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.
(NIMA KIANN. 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 Imperial 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.
First Initiative
Reza Shah Pahlavi, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran, had plans to build an opera house in Tehran as part of his broader vision for modernizing and elevating Iranian culture.
The Fundament
The Iranian monarch Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi personally asked Dame Ninette de Valois for her counsel on the formation of a ballet company
Ballet Academy
The National Ballet Academy of Iran was founded by Nejad Ahmadzadeh. The Ministry of Culture allocated a space in attachment to Tehran's Music Conservatory. Ahmadzadeh was sent to the United States to establish contacts with leading ballet institutions in the States. William Dollar was invited to Tehran to help start ballet education in Iran.
Establishment
August: Foundation of the Iranian National Ballet Company as Iran's first state ballet institution. Nejad Ahmadzadeh was appointed as the company's Artistic Director.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
"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.
