Shiraz is a choreography for seven dancers, an intricate weave of movement and energy that meet and transform on stage. A dance of rhythms, memories, and imagination. The starting point is the Shiraz Arts Festival (1967–1977), an event that brought together artists from around the world, blending traditions and experimentation. Armin Hokmi revives its spirit, translating its sense of freedom and exploration through dance. More than a tribute, Shiraz is a new vision. It explores the connection between dance and place, between gestures and history, between memory and invention. The dancers trace ever-evolving paths, bringing the past onto the stage and reshaping it in the present. A shared act of movement, remembrance, and renewal.
Armin Hokmi (Oslo/Berlin) works in dance and choreography. He began in 2009 as a performer in independent theater in Iran and later pursued his studies abroad. He holds a B.A. in acting from the Norwegian Theatre Academy (2015-2018) and an M.A. in Solo/Dance/Authorship from HZT Berlin (2019-2021). He is an associate artist at Montpellier Danse for 2024-2026. His work questions how dance and choreography engage with audiences, examining the conventions of performance and their impact on perception. His movement language balances familiarity with known forms and gestures that escape classification, creating a space where multiple references converge and transform. Recent works include Passages (2019), Public Dance, Permutable Stage (2021), International Dance (2022), and Shiraz(2024). He has worked with artists such as Mette Ingvartsen, Kasper Ravnhøj, and Hooman Sharifi. Upcoming projects include Of the Heart (2025), a solo for Daniel Sarr, and Repertoire-(Bazm) (2026), a choreography for eleven dancers. Armin continues fostering international collaborations, creating a dynamic and sustainable network for dance and choreography.
Dance & performance Daniel Sarr, Luisa Fernanda Alfonso, Aleksandra
Petrusevska, Efthimios Moschopoulos, Johanna Ryynänen, Emmi Venna,
Charlott Madeleine Utzig, en alternance avec Xenia Koghilaki
Music EHSXN, Reza R
Scenography and lighting design Felipe Osorio Guzmán, Vito Walter
In conversation with Emmi Venna
Costumes Moriah Askenaizer
Consulting and archival study of the Shiraz Arts Festival (1966-1977)
Vali Mahlouji
Sound technician Pablo Thiermann
Co-production Festival Montpellier Danse 2024, Rosendal Teater
(Trondheim), Dansehallerne (Copenhagen), Black Box teater (Oslo),
Tanzfabrik (Berlin)
Support Arts Council Norway, Nordic Culture Fund, FFUK, Nordic Culture
Point, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Goethe Institut, NPN
Research period supported by Dis-Tanzen
Residency support Montpellier Danse, Tanzfabrik (Berlin), Lake Studios
(Berlin), Uferstudios (Berlin), DAVVI Center for Performing Arts Hammerfest
Thank you to Anne-Cécile Sibué, Rasmus Jensen, Diletta Sperman, Ellen
Söderhult, Theater Haus Berlin
