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The Society of Folk Dance Historians (SFDH) Lili Taymourazi
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BACKGROUND
Information: Prof. Lili Oraham Taymourazi (1900-1992), teacher of Assyrian dance.
Lili was considered "The Mother of Assyrian Folk Dancing."
CRONOLOGY
From an article by Madlaine Davis Moradkhan, Nineveh Magazine 16:4 (1993).
- 1900 – Born in Urmia, Iran to Mr. Yonan Oraham of Siri, and Maryam Gewargis of Anhar.
- 1915 – Orphaned when her farther died.
- 1916 – Brother went to the United States to continue his education, Rest of family moved to Tabriz.
- 1917 – Graduated Fiske Seminary (an American Girls School in Urmia), Married Dr. Benyamin Teymourazof, an Army physician who worked in Sharifkhana, fled to Georgia because of the Russian retreat.
- Graduated from the Institute and taught Assyrian to children.
- Returned to Iran, assisted husband, became active in the Assyrian educational and cultural activities, and attended the Asian Free University. Studied ancient Iranian relics and monuments.
- 1939 – B.A. in Geography, dissertation on the homogeneity of cultures concluding that uniform ecological and social conditions lead to homogeneity of cultures and civilizations of different peoples.
- 1954 – Husband died. Moved to Tehran with her children.
- Founded the Assyrian Ladies Association to help the Assyrian Motva (Association). Raised twelve thousand Tomans, nearly two thousand dollars, to help the "Shooshan" Assyrian school.
- 1957 – Honorary Ph.D. from the Asian Free University for studies of the geographical, historical and human aspects of ancient Iranian relics. Elected honorary professor of the Asian Free University.
- 1957-1980 – Founded and trained Shamiram Folkloric Group, consisting of dancers, singers, and musicians.
- 1980 – Iranian Islamic Government forbade dancing and singing in public.
- The group became a permanent member of the Iranian Ministry of Fine Arts and presented many televised productions.
- 1957-1961 – Enabled Rickey Holden to produce phonograph record and booklets "Assyrian Folk Dances" (Folkraft Records, Newark, N.J.).
- 1960 – Awarded diploma by International Federation of Scientific Research Societies.
- Served as the vice president of "Congres Mondial Des Savants."
- Member of the "Conseil Academique International Jubilaire" and "Academia Asiatica."
- Awarded other diplomas, awards of merit and medals.
- 1962 – Further information published by Rickey Holden in Viltis, December 1962.
- Wrote autobiography and other books in Assyrian, including books of stories and poems for children.
- 1992, August 16 – Died of a heart attack at 92. Survived by daughter Ophelia, sons Tamraz and Sardanapal, and many grandchildren.
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