Sufi Dance
Sufism, its Masters say, is not a way of the head but of the heart. Sufism is the mystical tradition of Islam. Jalaluddin Rumi, a thirteenth-century Persian Sufi, poet and founder of the Mevlana Order, developed the distinct ritual dance. Because his dances consisted mostly of turning in place or spinning around a central point or pillar, Rumi's disciples came to be known in the West as "whirling dervishes."
This is multi-layered form of religious dance which is practiced by men and women. The tall white hat worn whilst dancing represents a grave stone, worn to symbolise the death of the ego. The moves are simple, turning with one hand up and one hand down. The idea is to bring energy from heaven to the earth. Although not complicated it is very difficult for the novice to spin like this for long periods. The moves are tied up in trance and religious feelings of oneness, community and connection with God. Frowned upon by fundamentalist Islam, the Sufis religion has a very transcendental take on the Muslim faith. This is illustrated by how Sufis sometimes greet one another with the phrase,Ya Azim: "How wonderfully God manifests to me through you."