whirling dervishes is a kind of islamic ceremony to remember the god. By whirling ,the dancer can feel more close to the god. The ceremony represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to the " Perfect" .Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth, and arrives at the "Perfect". He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, able to love and to be of service to the whole of creation.
my experience of watching whirling dervishes performance was begin in an museum hall,with some old leader's portraits hanging on the wall.
the traditional musical ceremony was opening show.
the dancers were wearing white clothes with long wide skirts, before whirling, they stand still as a process of pray.
the continuing whirling process let the dancer's long skirts flying in the hall space. they move smoothly and change the positions. though the music's rhythm changed a lot, the dancing process was calm and peaceful.Dancing slowly from still to whirling, with the skirts and hands fully occupying the hall space. the museum lobby changed into a spiritual hall in this moment.
i try to record the status of how the dancing activity occupy the space by sketches in a choreographic way. the process of whirling became a mental memory. No doubt, the ceremony has given the hall space another character,and create new relation here between performer and audience.
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