UPCOMING EVENTS

2024

4/5 THE CHARLOTTE IDEAS FESTIVAL 6PM reception, 7PM show
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts
GOLD RUMI solo performance

4/27 LPR - LE POISSON ROUGE, NYC, 6:30PM doors, 7:30 show
GOLD RUMI performance, with Shahzad Ismaily and Daniel Fresco
Opening set by Shahzad

4/19 - 4/21 SARAH LAWRENCE POETRY FESTIVAL, Bronxville, NY
Sat 4/20 1PM Reading
Sun 4/21 2PM Craft Talk

8/14 - 8/18 THE POETRY SOCIETY OF NEW YORK - Poetry Camp, Woodbridge, NY

MORE DATES TBA

rECENT Events

2023

2/21 TIBET HOUSE, NYC 6:30PM
A short presentation on the poetry of Rumi, in conversation with Dharma Friends

2/9 JOE’S PUB, NY, NY, 9PM. SOLD OUT
GOLD RUMI Performance with Shahzad Ismaily and Daniel Fresco

1/29 WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE - WMI PLUS AT HOME , online
A conversation with Shahzad Ismaily
re the poems and songs of GOLD RUMI

1/13 THE PASSENGERS EXPRESS, online 4-5PM EST
A reading + a Q & A on translation
(Hosted by the editors of Passenger Journal from 1/13-1/15,
a weekend of workshops and guest speakers)

12/6 BOWERY POETRY CLUB, NY, NY. SOLD OUT
GOLD RUMI Performance

11/12 HUDSON VALLEY WRITER’S CENTER, Sleepy Hollow, NY
4pm - 5:30pm
Reading with Poet Nick Flynn

11/10 STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CA, 5:00pm
CAMPBELL RECITAL HALL
Hosted by the ABBASI CENTER. Link forthcoming

11/10 STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CA 12:15pm
Hosted by the STRUCTURED LIBERAL EDUCATION DEPT
Florence Moore Hall, Another link on the calendar

11/7 WRITING THE WILD - Online event, 7-8:30PM
Translation Workshop
This session is part of a year-long writing course, facilitated by writers including
Maggie Smith, David James Duncan, Padraig O’Tuama, Camille Dungy, and me.

10/24 SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE, Bronxville, NY
MFA Writing Colloquium: The Craft of Translation
GOLD RUMI reading & discussion,
with poet and translator Patricio Ferrari

10/22 TORN PAGE , NYC 5:30pm
WORLD POETRY IN TRANSLATION
Hosted by Lee Ann Brown, with Patricio Ferrari

10/15 INTERFAITH ALIGNMENT Online talk 7pm EST
Register at the link above

10/13 LINCOLN CENTER Poetry Marathon Reading, NY, NY
Sonnets and Stanzas at Lincoln Center’s Studio
Reading with poets Nuar Alsadir, Roberto Carlos Garcia, Anthony McPherson, Maya C. Popa, and Charif Shanahan

10/6 - 10/8 OMEGA INSTITUTE’S WOMEN & POWER CONFERNCE, Rhinebeck, NY
GOLD RUMI Performance and Workshop
with Isabel Allende, Elizabeth Lesser, Loung Ung, and Shabana Basij-Rasikh

9/20 - 9/30 LILA SUFI TOUR & RUMI RETREAT in TURKEY
Istanbul, Konya, Cappadocia
Guest artist with Cem Baba, Omar Aena, Alper Ackay
GOLD RUMI Workshop in Konya

9/13 INTERFAITH ALIGNMENT Online talk 7pm EST
Register at the link above

9/12 BRYANT PARK READING SERIES. NY, NY
Reading with poets Meghan Dunn, Tina Cane, and Rosanna Young Oh

8/23 NUBLU, NY, NY 9pm. 62 AVE C, NY, NY.
GOLD RUMI Performance with Shahzad Ismaily

8/19 UNIFIER FESTIVAL, Tolland, MA
Sat 12:45PM Main Stage, Accompanied by Shahzad Ismaily

8/3 SECRET SOHO NY, NY
Presentations by me and Maria Kreyn

7/15 DANCE LAB, Rockaway Beach, NY (evening set)
5-8pm Closing set

7/15 ARTS IN THE PLAZA, Long Beach, NY (morning set)
10am, GOLD RUMI poems and songs

7/13 OXBRIDGE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, WORLDSTRIDES, Barnard College, NYC
GOLD Rumi workshop

7/7-7/8 EPSILON SPIRES, Brattleboro, VT
Performance - 7/7 at 7pm, at Epsilon Spires
GOLD Rumi workshop - 7/8 at 2pm, at Green River Bridge Inn

7/1 NUBLU, NY, NY
7pm Music and Poetry, with Samir Langus and Omar Aena

6/8-6/11 DANCE BEYOND, Tolland, MA
GOLD Rumi workshop

4/21 NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 7pm
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), NYC
GOLD Rumi: An evening of Poetry and Music,
with musicians Trina Basu, Marika Hughes, Sivan Arbel, and Sabrina Hayeem-Ladani
Supported by NYSCA/New York State Council of the Arts

4/5 HAWTHRONE VALLEY WALDORF SCHOOL, Ghent, NY
GOLD RUMI Lecture / reading

3/26 CULTURE LAB, LIC, NY
Closing event for ANONYMOUSLY IRAN
w/ Julia Haart & Nicole Ansari

3/18 PERSIAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
& FUNDRAISER for the CENTER FOR MIND, BODY, MEDICINE’S
Iran Initiative NY, NY

3/1 REIMAGINE VIRTUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, Online event
in Conversation with poet Danusha Lameris

2022

12/17 THE ASHKOKAN CENTER, Olivebridge, NY
GOLD: RUMI Musical Performance and Reading

12/15 WATKINS BOOKS, London, UK, Online Event
GOLD: RUMI Reading and Discussion

12/7 ST JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY, WRITER’S FOUNDRY MFA PROGRAM. Brooklyn, NY.
GOLD Rumi Lecture / Reading

11/6 THE ROWE CENTER, ONLINE EVENT
GOLD: RUMI Workshop and Reading.

11/7 THE BROOKLYN RAIL, Brooklyn, NY
Reading following a presentation by artist Shirin Neshat

11/17 STANFORD UNIVERSITY. Palo Alto, CA
GOLD Rumi Lecture / Reading

11/16 STANFORD UNIVERSITY. Palo Alto, CA
GOLD Rumi Lecture / Reading

10/9 THE RECORD SHOP, Red Hook, Brooklyn
with Shahzad Ismaily and Devin Brahja Waldman
opening reading by Sousan Hammed, curated by Oyku Tekten

10/7 LARZ ANDERSON MUSEUM. Brookline, MA
part of the Carriage House Cultural Concert Series
GOLD Rumi Musical Performance with Isabel Castellvi.

9/21 CITY OF ASYLUM. Pittsburgh, PA.
Reading. Opening for Imani Winds, with poet Ervin Dyer

9/19 SWARTHMORE COLLEGE. Swarthmore, PA.
GOLD Rumi Lecture / Reading

9/16 GLOBAL MUSIC INITIATIVE Summer Series. Cold Spring, NY. 6:30pm
GOLD Rumi Musical Performance and Reading

8/19-8/20 UNIFIER FESIVAL. Tolland, MA.
Musical performance + a workshop exploring Rumi’s poetry

8/18 BARD COLLEGE. Annandale-on-Hudson, NY.
Presentation for the Language and Thinking Summer program.

8/5-8/7 OMEGA INSTITUTE. Rhinebeck, NY Friday 7pm - Sunday 1pm
THE INSIGHT OF RUMI - AN IMMERSIVE WEEKEND RETREAT

7/14 WOODWARD THEATER, Cincinatti, Ohio 6:30pm
RUMI NIGHTS - Benefit Concert for Mindful Poetry Moments and The Well

7/2-7/3 BRADFORD LITERARY FEST, Bradford, England
GOLD RUMI - poems and songs 7/2
Workshop exploring Rumi’s poetry and philosophy 7/3

6/26 MaMA, Stone Ridge, NY. In the Kiva. Doors 6:30. Show 7pm
GOLD RUMI - musical performance w/ Shane Shanahan and Steve Gorn

6/25 OMEGA INSTITUTE, NY 8pm (This event is open to Omega attendees and staff )

6/10-12 DANCE BEYOND Festival
Musical Performance with Shane Shanahan and Isabel Castellvi on 6/10 9pm
Workshop exploring Rumi’s poetry and philosophy 6/11 2pm

5/31 The SPACESHIP SALON, NY, 7pm

5/24 VICA MILLER LITERARY SALON. Susan Eley Fine Art Gallery, NY. 7pm

5/11 BROOKLYN RAIL, 1pm Reading (Online Event)
with FANNY HOWE, ARIANA REINES, KYTHE HELLER, TIMOTHY LIU

4/4 LITERATI BOOKS, Ann Arbor, MI. (Online Event) 7:30pm EST
GOLD - RUMI Reading and conversation with guest Professor Cameron Cross.

4/7 PORTER SQUARE BOOKS, Cambridge, MA. (Live, in person event) 7pm
GOLD - RUMI reading at Porter Square Books

4/8 RIFFRAFF BOOKSTORE, Providence, RI. (Live, in person event) 8pm
GOLD RUMI - reading and interactive workshop

4/12 OMEGA INSTITUTE, OMEGA TEACHER’S STUDIO. (Online Event) 7pm
THE POETRY OF RUMI

4/19 BOWERY GALLERY NY, NY (Live, in person event) 7pm “
FREE event. at 547 W 27th st Suite 508

4/23 READS & CO. Phoenixville, PA (Live, in person event) 7pm
RUMI: A POETRY PERFORMANCE & CONVERSATION

4/29 The Kiva @ MaMA. Stone Ridge, NY (Live, in person event) 7pm
GOLD RUMI - Music and poetry with Steve Gorn

3/31 ATLANTIC Brooklyn, NY. (Live, in person event) 8pm (SOLD OUT)
Reading and musical performance. Ragini Festival, with Brooklyn Raga Massive.
Tickets

3/23 MAIN POINT BOOKS. (Online Event) 7pm EST
Reading from GOLD and discussion w/ Swarthmore Professors Sibelan Forrester & Steven P. Hopkins.
GOLD - NEW TRANSLATIONS OF RUMI

3/15 BOWERY POETRY CLUB, NYC. (Live, in person event) 7:30pm (SOLD OUT)
GOLD RUMI - LAUNCH PARTY - A night of poetry and song with host Bob Holman and DJ Omar Aena

3/10 THE BROOKLYN RAIL (Online Event) 1-2:30pm EST
Reading from GOLD, and a discussion with Professor Sara Eltantawi and poets Oyku Tekten and Leonard Schwartz.
ECSTATIC EMBODIMENT: RUMI & THE POLITICS OF DELIGHT

3/9 THE BROOKLYN RAIL (Online Event) 1-2:30pm EST
Poetry reading, featuring poems from GOLD, and discussion with Leonard Schwartz and Holly Melgard. Details and registration:
ECSTATIC EMBODIMENT: RUMI & RADICAL AMERICAN POETICS

2021

12/15 BOWERY POETRY CLUB. NYC. 7pm. I’ll be sharing Selections from Gold : Rumi w/ multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily. With Syd Fini celebrating the release of his graphic novel Saah, and Fatima Rahmati.

10/20 OMEGA INSTITUTE. 8pm. In the Sanctuary. Selections from Gold : Rumi, recited and sung in English and Persian. Due to Covid restrictions this event is open only to Omega retreat participants and staff.

9/16, 10/16 OMEGA INSTITUTE. 8pm. Mulberry Room. Rumi workshop: Invitations and Confessions Rewilding us to Ecstasy.

9/15 OMEGA INSTITUTE. 8pm. Sanctuary. Sharing poems from my upcoming book Gold : Rumi, recited and sung in English and Persian. With Steve Gorn.

4/7 MINDFUL POETRY MOMENTS. 3pm. Facilitating the open session of the April series, hosted by The Well World, in partnership with On Being. Register here.

3/21 SEMA 8pm. Livestream here. A Night of World Music and Poetry.

Featuring Grammy-nominated vocalist Melvis Santa, Samir Langus of Innov Gnawa and more. I’ll be sharing poems and translations.

2020

11/21 Pioneer Works Livestream — Ragas Live 2020 Festival. w/ Zakir Hussain, Terry Riley, Toumani Diabate and Betsayda Machado. We’ll be performing ASK HAFEZ. Livestream Link

10/24 & 10/25 Lightning Society, Brooklyn, NY. 2pm Info and Tickets.

5/13 MUSIC IS MEDICINE FESTIVAL. Online. w/ Matt Kilmer on percussion. Our set: 9-9:30pm.

3/12 JALOPY THEATER, Brooklyn, NY. ASK HAFEZ: a migration story told through poetry, music, and dance, featuring poet Sahar Muradi, dancer Malini Srinivasen, vocalist and translator Haleh Liza, and the poetry of the Persian mystical poet Hafez.

2/7 FLUSHING TOWN HALL. Guitar Mash: Urban Campfire. Info and tickets.

12/31 NYE. ANGEL ORENSANZ. White Lights w SEMA. Info and Tickets.

12/18 UNITED NATIONS. For International Migrants Day. Info and RSVP.

12/10 JUDSON MEMORIAL CHURCH. w/ SEMA, closing set for Ecstatic Dance

11/23 SPACESHIP - Maria Kreyn’s Studio. w Special Guests.

7/20 OMEGA INSTITUTE. RUMI NIGHTS w Matt Kilmer & Steve Gorn.

4/21 PLANET HEART Annual World Peace EARTH DAY CELEBRATION. with Fabien Cousteau, Rick Ulfik, & Queen Mother Dr. Delois Blakely.

4/12 ASSEMBLAGE John St. NYC. SEMA: with Innov Gnawa. A night of Gnawan Trance, Persian Mystical Poetry, & Sufi Dance.

3/21 JOE’S PUB. NYC. ASK HAFIZ. At BRM’s Out of Woods Festival. Sold Out.

3/20 DEEPAK HOMEBASE. NYC. MYSTICAL CELEBRATION of PERSIAN NEW YEAR: Rumi, Hafez, Birdsongs, & Icaros. Sold Out.

3/2 QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY. QUEENS, NY. ASK HAFIZ. A multi media performance piece in collaboration with poet Sahar Muradi & dancer Malini Srinivasen. For the closing of the ‘What We Bring’ exhibit.

2/5 ABC V. NYC. Opening the night featuring Vandana Shiva & Deepak Chopra. Sold Out. Will be livestreamed here

1/14-1/20 DANCE BEYOND RETREAT. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

2019

12/9 TERRAZA 7. ASK HAFIZ. Doors 6:30pm. Show 7pm. Queens, NY.

11/30 BROOKLYN MUSIC SCHOOL. Poetry and chant. Curated by Roger Sedarat. Bklyn, NY.

11/8 THE POET’S SETTLEMENT. @ Featured poet at Halyards. Bklyn, NY.

10/10 THIS ALIEN NATION. @ Joe’s Pub. NYC.

9/21  RASA.  w/ Matt Kilmer and Rich Stein. NYC. 

9/20 DEEPAK HOMEBASE.  ROOTED IN PEACE celebrating. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE.  Performing w/ NIKOO. NYC. 

7/18   CITY LORE. New poems & translations. NYC.

7/14   OMEGA INSTITUTE. w/ Steve Gorn & Matt Kilmer. Rhinebeck, NY.

6/23  THE NEW SCHOOL.  WOMEN BETWEEN ARTS SERIES Glassbox Theater. NYC.

5/5    RUMI NIGHTS @ ROSENDALE w/ Steve Gorn & Matt Kilmer.  Rosendale, NY.

4/28  HOWL at X MARKS THE LOFT. BKLYN. 

4/26  ECSTATIC DANCE. at ABC. Solo Closing Set. NYC.  

4/24  ASSEMBLAGE NOMAD. Hosting SHARE. NYC.

4/22  OSMUNDA.  at GALLERY 151. w/ NIKOO. NYC.

4/21  SEMA.  at X MARKS the LOFT. w/ NIKOO. BKLYN.  

3/28  BERL'S POETRY.  BKLYN. WRITES OF SPRING.  Poetry Reading. w/ Zohra Saed & Sahar Muradi. 

3/1  ASSEMBLAGE NOMAD, NYC. 

1/20 UPRISING. POST-WOMEN'S MARCH EVENT. SESSION 1. TOWN STAGES, NYC. 

1/17  OPEN HEART. OPEN VOICE.  LIGHTHAUS. BKLYN, NY. 

2018

12/31  NYE: A NEW DAWN  THE WILLIAMSBURG HOTEL, MAIN BALLROOM.   BKLYN, NY. 

12/07  KGB.  THE RED ROOM.  POETRY READING.  NY, NY

11/08   RUMI NIGHTS:  w STEVE GORN & MATT KILMER.  BROOKLYN RAGA MASSIVE.  BROOKLYN, NY

10/28  ALDER MANOR, YOU ARE SO LUCKY.  YONKERS, NY.  In the Chapel at at the Manor.  

10/20  SOCIETY FOR ETHICAL CULTURE.  BROOKLYN, NY.   TKTS at door.  Show: 8PM. w MATT KILMER

10/18  UN WOMEN - Champions for Change.  HARMONIE CLUB. NYC

10/12  VICA MILLER LITERARY SALON.  SUSAN ELEY FINE ART GALLERY   NYC. 

8/05   LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS FESTIVAL.  HEARST PLAZA. NY, NY

8/06   LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS FESTIVAL. PREGONES THEATER,  BRONX, NY

7/15   OMEGA INSTITUTE. RUMI: POEMS, SONGS, STORIES w STEVE GORN.  RHINEBECK, NY

7/08   ALDER MANOR.  YOU ARE SO LUCKY SUMMER FESTIVAL. YONKERS, NY

6/18   JEAN COCTEAU THEATER/CINEMA. SANTA FE, NM

6/17   TAOS POETRY FESTIVAL. TAOS COMMUNITY AUDITORIUM.  TAOS, NM

6/03   HOUSE OF LIGHT.  w SEMA.  BROOKLYN, NY

Past presentations offered at theaters, universities, and high schools including:
Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, Hearst Plaza and Pregones Theater
Lincoln Center Atrium
Celebrate Brooklyn, opening for Salif Keita
Carnegie Hall, One Note Series curated by David Byrne
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium, for “Water and Ice”
Rollins Chapel, Dartmouth University
University of Cincinnati
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Warren Wilson College
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater, BFA Program
The New School, Glassbox Theater, with Women Between the Arts
Magnetic Theater
Flood Gallery
Omega Institute
WorldFest
Mimi Festival of Marseilles
Angel Orensanz Center, with YRSL
United Nations, International Migrants Day
UN Women Champions for Change, Harmonie Club, NYC
Judson Memorial Church, with Ecstatic Dance
Joe’s Pub
Deepak Homebase
Moravian Academy
AS220 Youth Studio
City Lore
Wanderlust Festival
Taos Poetry Festival
Jean Cocteau Theater, with Worlds Through Words
Mindful Poetry Gathering at The Well
Brooklyn Music School
The Poet’s Settlement
KGB, The Red Room
Society for Ethical Culture
Bowery Poetry Club

etc.