Rumi: The Lion of the Heart featuring Coleman Barks April 20, 2013

Featuring Coleman Barks, with David Darling, Glen Velez, and Zuleikha

Jalaluddin Rumi, one of the world's most revered mystical poets, produced a prolific range of inspiring and devotional poetry that encapsulates the Sufi experience of union with the divine. Although Rumi was a Sufi and a scholar of the Qu'ran, his appeal reaches across religious and social divisions. This performance unites the classic poetry of the thirteenth century mystic with the innovative music, dance, and story of a remarkable ensemble: poet and Rumi translator Coleman Barks; cellist David Darling; world percussionist Glen Velez, and dancer and storyteller Zuleikha. It is a soul-stirring collaboration.

Coleman Barks is the author of numerous translations of the great Persian poet Rumi, including The Essential Rumi and The Soul of Rumi. His work with Rumi was the subject of an hour-long segment in Bill Moyers' "Language of Life" series on PBS.

David Darling, Grammy-nominated cellist, composer, and educator, has released eight solo albums, collaborated with such artists as Paul Winter and Jan Garbarek, and created music for films by Jean-Luc Godard and Wim Wenders.

Glen Velez, four-time Grammy Award recipient, has played a seminal role over the last twenty-five years by introducing the frame drum to modern audiences. He has taught extensively worldwide, investigating the healing properties of drumming and sound. His most recent recording is Rhythms of the Chakras, Volume 2. www.glenvelez.com

Performer and teacher Zuleikha takes her audiences on a magical, mythical journey weaving elements of humor, music, dance and story from nature, world lore, and life itself. Zuleikha developed her own movement technology based in traditional and contemporary movement and music languages of East and West. www.storydancer.com

Learn more at www.ciis.edu/publicprograms.

Official Website: http://www.ciis.edu/News_and_Events/Event_Calendar/Rumi_Concert_SP13.html