6 Interesting Things About Sufi Dance From Turkey

Are you ever heard or watch Sufi dance ? Surely you are wondering how can they spin in a long time ? Are they not feel dizzy ?

Sufi dance not like ordinary dance or a blend of art and culture. Sufi circles regard this dance as a ritual outside of worship that serve as a solemn practice like other worship services. Here i wil discuss a couple things about Sufi dance, lets check it out.

1. History the sufi dance

Sufi dance known as whirling dervishes or often refered to as sema, wich means heard is came from Anatolia region of Turkey  since the 13th century. This dance was inspired by a Persian poet named Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi. Rumi perform this dance first time when his spiritual teacher dies. He perform a Sufi dance as an expression of his sadness. Since then, Rumi started spinning even up to 3 days 3 night.

2. Dance while meditating

Sufi dance is also considered as a part of self meditation. This meditation is closely is related to islam sufism. The dancers were also expected to reach the perfection of their faith, to abolish their passions, to abandon their ego, and personal desire in life. Then, the dancer will experience ecstasy and merge with the divine.

3. Ritual before dancing and dancing technique

If you want  to be skillful in doing this dance, you have to do some ritual first. The most important ritual is dzikir. This dance will be accompanied by typical middle eastern music and picture of a typical mystical journey of Sufi understanding. The Sufi dance is divided into four sections. First, there will be a solo singer singing a song of praise to Prophet Muhammad SAW and followed by an improvisation of flute musical instrument. This section is called Naat. The second is Devr-i Veled, the dancer will bend over each other. The third process becomes the main part of this dance. In this process, the dancer will rotate outside the dance leader in the middle. Finally, the Taksim section, wich is the dance leader read the verse of Quran and perform prayer.

4. The meaning of Sufi dance movement

Sufi dance movement not like ordinary movement. Each part of Sufi dance ceremony has its own meaning. Naat section has the meaning of human separation with God. The Devr-i Veled section is done as a form of recognizing the divine breath that has breathed spirits in man. In the main part, the rotating dancers are likened to the moon, and the dance leader is likened to the sun. They rotate counterclockwise as a form of embracing humanity with love. The movement also symbolizes the spin of the universe and the tawaf round in the Kaaba.

5. Sufi dance attribute and music instrument

The attribute they wear are elongated caps, large black robes, white shirts that extend at the bottom like skirts, and footware. They bowed in honor, then took of their black cloack. The position of their hand is taped to the chest and crossed gripping the shoulder. Sufi dance usually use a flute instrument called ney. And there are also use gnawa, a musical instrument from western Africa.

6. Sufi dancers costume philosophy

The elongated hat known as sikke symbolize the gravestones of the wali and the sufis in the plains of the Middle East. The back robe symbolize the grave and the white shirt symbolize the shroud. The color of the shirt is made so that people always remember death. In that way, they will be easier to control the lust and ego of the world. Sufi dancer footwear is called kuff. It is said that the Prophet Muhammad SAW also wearing a kuff during the trip anywhere, especially in winter. Uniquely, if you use a kuff when performing wudhu you don't have to take it off.

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