Shirin Abedi, photographer, documents a ballet group in Iran

Yasamin (22) on the roof of her house in Tehran.

“For a long time, parents in Iran believed good girls didn’t dance in public.” Shirin Abedi returns to her native Tehran for a report on ballerinas.

28.02.2023 Text: Finn Winkler Photos: Shirin Abedi

After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, a ban on dancing was enacted in Iran. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Shirin Abedi is fascinated by the subject. She researches for months. But at first she doesn’t dare to take pictures. Because dancing is still not a matter of course for young women in Iran today. “For a long time, parents in Iran believed good girls didn’t laugh or dance in public,” the photographer said. But with the new generation comes a rethinking of society.

One day she comes across the Instagram channel of the Iranian ballet group “Alternative Motion”. She knows that she really wants to photograph the subject. This eventually led to the photo series “May I have this dance”, which would later win numerous awards, including the Felix Schöller Award, the German Youth Photo Award and the ProfiFoto New Talent Award.

In 2021, Shirin will graduate from Hanover. When she looks back on her studies, she remembers: “The lecturers taught me a lot for my whole life. It was her studies that allowed her to really become herself. Her photographs are published in Stern, on Zeit Online, and in brandeins.

Young dancers in black dresses rehearse a ballet choreography with outstretched arms in a rehearsal room in Tehran – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **The group “Alternative Motion”** rehearses for a show that is later cancelled. Iranian media circulated a video of the dance rehearsals shortly before the premiere. This caused sharp criticism.

Two dancers in headscarves dance at night in front of a blue container, flagpoles with Iranian flags behind them – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **Mojdeh often shares videos** of her dancing or training on Instagram. For her, this is one of her few joys. For her safety, she keeps her account private – other Iranian dancers have been arrested for their dance videos.

Portrait of a young dancer with long curly hair in front of a pink curtain with red dots – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **“If they take dance away from me,** it’s like they’re taking my life.” — Mojdeh (20) dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer.

A young woman leans against a young man at night on the seashore, city lights in the background – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **Yasamin (22)** spends her evening with her boyfriend at an artificial lake in western Tehran. In the past, couples could be arrested for this by the morality police.

Dancers in leotards warm up for ballet practice in a flat with wooden floors, one blurred in motion – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **According to Iranian** national media, these women are a tiny minority.

A young dancer stretches into the splits on a red sofa beside a boy and an older man in a family living room in Tehran – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **“I had to fight** with my parents for my freedom.” Reyhaneh does the splits on the sofa while her brother tickles her. By now, Reyhaneh’s parents even ask her to dance at family gatherings.

Women in headscarves sit on the floor of a metro carriage in Tehran – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **Reyhaneh sits on** the floor of the Tehran subway after a long day at work.

Two young women embrace at night in front of a lit building entrance in Tehran – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **After a yoga class,** Reyhaneh hugs her friend. The two have known each other since middle school.

Little girls in tutus practise at a red ballet barre while a teacher corrects their posture – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **Reyhaneh teaches** several times a week and, in turn, spends her income on dance lessons and travel.

A young woman in a red knitted hat looks into the camera, her reflection on either side – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **Elham finds that Islam** **and ballet are not contradictory.** She did not find a good ballet teacher in her city. Therefore, she flies to Tehran every Friday to attend dance classes. To receive training on an international level, she travels to Armenia and Georgia.

A young dancer sits on her bed at night with a laptop, a curtain with fairy lights at the window – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **Although Yasamin’s mother** is a practicing Muslim, she fully supports her daughter.

A young woman in a white scarf gazes thoughtfully out of a car window – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **Perhaps the saddest thing** about ballet dancing in Iran is that fathers can never attend their daughters’ performances.

**Nona (18) is studying** chemistry in Tehran, but she is very determined to pursue a career as a dancer: “Before I went on stage at my last performance, I realized that this is all I want to do in my life,” she says.

An empty theatre hall with rows of red seats and a closed red stage curtain in Tehran – Shirin Abedi’s photo series ‘May I Have This Dance?’ about ballet in Iran — **True, there are performances** **with dancing and singing for women in Iran.** However, there are no pictures of such events: All bags are checked at the entrance, cell phones and cameras have to be handed in.

SHIRINABEDI.COM

Related to this story

Water

Burkinis at the swimming pool: the weight of other people’s stares

Just going for a swim – and being watched the whole time. Our author tells of prejudice at the poolside.

Award winners

The Abortion Plot

Noemi Ehrat shows abortion as an everyday practice. Her long-term project asks not why but how: matter-of-fact, calm and beyond the political headlines.

Water

‘It’s like dancing in the water’

Flexibility, timing and blind trust: how a demanding sport shapes young athletes.

Two synchronised swimmers from SGS Hannover stand vertically upside down in a pool, with only their legs visible above the water.

Recommended by the editors

After dark

Night owls: twelve portraits of life after sundown

From secret graffiti sprayers to late-night table tennis tournaments: twelve short videos about people who only come alive after dark.

Collage of night scenes: fire, people in colourful light, a woman in bed – video teaser ‘Nachtaktiv’

Traces

The neighbour nobody knew

A stranger’s bicycle in the cellar, a faded letterbox – and between them the life of a man who is suddenly gone. Who was he?

The entrance of the apartment building with stairs and a parked bicycle, where Hans was often seen with an Aldi bag – tracing the life of late neighbour Hans in Lüneburg

Traces

Into the bushes

From city parks to cemetery toilets: how public places became refuges for gay men – and why cruising still exists today.

A white folding chair chained to a tree with a bike lock. This cruising spot near Hannover is kept clean by its users, and the whole area is regularly cleared of rubbish.

Collecting

Hannover’s hidden source of raw materials: recycling at the Nordhafen

Uncertain trade routes, wars and new regulations are putting the recycling industry to the test. At the TSR site in Hannover’s Nordhafen, a whole sector can be seen changing.

Power and control

Botanical tricks: power and control in Hannover’s Berggarten

Milan Lenau grows and protects rare species – and shows how much steering goes on in a famous garden.

Ideals

Utopia versus state power.

Student Tim Wagner accompanies the clearing of the Dannenröder Forest.

TO THE MAGAZINE HOMEPAGE

Your contact partners will be happy to assist you with your personal concerns. However, due to the large number of enquiries, we ask you to first check our FAQ to see if your question may already have been answered.

FAQ

Dean of Studies, Design and Media department

Prof. Dr. Karen Fromm Send an email+49 511 9296 8538

Programme representative

Prof. Michael Hauri Send an email+49 511 9296 8241

Application and admission procedure

Prof. Lars Bauernschmitt Send an email+49 511 9296 2467

Hochschule Hannover
Faculty III – Media, Information and Design
Expo Plaza 2
D-30539 Hanover

HS-HANNOVER.DE