Meet Shahrzad Hamzeh | Performer, Artist, Writer, and Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shahrzad Hamzeh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shahrzad, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It may sound cliché, but art is in my blood. In a way, I had no choice! My mother tried to dissuade me, often saying that “art will not be bread and water.” This is a Persian expression, and she meant that following a career in the arts wouldn’t provide a stable income.

My mother was a rug weaver from the city of Qom, a place renowned in Iran for its intricate and high-quality rugs. My father, on the other hand, is a shoemaker who also sings as a public performer. His singing falls into a unique category, as he guides the audience’s reactions through the stories he narrates. When I was a child, he would often take me to his performances, especially on religious occasions.

To give some context, my father’s performances are primarily for religious holidays. In Iran, performers like him are called Maddah, an Arabic word meaning “one who praises.” Interestingly, when someone mentions calling a Maddah, it usually refers to a somber event, such as a funeral or the anniversary of a Shia saint’s death.

When I was in elementary and middle school, I would recite verses from my father’s book for my classmates as we lined up each morning, preparing for the day. It was fun at the time, but once I entered high school, I stopped doing it. Because in high school there were certain expectations. Like some expected me to dress a certain way, walk a certain way, and of those who knew I danced, the expectation was that I stop dancing.

Although I never stopped dancing, I didn’t have the option to study it in Iran because it was illegal to even research dance as a major. At the time my plan was to go to India and become a choreographer for Bollywood, which is why I studied Urdu language and literature for my bachelor’s degree. So while I was pursuing my creative dreams, I also was keeping my mom happy by studying.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am, or was, primarily a dancer. In November 2023, I had an accident, and I haven’t been able to perform since.

I was born and raised in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where dancing is illegal. My love for dance started when I was five. One morning, my oldest sister woke me up and urged me to dance with her, and I just kept dancing. At home, it was fine, even encouraged, but I quickly learned not to talk about it outside. As a young girl, I didn’t fully understand why. It took years before I started to grasp that, as a Muslim girl, I was expected not to use my body in “provocative” ways—or risk condemnation, or even execution.

Most of my early dance training came from instructional CDs and Bollywood movies. When I started college, I finally found underground teachers, but classes were expensive. I walked everywhere to save on transportation, took any class I could find, and sometimes worked in exchange for lessons. I started teaching dance under Zumba as its pseudonym at a local gym, but the owner only gave me 30% of what she charged students. She said it was because she was risking her business, her permit, and perhaps even her life.

Even after coming to the United States, I faced struggles. I’ll never forget my first Thanksgiving here: a professor invited students who had nowhere else to go to spend it with his family. At the gathering, I was talking about how dancing is illegal in Iran, and another Iranian girl interrupted, telling me to stop lying because she had taken a dance class at a gym back home. I was devastated; it wasn’t the first or last time someone accused me of exaggerating my experience.

Throughout my journey, I’ve had many moments where giving up seemed like the best option. Waiting seven months for my visa to come through felt like purgatory. I had done everything I could to leave Iran and pursue a career in the performing arts, but I had no idea what I would do if my visa was denied.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Monday

Breakfast: Start the day by walking from my apartment to Eiland Coffee Roasters for a fresh brew, then pick up donuts at Bunkies.
Outing: Head to Prairie Creek Park to enjoy breakfast under the trees in the cool November air.
Downtown Plano: Stroll through downtown Plano and explore its beautiful shops.
Lunch: Dine at Dos Arroyos. The street corn is a must.
Afternoon: Visit the Museum of Contemporary Visual Art in Plano.
Dinner: Grab hotdogs at Henry’s Ice Cream and treat ourselves to some delicious ice cream for dessert.

Tuesday

Breakfast: Relax with coffee and comfortable seating at The Coffee House Cafe, where we can admire the wall art.
Activity: Take my friend to my Fundamental Tai Chi class at Simply Aware Wellness Centre in Richardson.
Lunch: Enjoy German flavors at the Bavarian Grill.
Afternoon: Visit the Nasher Sculpture Center to admire beautiful sculptures.
Dinner: After a big lunch, we’ll have dessert and cocktails at Better Than Sex Dessert Restaurant.
Wednesday

Breakfast: Begin the day at Poor Richard’s Cafe.
Outing: Walk through the historic downtown Grapevine, making sure to stop by Judy’s Pie for a slice.
Afternoon: Visit downtown Allen and stop by Chloe Mae Studios, where they sell my handmade jewelry, to pick up some souvenirs.
Dinner: Quick bites of nachos and mac n’ cheese at Guitars & Growlers while enjoying live music (it’s the third Wednesday of the month!) before heading to the Richardson Library for Romantic Interludes.
Thursday

Breakfast: Get coffee at Coffee Del Rey, where we can learn about the brewing process.
Outing: Visit The Best Little Toy Museum in Texas in Wylie.
Lunch: Savor a meal at Mango Thai Cuisine.
Afternoon: Enjoy a nature walk in the Canyon Creek Nature Area.
Dinner: Light dinner at Mr. Dumpling inside H-Mart, followed by a relaxing yoga session with Andrea Bey.
Friday

Breakfast: Start the day at Deli News.
Outing: Spend the day at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), where there’s plenty to see and experience.
Dinner: Enjoy a hearty bowl at Pho Is For Lovers.
Saturday

Outing: Walk along White Rock Creek Trail and enjoy the fresh air and scenery.
Lunch: Dine at Chen’s in Plano.
Activity: Visit Bloom Embroidery to see if they can customize a design for my friend’s clothes.
Dinner: Try out Wu Wei Din Chinese restaurant, followed by dessert at Haji Ali Juice.
Sunday

Breakfast: Indulge in kale pache (an Iranian breakfast) at Rose Mediterranean Grill.
Outing: Go for a walk along Custer Parkway, enjoying the views of the neighborhood homes.
Dinner: Wrap up the week with a meal at Fish City Grill.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would say mostly my family.
The first time I ever danced was because my oldest sister encouraged me to, my mother encouraged me to learn and educate myself to the highest degrees a woman can, my youngest sister is a painter, the first time I ever modeled was for her, and my father believed in me in ways I cannot describe, one of his favorite sentences was: “my daughter will conquer the world”, I intend to do just that!

Website: https://www.shahrzadhamzeh.com/

Instagram: @Shahrzad_Hamzeh

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahrzad-hamzeh-4b48a3218/

Twitter: @Shahrzad_Hamzeh

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shahrzadhamzeh

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/shahrzadhamzeh/

Image Credits
Shahrbanoo Hamzeh
Sean Photography
Reza Tanha