To refine her skills in dance, Kabuli took a ballet course at the Ministry of Culture and Arts. Her innate ability and dedication to learning soon set her apart. As she progressed, she enrolled in the National Folklore Conservatory of Iran, where she studied national and local dances. This decision marked the beginning of her deep engagement with Iran’s rich cultural heritage. Under the mentorship of Belgian-British dancer Robert Duvaren, who had spent over a decade in Iran collecting and preserving traditional dances, Kabuli mastered a variety of Iranian folk dances.
Mastery of Iranian Dance Forms
Farzaneh Kabuli’s repertoire included an impressive array of traditional dances, each embodying the unique customs and rhythms of Iran’s diverse regions. She performed folk dances from regions such as Torbat Jam, Kurdistan, Bojnourd, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Azerbaijan, Baluchistan, Sistan, Turkmenistan, Gilan, Mazandaran, and Shushtar. Her performances celebrated the cultural diversity of Iran, capturing the spirit and essence of its local traditions. Kabuli’s mastery extended beyond folk dances to classical Iranian pieces like Haft Peykar Nezami, Chehel Sotun, and Zarb and Zanguleh.
Her skill and dedication earned her significant recognition. Mehrdad Pahlbod, the then Minister of Culture and Arts, famously called Kabuli the “star of Iranian folk dances.” Her artistry reached international audiences, and she became a representative of Iranian culture through her performances abroad. Among her many career highlights was her role as part of a five-member folk dance troupe chosen to perform at the grand 2500th-anniversary celebrations of the Persian Empire. At this historic event, Kabuli danced solo in front of kings and heads of state, a testament to her exceptional talent and the high regard in which she was held.