ENGAGE — Haleh Liza Gafori

LECTURES, PERFORMANCES, READINGS

A DESCRIPTION of HALEH’S OFFERINGS,
plus TESTIMONIALS, and a list of PAST PRESENTATIONS below
SEE CONTACT page for BOOKING INQUIRIES

PERFORMANCES

Solo or accompanied by musicians, Haleh recites and sings Rumi’s text as well as her own. Weaving music and words, in English and in Persian, she and Rumi are in conversation with each other and with our times.

past venues include:
New York Public Library , Gotham Hall - MacDowell National Benefit, Le Poisson Rouge, Woodward Theater, Campbell Recital Hall at Stanford University

LECTURES / SEMINARS

Haleh has taught Rumi’s poetry in Creative Writing, Literature, and Religious Studies departments at universities across the country, as well as for institutions such as the Academy of American Poets. Depending on the class, she may focus on recurring themes in in his work, on form, wordplay, and meter in his ghazals, on the cultural context from which his poetry emerged, or on the process of translation.

past institutions include: Sarah Lawrence College, the Academy of American Poets, St Joseph’s University, Swarthmore College, Stanford University, Union Theological Seminary

READINGS

Haleh recites translations as well as her own poetry, with dashes of singing,

past venues include:
Bradford Literary Festival, Bryant Park Reading Series, Bowery Poetry Club,
The Poetry Society of New York, Hudson Valley Writer’s Center

WORKSHOPS

In smaller groups, Haleh presents Rumi’s poetry, delving into
specific lines, inviting group discussion and/or providing
prompts for or in class writing,

past institutions include:
Columbia University, Bard College, Rowe Center, Epsilon Spires

Retreat in Turkey, Hosted by LilaTheSeries

RETREATS

These immersive experiences allow participants to dive more
deeply into Rumi’s poetry and the liberating philosophy that
pulses through it as well as to engage with the text through
discussions on image, sound, wordplay, mystical themes,
exploring how these poems move can move us and transform us
on both a personal and global scale.
Sometimes Haleh teaches short chants featuring the poetry
to get the word and sound to move through somatically
as well.

past retreats include:
Omega institute, Lila the Series tour in Turkey

TESTIMONIALS

“After hosting Haleh Liza Gafori’s seminar on the poetry of Rumi, I can say, I have never seen this kind of enthusiasm for a class and teacher. What a gift she is.” - Ricardo Maldonado, Executive Director of the Academy of American Poets

“Haleh’s extraordinary insight into the truths embodied in Rumi’s poetry contributed to one of the most revelatory and emotionally positive experiences I have ever had. Drawing on her intimate knowledge of both Persian and Western language and cultures, interspersed with recitation, chant and music, Haleh took us on a journey of profound passion and inspiration. I came away infused with a desire to pass through this world in a more enlightened and meaningful way”. - Graham Brent, retreat participant at Omega Institute, The Insight of Rumi

“As a longtime lover of Rumi’s work, experiencing Haleh’s presentation of her translations has been nothing short of thrilling. Her ear for the music of the poems, her grasp of the nuances and subtleties of their language, and the passion with which she conveys their timeless insights have for me been illuminating, moving, and deeply nourishing. Haleh's gift is not only to beautifully render Rumi's artistry for our modern ears but also to passionately embody the living spirit of his work and make clear its ongoing relevance to our lives.” — David Platoff, retreat participant at Omega Institute, The Insight of Rumi

PAST PRESENTATIONS (2022-2025)
include…

Academy of American Poets, online seminars
Arte East Gala, NY
Bard College at the Summer Faculty, Language, and Thinking Program, NY
Bradford Literary Fest, Bradford, United Kingdom
Bryant Park Reading Series, NY
City of Asylum, PA
Columbia University, NY
Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School, online
Hudson Valley Writer’s Center, NY
Interfaith Alignment, online
Joe’s Pub, NY
Larz Anderson Museum, MA
Lincoln Center Poetry Festival, NY
MacDowell National Benefit, NY
Mindful Poetry Gathering at The Well, online
New York Public Library, NY
Omega Institute, NY
Oxbridge Academic Programs at Barnard, NY
Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA, online reading
Rowe Center, online workshop
Stanford University, CA
Sarah Lawrence College, MFA Program & Poetry Festival, NY
Swarthmore College, PA
St. Joseph’s University, The Writer’s Foundry MFA Program, NY
The Brooklyn Rail, NY live and online events
The Charlotte Ideas Fest, NC
The Passengers Express, NY
The Poetry Society of New York
The Tibet House, NY
Torn Page, NY
Union Theological Seminary, NY
United Nations, International Migrants Day, NY
University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater, BFA Program, online
University of Iowa International Writing Program’s Translation Symposium in Turkmenistan
Women’s Library and Information Center Foundation, Istanbul, Turkey
Woodward Theater, OH