MENA Dance + DJ Performance
Join us for a performance of MENA dance and music during the grand opening of Seattle Waterfront. Friends of Waterfront is hosting a full day celebration to inaugurate the new waterfront and we’ll be there to represent with three local artists.
Parmida Ziaei, co-founder Seda Theatre, Iranian dancer and performance artist; Elham Lawson, founder Karoun Dance Group, specializes in different Persian dance styles; @DancingFaraZ, Seattle-born 1st-gen Persian-American DJ, signed music producer.
Parmida Ziaei
Parmida Ziaei (she/her) is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Seattle and the co-founder of Seda Iranian Theatre Ensemble. Her dance journey began in ballet classes in Iran as a child, and has continued as a performer and choreographer in the US. Parmida often brings together her training in various dance styles including Classical Persian dance and contemporary movement and to create a unique movement style that is a representation of her merging identities and explores resilience, culture and social-political issues. Parmida has also been a scenic and production designer with many local and regional theatres.
Elham Hakimi Lawson
Elham Hakimi Lawson is a proud Iranian-American who enjoys sharing her love of Persian culture and dance and finds great joy in her work as a Persian dance instructor. She joined Delshodeh Dance Ensemble in 2008, and started choreographed dancing with Heather Rastovac and Sonja Hintz, then formed that group to Karoun Dance Ensemble in 2012. "Karoun Dance Group specializes in different styles in Persian dances at festivals and cultural celebrations in Seattle and the surrounding area. Karoun means "always going" and is the name of the longest river in Iran. The ensemble’s repertoire includes dance pieces set to both traditional Persian reng and contemporary Persian classical music, regional folk dances of Iran. She has successfully carried the name Karoun and transformed it to “Little Karouns” where she teaches the younger generation too.
She has performed in different events such as, Seattle and Portland Iranian Festival, Folk Life Festival, Seattle Benaroya Hall, Seattle Town Hall, University of Washington, city of Bellingham, and Vancouver BC.
Elham is also a volleyball player, coach & referee, and also plays Dulcimer (Santur) – a Persian musical instrument and loves to help others. She has been working in Seattle Cancer Care Alliance/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center since 2005 and loves her job
Faraz Zarghami (DancingFaraZ)
Faraz Zarghami (stage name: @DancingFaraZ) is a first-generation Persian-American DJ and Music Producer born and raised in Seattle, WA. He started his music career in 2017 as a DJ, but after going viral during Miami Music Week 2023 for his dance moves, he has become a Music Producer as well, with his very first four singles as part of his debut EP album (‘Born On The Dance! Floor’) and his next three singles as part of his second EP album (‘Diamonds For The Dance Floor’) all getting signed in 2025 to New York-based record label Liftoff Recordings, which is run by the dance music duo Disco Fries.
Since getting his debut and second EP albums signed, DancingFaraZ has produced 10 more singles as part of his debut LP album (‘Surrender To The Dance Floor’), all of which have been signed in 2026 to Los Angeles-based record label Brainjack Music, which is run by DJ and producer Damon Sharpe. His favorite musical genre is house music, specifically pop house, and he is best known for his high-energy live performances, which he hopes to take on tour to share his love of music, dancing, and fun on dance floors all around the world. With all of his music, DancingFaraZ plans to use his signature sound to spread love and happiness to the hearts and souls of those who live for dancing, partying, and maximizing their fun.
https://www.instagram.com/dancingfaraz
https://soundcloud.com/dancingfaraz
Location
Salish Step
Seattle Waterfront, near Pier 62
