Thursday, March 15, 20125:30 - 8:00 pm
Scottish Rite Cathedral150 North Madison Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
Made possible in part by thePasadena Arts & CultureCommission and the City ofPasadena Cultural Affairs Division
6TH ANNUAL
CELEBRATIONOFNOWRUZIN PASADENA (Iranian New Year)
A Tradition in the City of Pasadena
together with
NOROOZ IN PASADENAwelcomes you to the
TODAY’S PROGRAM
5:30 - 6:30PM — WELCOME RECEPTIONFeaturing: Traditional Persian TeahouseSavory and Sweet Persian Appetizers Persian Music and Dancers
6:30 - 8:00PM — OFFICIAL PROGRAM Welcome Remarks – Dr. Nazee Rofagha, Founder
and Director of Norooz in Pasadena
Proclamation by the Mayor of Pasadena,The Honorable Bill Bogaard
Keynote Speaker Dr. Firouz Naderi,Director for Solar System Exploration atNASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Screening of ‘The Persian Rite of Spring’; the story of Nowruzby Niloufar Talebi
ABOUT NOROOZ IN PASADENA
Norooz in Pasadena, established in 2007, is acelebration of the Persian New Year brought toPasadena through the vision of Dr. Nazee Rofagha.
Norooz in Pasadena a non-religious and non-political cultural entity. Asof 2009, Nowruz has been declared “a new Pasadena tradition” by theCity of Pasadena’s Mayor, Hon. Bill Bogaard.
The organization’s mission is to celebrate and promote Iranian arts andculture throughout Pasadena and its neighboring communities. For moreinfo visit: www.noroozpasadena.org
ABOUT FARHANG FOUNDATION
Farhang Foundation is a non-religious, non-political and not-for-profit foundation established in 2008
to celebrate and promote Iranian art and culture for the benefit of thecommunity at large. The foundation supports academic activities inSouthern California by funding university programs, publications andconferences. The foundation also supports cultural programs such as thecelebration of Nowruz and Mehregan, theater, dance performances, filmscreenings and poetry reading in Southern California. FarhangFoundation, in cooperation with various cultural and academicinstitutions plans major programs and exhibitions about Iran and itsculture. For more info visit: www.farhang.org
DR. NADERI is the Associate Director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
responsible for project formulation and strategy. Prior to his current assignment
he was the head of the Mars Exploration Program at JPL for five years – a period
that saw the successful launch of three missions to Mars including the twin
Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. He has been with JPL for 30 years - a career
that spans program and project management for satellite communications
systems, earth remote sensing observatories, astrophysical observatories, and
planetary systems.
He is the recipient of a number of awards including NASA’s Outstanding
Leadership Medal and, NASA’s highest award - the Distinguished Service Medal.
He has also received the Technology Hall of Fame Medal and the Ellis Island
Medal of Honor. Most recently he was recognized with the 2010 William
Randolph Lovelace II Award from the American Astronautical Society (AAS) for
outstanding contributions to space science and technology. Dr. Naderi is a
Fellow of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
NILOUFAR TALEBI was born in London to Iranian Parents. Her innovative work
combines research, writing, editing, award-winning translation, directing,
performing and more, to tell 21st century stories. She is the editor/translator of
BELONGING: New Poetry by Iranians Around the World (North Atlantic books,
2008) and the creator of multimedia pieces, Four Springs (2004) Midnight
Approaches (2006), ICARUS/RISE (2007), and The Persian Rite of Spring (2010).
She is the recipient of 4 translation awards and numerous grants; and is the
Founding Director of The Translation Project. She is the author of Atash
Soroushan (Fire Angels), a libretto about love, for the Soprano Jessica Rivera,
co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall and Cal Performances, where it premiered
in 2011. Visit her at www.Niloufartalebi.com
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PERFORMERS:
Ian Price – DoholJoe C. Carson – Soor-naiGina Petrossian – DancerRosa Rojas – Dancer
Haft-Sîn design by Rose Flower Designs; Fereshteh Daniali
Traditional Persian Teahouse by Fruit Table Design by Shahnaz
Catering by The Venetian Palace
Persian Rugs and Arts display by Aladdin Rugs & Fine Arts Gallery
DR. FIROUZ NADERIDirector for Solar System
Exploration at NASA’s JetPropulsion Laboratory (JPL)
NILOUFAR TALEBIwriter, theater artist and
award-winning translator,creator of ‘The Persian
Rite of Spring’
Sponsors& Friends
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
IN KIND SUPPORTERS
OUR FRIENDS
Our gratitude to all of the volunteers for making this event possibleand especially the entire staff at the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
Mr. Mahmoud BagheriMs. Christina A. KaragiasDr. Zaven Khatcheturian Mr. Khosrow Motalaby
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Nowruz Committee Chair: Ahmad GramianEvent Chair: Dr. Nazee RofaghaProgram Director: Bita Milanian
Operations Manager: Sanam ZahirSpecial Project Director: Haydeh Shirmohammadi