Endangered Productions is overjoyed to have Milan Mahdavi as part of our company family. Milan played an Arabian dancer, wedding guest and troll in our 2022 major production, Peer Gynt. She played the role of waitress and court attendant in It's So Last Century in 2023.
Milan was a lecturer in Persian Literature and Language at the University of Tehran in Iran. She moved to Australia in 2017 to study for a PhD in Literature, but instead she completed her Juris Doctor - a Master’s in Law.
As a qualified lawyer, Milan currently works with the Intellectual Disability Rights Services, Guardian Family Law and the Redfern Legal Centre.
A life-long lover of the Arts, Milan wants to retain her heritage in Australia. Dance has always been an important part of her life - in her family and community. It has a significant role in Persian culture and is a well-developed and respected art form. The movements demonstrate flexibility, grace, upper body dominance, and connection with the audience. It is feminine, shows a sense of pride, and expresses a particular emotion – often happiness!
Milan has a creative and artistic passion and enjoys volunteering and performing with Endangered Productions as it allows her to support Sydney’s vibrant arts and theatre community.
We interviewed multi-talented and high-achieving Milan in 2022 when she appeared in Peer Gynt
What’s it like to dance to the music of Grieg? When I was first asked to do some Arabian dancing in this production, I thought, ‘Fine. No big deal. I can do this’. Then I heard Grieg’s music and I freaked out. I’d never heard music like this before. Arabic music is very fast and rhythmic. Grieg is slow. How do I shimmy to Grieg?
Thankfully, I had help from our wonderful Movement Director, Alison Lee. I figured out a way to slow the movements down to fit Grieg’s music. Now, I just shimmy away. I think Ibsen and Grieg would approve!
What do you like about Peer Gynt? Being involved in Endangered Productions and working on Peer Gynt has helped me get through the isolating world of studying during COVID. They’re like an Aussie family to me.
Where did your costume come from? All the way from Tehran! My mother, Zari Najafi, lives there. I told her about the role, and she said that she would make my costume. The last time she made a dress like the one I’m wearing for this production, I was 15!
In my role as a Wedding Guest in Peer Gynt, I get to dress in a western-style, old-world costume – like a princess! Then there’s my troll outfit - that’s another thing entirely!
