“Branches of Words,” a program of Middle Eastern and African music, American modern dance and poetry, will be held Friday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. at Emerson Auditorium in the Taylor Music Center.
The program will feature the Persian poetry of Hafez, the 14th century Sufi poet; actor and film director Mahmood Karimi-Hakak; musicians Zoe B. Zak and Zorkie Nelson; and the Albany-based Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company.
It is free to members of the Union Community and $15 for general admission.
Karimi-Hakak is artistic director of Mahak International Artists and professor of creative arts at Siena College in Albany. He has written, produced, directed, designed and acted in stage and screen productions in the United States, Europe and his native Iran. His literary credits include five plays, two books of poetry and translation of a dozen books.
Zak is a cantor, composer, performer and producer who weaves a tapestry of the ancient and the modern in her music. She was commissioned by Siena as music director for “Benedictus,” an Iranian-Israeli-American drama that debuted last year. She has been commissioned to produce many other works, including the music for “From Hodu to Cush,” an original theatrical interpretation of the Purim story for the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.
Nelson, a native of Accra, Ghana, is a master percussionist, traditional flute player and vocalist. He has been a member of numerous traditional African music and dance groups, including the We Su Ma, Ebaahi-Gbi Ko, Gballoi (the prophet band), Lumei, Eshi Nyomor Mo and Tsui Anaa.
Sinopoli has choreographed 48 new works since creating her modern dance company in 1991 and has collaborated with dozens of artists throughout the Capital Region and beyond. Her troupe has performed locally as well as at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, Jacob’s Pillow Theater Festival and Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood. She teaches at The Sage Colleges.
Campus sponsors of “Branches of Words” include the departments of Music, Dance, English and Religious Studies; Asian Studies; Dean of Studies; Dean of Academic Departments; and Unitas.