SHAMS

Celebration Supporting SHAMS
May 8
The Crow Museum of Asian Art

Performances
May 23 - 25
Moody Performance Hall

As Seen In

Experience the transformative true story of Rumi and his spiritual mentor Shams Tabrizi in SHAMS, a groundbreaking, immersive production from Verdigris Ensemble in collaboration with the Crow Museum of Asian Art. Featuring music by Iranian-American composer Sahba Aminikia, live dance by Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, and visual art by Iranian-American artist Sara Baumann, SHAMS sets Rumi’s poetry to music in its original Farsi—translated by Zara Houshmand—forming the largest collection of its kind in the world. Through haunting choral textures, movement, and vivid imagery, SHAMS traces a 40-day relationship that altered the course of spiritual history, inviting audiences into a powerful journey of love, transformation, and cultural connection.
May 23, 7:30pm
May 24, 7:30pm
May 25, 7:30pm

VIP Admission - $69.99
General Admission - $59.99
Student - $14.99
Sung in: Farsi, with subtitles and vocal narration
Subtitles in: English
Runtime: 1hr 5minutes
No Intermission

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“Typically, artists doing interviews to tease an upcoming concert talk about how the music challenged or excited them, and why the concert will be fun or entertaining. My conversations with the creators and performers of Shams have been very different. Uniquely, everyone involved talks about something deeper: how the project has changed them. ”

— Brian Reinhart, D Magazine

Experience the Crow Museum of Asian Art in a new and unique way. See one of the most popular spaces in the Crow Museum of lit up with immersive projections, Persian hors d'oeuvres, live music, and mystical ambiance inspired by the poetry of Rumi.

🌓 Immersive social atmosphere
Unlike the formal concert setting, this is a gathering. Guests can sip Persian tea, enjoy handcrafted hors d’oeuvres, and mingle with artists, creatives, and supporters in a relaxed, atmospheric environment.

🎭 Behind-the-scenes connection
This event offers intimate access to the creators and performers behind SHAMS. Guests experience the why and how of the work — something not available at the performances themselves.

🎨 Multisensory storytelling
Ambient projection mapping and curated design elements turn the space into a living extension of the SHAMS world — mystical, poetic, and luminous.

💫 Support with impact
Attending the Celebration directly supports Verdigris Ensemble’s mission and the continuation of cutting-edge work like SHAMS. It's part party, part fundraiser, part artistic encounter.

🎁 Tax-deductible benefit
A portion of your ticket is tax-deductible, and you walk away knowing your presence made a difference.

NOTE: This event does not feature the full performance of SHAMS. If you would like to experience all of SHAMS, please scroll up for more information.

You’re invited to our Celebration

May 8, 7:00PM @ The Crow Museum of Asian Art

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Art by Sara Baumann

Shams Tabrizi was a wandering mystic whose unexpected meeting with the renowned scholar and poet Rumi in 13th-century Konya sparked one of history’s most transformative spiritual friendships. Shams became Rumi’s mentor, mirror, and muse—shattering his intellectual pride and awakening a divine fire within him that would eventually pour into Rumi’s immortal poetry. Their connection was so intense, so all-consuming, that it transcended teacher-student dynamics, igniting a spiritual and emotional journey that redefined the meaning of love, devotion, and transcendence.

Our SHAMS production traces this mystical relationship through the seven stages of love as described in Sufi tradition—Attraction, Infatuation, Love, Reverence, Worship, Obedience, and Death. Each stage unfolds through immersive music, visuals, and movement, offering a visceral and poetic reflection of Rumi’s transformation.

Meet
Shams-i Tabrīzī

Art by Sara Baumann

What To Expect

At The Performance

The Poetry of Rumi—Like You've Never Heard It Before

Hear the largest collection of Rumi’s poetry ever set to music in its original Farsi, with powerful new compositions by Iranian-American composer Sahba Aminikia and translations by renowned poet Zara Houshmand.

An Immersive Celebration of Persian Culture

SHAMS fuses music, contemporary dance, visual art, and projection into an immersive experience co-produced with the Crow Museum of Asian Art, offering a rare and radiant glimpse into Persian mysticism.

What Makes This Special

Premiered in 2023, SHAMS is Verdigris Ensemble’s most successful production to-date. We’re bringing it back again because of the impact it had on our community and are excited to take it to the next level.

If there was ever a time to go see a Verdigris performance, its this one.