Azita Sahebjam

As a ballerina born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Azita Sahebjam has always had a passion for dance. She has been an active participant of Pars National Ballet since the age of 11, under the direction and teachings of Abdollah Nazemi. As part of the performance company, Sahebjam had the opportunity to travel around Iran and Europe, until after the revolution when the Islamic Republic of Iran banned all forms of academic dance. In 1988, she migrated to Canada and quickly decided to forgo her ambition of remaining a ballerina, in pursuit of a new goal. Preserving Iranian culture through folk and traditional dances became her focus, thus opening the Canadian chapter of Vancouver Pars National Ballet.

Sahebjam has accomplished a great deal during her years in Canada and has received recognition from former Prime Minister of Canada, Hon. Jean Chretien, Former Secretary of State, Hon. Hedy Fry. Most recently she was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal. However, she believes her greatest achievement and recognition are her students. She has been able to teach the next generation about their heritage through dance by travelling all around the world, both teaching and performing Iranian folk and traditional dances