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Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam (April 21, 1967) is an Iranian-French choreographer, actor, and grandson of the famous Iranian calligrapher Moshkin Ghalam. Born and raised in Iran, Shahrokh moved to France where he majored in Art History at the University of Paris 8. A member of the Comédie Française since 2004, Shahrokh performs regularly in a variety of literary work. In 1997 to promote Iranian Art internationally, he founded Nakissa Art Company. Since then the company has evolved into a greatly successful Iranian Dance and Theatre company. Members include dancers and actors from all over the world, many of whom are trained by Shahrokh personally. Nakissa has held performances in Europe, North America, Asia, and has attended numerous international Festivals and events including the International Dance Festival in Boulder Colorado (http://www.artslynx.org/colorado/codance.htm), Festival Merida (http://www.festivaldemerida.es/), Festival d'Asturias, Festival de Chartres (http://www.danseaucoeur.com/accueil.html) and the Tirgan Festival in Toronto, Canada (http://www.tirgan.ca/events/music.html).

In an interview in Toronto Shahrokh has said “I came to realize the importance of my roots, my heritage, my being Iranian after I left Iran. […] It happened over the course of my six-year collaboration with Ariane Mnouchkine”. Shahrokh is well-known internationally for his acting and dancing. He has invented the art of dancing to Persian poetry without the use of music. His mixed cultural backgrounds as well as his formal training in various styles of dances have allowed him to develop a unique fusion in the language of dance. For example, in his latest creation "Dance Variations on Persian themes", one notices dance elements from around the world which skilfully have been put together to create a piece that at its heart is very much Iranian. His choreographies, usually based on Persian poetry and classical music bring together myths, poetry, and dance to create a magical atmosphere.

His dance performances include “Seven Pavilions of Love based on Nezami Ganjavi’s poems” at the Royal Opera House in London, “Sohrab & Gordafarid”, and “Khosrow & Shirin”. In his piece entitled ‘Mythological Dances’ (a collection of dances based on Persian mythology), Shahrokh becomes a story teller translating the lines from thousands of years ago into familiar movements for today’s audience around the world. Moshkin Ghalam does not believe in using movement just for the sake of it instead he believes movements should serve to convey messages. Given his extensive training in world dances and his curiosity and open-mindedness, he is able to relate to and understand other cultures sufficiently to be able to adequately borrow, add and sometimes even re-invent them each time in a new context for a different purpose.

Dance

His dance works include: • "Dance Variations on Persian themes" (2007). This is his latest work, which includes a collection of his best choreographies performed with Karine Gonzales (Shahrokh’s colleague and major dancer of Nakissa Art Company) • “Omar Khayyam” (date??, performed in Paris, London, Stockholm, New York and Los Angeles), a ballet inspired by the Quatrains of 12th Century Persian poet Omar Khayam • “Mythological Dances” (mentioned above, date?), inspired by the three love stories (Khosrow and Shirin , Bahram and Dorsatti , Sohrab and Gordafarid) • 7 Peykar ‘7 Pavillions of Love’ (date?) • Mani ‘The Bouddha of Light’ (date?) • Ghasedak ‘Nostalgia’ (date?) • Mid Persian Night Dreams (date?)

Acting

As an actor, Shahrokh appeared on stage for six years under the direction of Ariane Mnouchkine with the ‘Theatre du Soleil’, http://www.theatre-du-soleil.fr/, He enjoyed major parts in plays such as “Tartuffe”, “la Ville Parjure” and “Les Atrides”. His theatre performances include Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” directed by Christoph Rauck , “Romeo and Juliette” directed by Lionnel Briands, Euripide’s “Dionysos, the Baccantes” directed by Usevio Lazaro, “The Soldier’s Tale” directed by Antoine Campo, Tenesee Williams’ “A Streetcar named Desire” directed by Phillip Adrian, and “Abduction in the Serai” directed by Jérome Deschamps. He has also directed and played in the following Persian pieces: “Zohreh va Manouchehr” by Iraj Mirza, and “Mardha va cheez” by Ebrahim Makki. His last piece (in Persian) is “Kafane Siah”, inspired by Mirzade Eshghi

Shahrokh has also played in in French the following pieces at the Comédie Française:

• Pedro et le commandeur, Felix Lope de Vega • Molière / Lully, m.e.s Jean-Marie Villégier • La Maison des morts, Philippe Minyana, m.e.s Robert Cantarella • Yerma le Bonheur, • Cyrano de Bergerac, Bérénice