photography by, Laura Soriano

Nava Dance Collective

Nava Dance Collective is an international community of dancers devoted to cross-cultural dialogue and artistic collaboration through traditional, sacred, and ethno-contemporary dance forms. Under the direction of Miriam Peretz, dancers from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds collaborate in the creation of meaningful projects and performances, exploring the space where ritual practice and performance meet, inviting audiences into shared moments of reflection and connection. Collectively, Nava dancers create an inclusive space where personal transformation and artistic expression thrive—an energy that is palpable in our performance outreach work. Over the past two decades, the collective’s work has focused on deep engagement with the Iranian-American community, as well as underrepresented Persian, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern communities. We have performed throughout the Bay Area for non-profit organizations such as Moms Against Poverty and Diaspora Arts Connection, as well as out of state and internationally for cultural festivals and theater productions.

Creating community among dancers is at the heart of the Nava Collective. Beyond the importance of cultural preservation and technical precision lies the fundamental need for people to come together and feel supported by a larger sense of belonging. Historically, this communal spirit has always been an essential aspect of traditional dance forms. The collective shares the belief that the dance space—our Dance Sanctuary, wherever it may be—should be a place for healing and transformation.

The collective welcomes dancers who wish to strengthen their technical dance skills while also embracing dance as a holistic practice for self-transformation, character refinement, and the cultivation of greater gratitude and open-heartedness in their lives.

Nava Dance Collective performing *‘Falak’* for the Norooz Celebration in 2025, sponsored by the City of Richmond.

Nava is a beautiful example of a word shared across several languages, including Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Hebrew, and Hindi. In Farsi and Turkish, Nava means sound or tune and is also the name of one of the main dastgah (musical modes) in the Persian classical music tradition. In Hebrew and Arabic, Nava means beautiful and is a common girls’ name. In biblical usage, it refers to an ethereal or spiritual beauty. In Hindi, Nava means new or innovative.

Read a beautiful article on Nava Dance Collective written by Heather Desaulniers for Dancers Group:

"Building Sisterhood Through Movement"

Nava Dance Collective has received generous support from:

Zellerbach Family Foundation

Theater Bay Area

New Place Fund

Further Foundation

Puffin Foundation

Nava Dance Collective Upcoming Performances

Friday, March 20th- San Francisco City HAll Nowruz performance 2:00-3:00 pm
Sunday, April 19th- Grace Cathedral- in honor of earth day 12:15-12:30 performance on the labyrinth

Past Projects

Charkh e falak (Turning of the cosmos) —
A Nowruz installation at San Francisco city hall
The Bustan Project- garden of Roses
Madre
Miriam’s Well

CHARKH E FALAK (TURNING OF THE COSMOS) A NOWRUZ INSTALLATION AT SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL

The Bustan Project- Garden of Roses

Weaving classical, contemporary and devotional interpretations of Persian dance, with live music and poetry, Nava invites the audience on a journey towards the heart. Garden of Roses, an ode to motherhood, a call for women to remember their strength in sisterhood and their divine embodiment, is dedicated to the beautiful and strong women of Iran.

Throughout the history of Iran the rose symbolizes love, and perfect beauty. In the mystical poetry traditions of Sufism, the rose is often a metaphor for the heart. As the rose opens its petals to the light of the sun the beloved opens her heart to the love of the divine. In the Garden of Roses, the dancers offer their hearts to the audience through expressions of Persian Classical, Mystical, and Contemporary dance. The piece is richly embedded with ritualized movement inspired by Sufi practice, elegant sweeping dances reminiscent of the paris (or angelic beings as seen in the miniature artwork of Central Asia,) contemporary interpretations of traditional Persian dance themes and devotional prayer dances for peace and unity.

The Bustan Project first premiered in Israel-Palestine in 2014, produced by Iris Delshad and the Choreographers Alliance. Since then the piece has been presented in theaters in Spain, Italy, and California.

promo Video

Nava Dance Collective hosts an annual benefit concert for International Women’s day in support of MADRE. MADRE is an international women’s human rights organization that partners with community-based women's groups facing war and disaster, and their aftermath. Together they meet urgent needs and build women’s capacity to create positive social change. www.madre.org.

Each year Nava is joined by a diverse group of artists including musicians, dancers and spoken word artists who come together in celebration of the strength and powerful voices of women and mothers throughout the world.