Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam, Dancer, choreographer, actor

Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam was born in Tehran into a wealthy family. His father, a career soldier – working alongside Chapour Bakhtiar, a long-time opponent of the Shah, and appointed by him as Prime Minister in a bid to reconcile the oppositions – was detained for three years and tortured. The family was facing threats, especially Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam and his three brothers who, like their father, were activists of the National Movement of the Iranian Resistance, led from exile by Chapour Bakhtiar. They finally went into exile and were recognised as refugees by Ofpra in the late 1980s.

Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam settled in France and immersed himself in Western culture, focusing on literature and theatre. He obtained a degree in art and theatre history at the University of Paris VIII. In 1991, he joined the Théâtre du Soleil (“Theater of the Sun”) and under the direction of Ariane Mnouchkine obtained the main roles in Tartuffe, La Ville Parjure (The Perjured City) and Les Atrides. He joined the prestigious Comédie-Française in 1998 and was appointed resident in 2005.

He then took an interest in Persian literature and then Persian dance, which could not evolve because of the Islamic Republic's prohibitions. He therefore went in search of existing sources. He consulted remaining ancient texts, reflections of foreign travellers on the ancient art of Persia, studied miniatures, travelled around Iran to find traces of these dances which have had an impact on Turkey, the Caucasus, Iraq, Afghanistan, and even India where Kathakali – inspired in part by Persian dance – gave rise to flamenco.

Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam then became specialised in Middle Eastern folk and mystical dances with a passion for Indian, Indonesian and flamenco dances. In 1997, he created the Nakissa company, and produced, among others, Les Songes d'une nuit Persane (A Persian Night’s Musings), Omar Khayam, Les Danses Mythologiques (Mythological Dances), and in creation: Hafez. Having opted to fully devote himself to dance, he left the Comédie-Française in 2011.