Nazanin Badiei, born and raised in Iran, began her journey in classical Persian dance at the age of seven under the guidance of Hayedeh Kishipour. Her early training included a wide array of Persian Classical and Folklore dances. Gaining recognition as a member of the esteemed group “Shiftegan-e-Del,” she performed in the prestigious “Talar-e-Vahdat” during the 1990s. By her mid-twenties, she was already choreographing and performing her own original pieces.
In pursuit of furthering her expertise, Nazanin moved to Los Angeles in 2010 and enrolled at Santa Monica College, where she pursued formal education in dance choreography. Her academic journey continued with a focus on integrating traditional Persian dance into contemporary contexts, leading her to join the Global Motion Dance Company. As a distinguished member of the company, she introduced Persian dance to a diverse audience for the first time.
Nazanin holds two master’s degrees: one in Middle Eastern Studies and one in Dance Anthropology. She is also the author of “Unveiling The Secrets of Persian Dance.” With over ten years of experience as a professional performer, choreographer, and Persian dance instructor, she has taught traditional and social Persian dancing to students of all ages. Nazanin finds deep fulfillment in her role, stating, “I share my passion with every one of my dancers. I show them not only how to move but how to connect with the music and the culture.”