In 2023, we received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to realise our
project, Haideh & Nejad. This builds upon the legacy of our Gardens of Babylon project,
delivered in 2020 - 2021.
The latest project updates...
Stay tuned for the launch of H&N's own project website.
August 2023: Project Coordinator Jasmine visits Haideh's family!
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Save the date: project launch!
We will be launching the project on Saturday 16th December with musical performances, food, and lots of conversation. Save the date and come along! Times and location to be confirmed. |
What is the project about?
This project aims to collate stories, songs, and cultural memories important to the Iranian community ( including Kurdish, Persian, Turks, and other ethnicities) and to transfer them to the next generation of Iranian and Kurdish diaspora: children aged 8-13.
The main source of this project is Haideh Ahmadzadeh's memoir 'My Life as a Persian Ballerina'. Together, Haideh and her husband, Nejad founded the National Iranian Ballet Company under Nejad's direction and with Haideh's choreography.
The core aim of this project is to connect children to their heritage whilst paying homage to a pillar of creative culture in the Iranian and Kurdish communities. These workshops will run from February - November 2024 in collaboration with AIU, Sahba Music and Friends of Shahnameh.
The main source of this project is Haideh Ahmadzadeh's memoir 'My Life as a Persian Ballerina'. Together, Haideh and her husband, Nejad founded the National Iranian Ballet Company under Nejad's direction and with Haideh's choreography.
The core aim of this project is to connect children to their heritage whilst paying homage to a pillar of creative culture in the Iranian and Kurdish communities. These workshops will run from February - November 2024 in collaboration with AIU, Sahba Music and Friends of Shahnameh.
L to R: Nejad and Haideh Ahmadzadeh.
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Who are Haideh & Nejad Ahmadzadeh?Haideh and Nejad are a couple who founded the Iranian National Ballet. Haideh was born in Tehran, Iran (1930), whilst Nejad was born in Trabzon, Turkey (1925). The two married in 1951 and had two sons, Nader and Hormoz. In 1958, Haideh and Nejad founded the Iranian National Ballet with Nejad as the company's Founding Director and Haideh as a leading choreographer and principal dancer, becoming Iran's first Prima Ballerina. |
Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the family re-located to Manchester, England. Haideh worked with Sheba Arts on the 2020 Gardens of Babylon project ; she kindly spoke to us about her experiences.
In December 2019, aged 93, and despite excellent health throughout his later life, Nejad died following a short illness. He was followed by Haideh in December 2020 who died peacefully following a stroke.
It is our hope that this project will honour their legacy and pass down important cultural memories to Iranian and Kurdish diaspora in Manchester.
In December 2019, aged 93, and despite excellent health throughout his later life, Nejad died following a short illness. He was followed by Haideh in December 2020 who died peacefully following a stroke.
It is our hope that this project will honour their legacy and pass down important cultural memories to Iranian and Kurdish diaspora in Manchester.
Project Team
Jasmine Gardner - Project Coordinator |
Partner Organisations |
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