opera houses in the world.
April: Iran's Ministry of Culture was divided into three new ministries. The former Fine Arts Department developed to the Ministry of Culture and Arts.
Fonteyn & Nureyev Perform
The mega stars of ballet, Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev performed "Le Corsaire" in a gala performance at Roudaki Hall in Tehran. Their appearance was a significant cultural event, drawing a large and enthusiastic audience and highlighting Roudaki Hall's status as a premier venue for international ballet.
"Bijan and Manijeh" Premiere
October 14th: World Premiere of "Bijan and Manijeh" as the company's first Persian full-evening ballet production. Choreographed by Haideh Ahmadzadeh and Robert Urazgildiev. Music composed by Hossein Dehlavi. Scenery Design by Homa Partovi.
Ahmadzadeh Resignation
July: Resignation of Nejad Ahmadzadeh, the founder and artistic director of the Iranian National Ballet. Ali Pourfarrokh succeeded him as the company's second (and last) artistic director and principal choreographer.
"Sleeping Beauty" Premiere
October: Premiere of "Sleeping Beauty" as the last ballet production staged at the Roudaki Hall Opera.
Disbanding of the Ballet
February: Disbanding of the Iranian National Ballet and the National Ballet Academy of Iran in the aftermath of the Islamic revolution. Close down of Roudaki Hall as Iran's celebrated opera and ballet institution. During its 12 years of activity, Roudaki Hall Opera hosted the world's foremost choreographers, dancers and dance companies; Frank Sinatra, Maurice Béjart, Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Merce Cunningham, Birgit Cullberg, Irina Prokofyeva, Andrei Kondratoff, Kirov Ballet, The Igor Moiseyev Ballet, Grand Ballet Classique de France, Le Ballet du XXe Siècle, Antonio Gades Flamenco Ensemble, Stuttgart Ballet, Berliner Ballett, Rambert Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Nikolais Dance Theatre among many others.
Recreation Project Begins
September: Introduction of the project of recreating the Iranian National Ballet Company, by Nima Kiann, to Swedish and European authorities.
Project Introduced Abroad
February - December: Nima Kiann toured Europe and the United States. Meetings were held with ballet personalities, cultural figures, organizations, and authorities. The project for the New Iranian National Ballet (Les Ballets Persans) was introduced to HM Queen Silvia of Sweden, HM King Juan Carlos of Spain, and HE Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic.
June: Nima Kiann met with HIM Farah Pahlavi in Paris. The project to recreate the Iranian National Ballet Company was presented.
Ministerial Support & US Tour
January 21st: Marita Ulvskog, the Culture Minister of Sweden, encourages Nima Kiann for his endeavors to reestablish the Iranian National Ballet in exile: "... please allow me to express my admiration for the energy and purposefulness with which you are equipped in order to pursue this project. To give life to an artistic tradition after more than twenty years of interruption demands a willpower of the kind that only an indomitable yearning can give. This yearning to recreate what there has been, can be difficult to understand for us, who are not sharing the painful experience that often is behind."
February: Nima Kiann's tour to the United States to meet and interview with former members of the Iranian National Ballet Company.
September: Establishment of Les Ballets Persans’ Founders Circle. Among members: Marian Laurell (Managing Director of Cullberg Ballet), Lia Schubert (Founder and Director of Ballet Academy in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Haifa), Dr. Karl Ryberg (Psychologist, connoisseur of dance, administrative advisor), Nima Kiann
Organization & Azerbaijan Visit
February: Registration of Les Ballets Persans as a non-profit organization in Sweden. The founder of the organization, Nima Kiann, is also Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer of the company.
August: Nima Kiann visited Baku, Azerbaijan, inviting prominent Azeri ballet artists; People's Artists of the Republic Rafiga Akhundova and Maksud Mamedov to participate in the Premiere Production of Les Ballets Persans.
Premiere Production Staged
May: Auditions organized in Stockholm and Paris to engage dancers for the premiere production of Les Ballets Persans.
August: Start of the Premiere Production of Les Ballets Persans with the support of various Swedish authorities, among them; Swedish National Office for Cultural Affairs, National Integration Office of Sweden, Cultural Administration of Stockholm County Council, The Culture Committee of Stockholm, and private sponsors. Company members from 15 different nationalities gathered in Stockholm to work with a varied repertoire.
October 7th: World Premiere production of Les Ballets Persans staged at the Royal Cirkus Theatre, Stockholm. The heroic ballet of "Babek" is included in the World Premiere production of the company. First introduction of contemporary Azerbaijan ballet in the West. Another Azeri ballet, "Seven Beauties", is also included in the Premiere Production of Les Ballets Persans.
"Femme" Premiere
May 4th: World Premiere of "Femme" at Stockholm Concert Hall.
US Debut & Research
May 7th: World Premiere of Les Ballets Persans' US debut Concert at Japan America Cultural & Community Centre in Los Angeles, including the choreography of "Kaveh, the Blacksmith".
August: Introduction of Nima Kiann's Forum of Persian and Middle Eastern Dance, a research center for the art form of dance, particularly ballet in the oriental world.
Academy Introduced
September: Introduction and first season of the Academy of Les Ballets Persans.
International Dance Seminar
May: Introduction of the First International Dance Seminar and Master Classes of Les Ballets Persans.
European Youth Dance Project
November: Introduction of the European Youth Dance Project. Premiere season in Stockholm.
December 7th: World premiere of "Simay Jan, the Gilani Girl". First performance of the European Youth Dance Project
Ferdowsi Award & Premieres
February 2nd: Season of the European Youth Dance Project in Stockholm and London.
March 9th: Celebration of the works and achievements of Nima Kiann, presenting the Ferdowsi Award to him. Gala Performance organized by Toos Foundation in London. World Premiere of "Turquoise Land - Dream of Peace".
September 3rd: Season of the European Youth Dance Project in Stockholm.
October 3rd: World Premiere of the contemporary piece "Hanging Gardens of Lost Dreams".
Eastern Europe Tour
March 4th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project in Stockholm.
November 5th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project in Eastern Europe.
December 10-13: Eastern Europe tour of Les Ballets Persans’ European Youth Dance Project.
Youth Dance Seasons
May 6th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project in Stockholm.
October 7th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project in Stockholm.
Tirgan Festival & Premiere
June 8th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project in Stockholm and Toronto.
July 22-23: Two performances during the 3rd biennial summer festival of Tirgan in Toronto, Canada. World Premiere of "Vis and Ramin".
July 24th: Presenting the Arash Award to Nima Kiann during the Tirgan closing gala reception in Toronto, Canada.
Tajikistan Collaboration
March 1st: Visiting the State Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tajikistan in Dushanbe. Starting collaboration with National Ballet of Tajikistan.
March 5th: Artistic Director Nima Kiann appointed as the Principal Guest Choreographer of National Ballet of Tajikistan.
May 9th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project organized in Dushanbe, at the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tajikistan named after Sadreddin Ayni.
June 3rd: World Premiere of "Symphony of Elegy" in Dushanbe. Presenting the contemporary dance and Les Ballets Persans' repertoire to the Tajik audience.
June 10th: First presentation, after the fall of the Soviet Union, of the National Ballet of Tajikistan in the West by Les Ballets Persans. Premiere performance at Congress Centre Hamburg, Germany.
October 10th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project organized in Stockholm, Sweden.
Youth Dance Seasons
February 11th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project organized in Stockholm, Sweden.
October 12th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project organized in Stockholm, Sweden.
Kyrgyzstan & TV Broadcast
January: Nima Kiann visits Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to establish collaboration with the National Ballet of the country.
February 4th: Artistic Director Nima Kiann meets with the Culture Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Sultan Rayev.
February 5th: Joint Press Conference with Nima Kiann and Deputy Culture Minister Baktygul Belekova at the Ministry of Culture of Kyrgyzstan.
February 13th: Season of the European Youth Dance Project organized in Bishkek, at the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Kyrgyzstan named after Abdylas Maldibaev, introducing the National Ballet of Kyrgyzstan's first tour of the post-Soviet era in the West by Les Ballets Persans.
March 20th: Manoto1 TV's broadcasting of its exclusive Norouz program including 9 dances of Les Ballets Persans' repertoire. First introduction of Persian character dance in a series of folkloric choreographies. World Premiere of "Golden Dreams" and new folkloric ballets; "Bahar Gəlir" & "Bahareh!".
"Arash" Premiere in Toronto
June: Nima Kiann visits Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to start a new production for the Biennial Tirgan Festival.
August: World Premiere of "Arash, the Archer," “Les Fleurs” and two other ballets introduced during the Tirgan Festival in Toronto, Canada.
Research Publication Released
"The History of Ballet in Iran," the most comprehensive scholarly research ever carried out on institutional dance in Iran, authored by Nima Kiann, was published as a result of a collaboration with Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main in Germany. The essay is the only in-depth research on Iranian institutional dance.
Lectures & Research Began
Lectures on Iranian dance history were delivered. Archival research projects were initiated. Educational materials were developed.
Conferences & Publications
Participation in international dance conferences. Collaborations with academic institutions in Central Asia were ongoing. Research findings were published.
Academic Contribution & Resources
Online resources for dance studies were developed. Nima Kiann was invited by Dr. Anthony Shay to contribute an essay to his upcoming volume "State Dance in the Persianate World."
Archives Donated to LBP
The Saghabashi family donated its collection of dance archives to Les Ballets Persans. The archival material is unique of its kind and is the first discovered remaining collection of press, documents, publications, and items of ballet after the Islamic revolution.
LBP Reorganization & Expansion
The foundation of Les Ballets Persans undergoes a reorganization to expand its activities from a dance producing company to an academic forum for dance research, heritage preservation activity, and curatorial practice.
