Just as Queen Esther's story is one of beauty in Iran, so is the story of Younes Dardashti—a religious Jew who despite all odds, became an Iranian national celebrity in the 1950s. In the 1960s, his son Farid became a teen idol on TV. Beloved by all, it was a shock when at the height of their fame, they left the country.
Now, granddaughters Danielle and Galeet Dardashti have used their investigative and musical talents to bring this story to life in an award-winning podcast.
This beautiful evening of music, multi-media performance, and conversation will build on the podcast and lift up the story of the Jews of Iran.
Co-presented with The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as part of Esther in the Time of Rembrandt. Part of The Vilna's The Only Woman in the Room series, sponsored by The Miriam Fund of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Danielle Dardashti
Danielle Dardashti is an Emmy award-winning documentary writer/producer, a former on-air TV news reporter, and a storySLAM champion who has been featured on NPR’s Moth Radio Hour. She is the co-author of the Jewish Family Fun Book (Jewish Lights) and co-founder/Creative Director of live storytelling show Storyboom. Danielle leads corporate storytelling workshops all over the world.
Dr. Galeet Dardashti
Dr. Galeet Dardashti is a renowned musician and anthropologist of Middle Eastern Jewish culture. In her new release, Monajat, she sings and composes around samples of her famed Iranian grandfather - The Nightingale of Iran - with an acclaimed ensemble of musicians. She has held Assistant Professor positions at JTS and NYU and is currently a Fellow at University of Pennsylvania’s Katz Center.