Crescent Moon Theater Productions + Metzmecatl: Moon Rope Theatre present:
LET THE WIND SWEEP THROUGH, A CONFERENCE OF BIRDS
The seven seas are drops of rain.
The moth seeks to know the flame.
What is the longing that stirs in you?
And what is the most you're willing to do?
Sufism tenets, elucidated in the famous Persian poem, ‘Conference of the Birds,’ written by Attar of Nishapur in 1177 CE, merge with the metaphoric landscape of Underworlds described in Nahualismo, the ancient dreaming tradition of Mexico. Together, we embark on a journey to free heart, mind, and the mystery within us and before us.
With physical theatre, aerial dance, shadow puppetry, music, and poetry, we tell an old story for a new era.
Date & Location
Date(s) & Time(s): Sat May 11, 8:00 PM; Sun May 12, 6:00 PM
Duration: 75mins w/out intermission
Location: 3316 24th Street, SF, CA, 94110
Venue: Dance Mission Theater
Artist Information
Writer & Director: Melusina Gomez
Performers:
Melusina Gomez
Frances Sedayao
Hannah Bourke
Bruche Bierman
Jilverto Melendez
Kaya Mey
Nico Scherm
Bay Laurel O’Connor
Jamshed Esfaani
Sasha Mazo
Annika Sparrow
Kali Harcourt
Hessam Motamedian
Photos from “Let the Wind Sweep Through, A Conference of Birds”
(Photos by Thatcher Hayward)
PERFORMERS
Melusina Gomez
Melusina Gomez is a multifaceted artist, teacher, Curandera and the founder of Metzmecatl: Moon Rope Theatre, a Bay Area physical theater company. Melusina’s creative work engages the intuitive and dreaming mind, cultivating ritual and enchantment while addressing the wounds, longings, and unvoiced expressions of the soul in post-colonial, modern culture. She holds a MA in Experimental Performance from The Experimental Performance Institute at New College. Melusina’s mission is to bring pathos, humor, abstraction, beauty, tension, and the enchantment of make-believe to the stage, in the hopes of helping to add a little more magic, and a little more healing, to our world.
Please visit for more details: metzmecatl.com
Dr. Hessam Motamedian
Dr. Hessam Motamedian, an Iranian-American psychologist and mental health philanthropist, is known for his work in trauma-informed mental health care. As the founder of the non-profit organization Therapy 4 Iran, he has launched cost-free accessible mental health services for the underserved Farsi speakers in the world. As an arts and literature enthusiast, Hessam integrates music, Eastern mysticism, and psychodrama into his consulting roles for enriching creative projects in theatre and cinema.
With a unique blend of clinical expertise, cultural sensitivity, and evolving understanding of the human psyche, Hessam continues to inspire others to explore the intersections of art, healing modalities and spirituality, shaping a more compassionate and inclusive landscape for mental health care and creative expression. He lives lightheartedly and believes in the power of healing and self-expression through humor.
Please visit for more details: selflovetherapy.com
Annika Sparrow
Annika Sparrow is a born and raised Marin native who grew up in the performing arts. She found her voice on the stage of countless musical theatre productions and ended up studying at the Marin School of the Arts in highschool- which funneled her into the world of comercial acting and modeling work. However her personal journey diverted her from that path and soon her fascination with conciousness and the esoteric took over. Since then the healing arts have been at the forefront of her life. It wasn’t until recently that the echo of theatre and performing entered her mind and she found herself called back. When the opportunity arose with Crescent Moon Productions- it felt like the perfect intersection of where she’s been and where she wants to go with her contributions to the world. An alchemy of co-created intentional stage magic... She is thrilled to join the cast of Let The Wind Sweep Through, and can’t wait to share it with you all.
Kali Harcourt
Kali Harcourt. Roots in California, discovering dance as a way of expression and releasing energy. Dancing became meditation and healing. Empath and energy healer.
Bay Laurel O’Connor
Bay laurel O'Connor (they/she) is a Bay Area born creator grown from long-winding African and Ashkenazi roots. Bay has grown into their creative being by connecting to the sacred life-giving love of the earth through animation, film, dance, and drawing practices. When Bay is not living it up creating visual portals for Metzmecatl and Crescent Moon Theater, she is dancing or playing music to plants in the garden.
Follow: @baelorl
Please visit for more details: b3-designlab.com
Bruce Bierman
Bruce Bierman is co-director of the award-winning Yiddish Theatre Ensemble of Berkeley where he directed and choreographed the musical 'The Megillah of Itzik Manger', 'God of Vengeance' and most recently 'Between Worlds' with Naomi Newman. Bruce also served as Yiddish dance and theater dramaturg for several productions of Paula Vogel's 'Indecent' including Erika Chong Shuch's choreography for the Arena Stage and Oregon Shakespeare Festival and most recently for Nicole Helfer's choreography for the San Francisco Playhouse production co produced with Yiddish Theatre Ensemble. As an actor, playwright and dance/movement artist, Bruce has been a creative force with companies including: South Coast Repertory, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Celebration Theater, LA Opera, 24th St. Theater, New Conservatory Theater, Aman Folk Dance Ensemble and Bandilion Dance Theater. Bruce is a recent recipient of the Theater Bay Area Ca$h Grant and Berkeley City Individual Artist Award.
Nicole Scherm
Nico (they/them) is a queer, mixed-race aerialist and dancer. They are driven to find new ways of combining creative artistry and grace with the physical challenge of aerial. Nico practices and performs on a wide range of aerial apparatuses including silks, lyra, hammock, and rope. They have taught aerial at many locations around the bay area, including the San Francisco Circus Center, Athletic Playground, and the SF Pole & Dance studios. Nico has been involved as a performer and crew member with local troupes Bow & Arrow Circus, Smoke & Mirrors Menagerie, and Circus Something. They are invested in helping diverse student populations feel welcome and thrive in circus, and in making aerial accessible to people of all backgrounds.
Hannah Bourke
Hannah Bourke is an intuitive energy healer and trained clairvoyant psychic medium who channels spiritual teachings and messages of healing and awakening into song. As a devotional musician she sings about the mystical nature of reality and the love of The Divine Mother, inviting us all to go deeply within ourself to remember this truth. She currently lives in San Anselmo, California where she works as a psychic healer and artist, creating spaces where people can safely open up and begin to release energetic layers of trauma and conditioning so they can begin to embody their own core soul frequency.
Please visit for more details: hannahbourke.com
Frances Teves Sedayao
Frances Teves Sedayao is a multi-disciplinary artist, end-of-life doula, martial artist and educator. She has performed with many Bay Area notables in the US and abroad over the past 25 years and is an alumna of Alvin Ailey Dance School and CSUEB where she now teaches. Frances was a SF Apature Featured Artist, Art resident of NY OMI International, Serpent Source Grantee and a 2023 Jefferson Awards recipient. She has presented original work for the SF National Queer Arts Festival, Shawl Anderson’s Queerfest, Bindlestiff Studios w/ Kreatibo, and Asian American Theater Festival in Vancouver. She played the role of Rayzel, in Yiddish Theater Ensemble’s production of God of Vengeance. Her most recent productions are with Alleluia Panis/ Kularts, Nina Haft, Joe Goode Performance Project, Dance Brigade and Sarah Bush Dance Project. Currently, she is in the creative process with San San Kwan & Megan Lowe. This is Frances’ first project w/ Moon Rope and Crescent Moon Theater Productions.
Gilberto Melendez
Gilberto Melendez Upon arrival in Los Angeles from Managua Nicaragua, Gilberto focused his studies on ballet, flamenco, and tango as a student of some of the leading teachers in their fields. Performance credits include: Principal dancer in El Gato Montes starring Placido Domingo (L.A. Opera), The Nutcracker (Palos Verdes Ballet), The Megilleh of Itzik Manger ( Yiddish Theatre Ensemble), ‘Wonder’ (Phoenix Theater) ‘Passion of Carmen’ (Celebration Theater) and ‘Tomas & the Library Lady’ (Stagebridge)
Kaya Mey
Hi! Kaya Mey here. I love creating spaces for people to connect deeper with themselves and their community, on stage, film and on a massage table! I'm currently creating a wellness center, Haven in San Anselmo where I practice a presence based form of Massage (Esalen and Deep Bodywork). I am the resident druid-bard mermaid teenage princess on the ongoing podcast "The Roll Report," (IG @therollreportcast). I have a BFA in Acting and Physical Theatre from East15, University of Essex, England and a PTP in Physical Theatre from Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre and have done various plays, movies and commercials. I love ensemble devised theatre, and I love theatre and stories that are consciously and mindfully adding to the conversation of our humanity...so I'm delighted to be joining you, this cast and this project. If you're inspired, you're welcome to follow me on instagram @kayameyy where you'll find artsy photos of me, my dogs, my projects, nature and poetry.
Follow: @kayameyy
PARTNERS
