Episode 351 - Conscious Movement and Liberation with Banafsheh Sayaad
For as long as Master Sacred Dancer Banafsheh Sayaad can remember, she’s had two passions - one for dance and one for uncovering the mystery of being alive. Born in Iran, her family fled the oppressive regime that took power in 1979.. Against intense cultural pressure, Banafsheh fused her two passions and taught herself to dance, eventually founding Dance of Oneness. In this episode, she shares her fascinating life story, the hope she has for Iran and the world, the fascinating lineage of Sufism, and the important role of dance and embodiment in the spiritual restoration of humanity’s wholeness and reconnection to the Earth. Her new book, Dance of Oneness, comes out on February 10, 2026.
Bio -Banafsheh Sayyad, MFA, Choreography and MA, Chinese Medicine, is a master sacred dancer, choreographer, and visionary teacher of spiritual embodiment whose life’s work is devoted to helping people activate greater health, awareness, and resilience through conscious movement. Internationally acclaimed for her pioneering fusion of spirituality and sensuality, she is the founder of Dance of Oneness®, a Divine Feminine lineage of healing and transformation uniting Sufi whirling, Persian dance, flamenco, mysticism, and Taoist wisdom. Her forthcoming book, Dance of Oneness (St. Martin's Essentials, March 2026), invites readers to rediscover the body as a portal to presence, vitality, and joy. Drawing from her own awakening through dance that transmuted the pain of exile from Iran, Banafsheh weaves Rumi’s poetry, feminine mysticism, and embodied healing into a radiant call to live as a channel of love and light. Born in Iran to legendary filmmaker Parviz Sayyad, she defied cultural taboos to create a feminine expression of Sufi whirling, transforming dance into a pathway of liberation, divine communion, and activism. Through her non-profit NAMAH and her transformative teachings at centers such as Esalen, Kripalu, Omega, and Hollyhock, Banafsheh has inspired thousands across the world to awaken, embody love, and dance the divine into being.
Banafesheh’s Book: https://danceofoneness.org/dance-of-oneness-book/
Banafsheh’s website: https://danceofoneness.org/
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