By John Pitcher, *Famous dancers engaged in religious ritual* - Omaha World-Herald - Omaha, NE, USAThursday, August 6, 2009
Legend has it that the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi chanced by a goldsmith shop one day and began whirling to the rhythm of the hammers. The order of the Whirling Dervishes was born.
Next week, some of the great Islamic poet’s spiritual descendants — the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi — will appear at the Rose Theater. The group, sponsored by the Niagara Foundation of Nebraska, will perform in several Midwest cities. The tour will culminate with an appearance at the Turkish World Festival in Chicago later in the month.
The dervishes, with their long, twirling, umbrella-shaped skirts, are among the most famous dancers in history.
Yet their famed movements are not theatrical performances. They are part of an elaborate religious ritual. Applause, therefore, is discouraged at the end of a Whirling Dervish performance.
“The whirling is strictly an expression of religious ecstasy,” said Bridget Blomfield, an assistant professor of Islamic studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Blomfield, who will give a short lecture on Rumi’s poetry before the performance on Wednesday, said the Whirling Dervishes are practitioners of Sufism. They are the mystics of Islam. Among other things, they emphasize peace and tolerance. And they are ecumenical in their faith — they believe all religions offer valid paths to God.
“Sufism is like Buddhism,” Blomfield said. “If you make a mistake, a Sufist or Buddhist will chuckle and ask what you’ve learned. They don’t talk about punishment.”
Rumi’s poetry is an expression of love and ecstasy. The Whirling Dervishes express those same sentiments in movement.
The performance is divided into two parts. The first opens with a prayer and includes performances from a drummer and flute player. In the second part, the dancers begin to whirl. They keep their arms crossed at first, but as the speed increases, the arms are raised and the palms are turned upward.
Blomfield said she has whirled and found the experience unforgettable.
“You do achieve a real inner silence, which allows you to hear and see the chaos of the world around you.”
[Picture: Prof. Dr. Bridget Blomfield. Photo: http://www.unomaha.edu/religion/Blomfield.htm]
Legend has it that the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi chanced by a goldsmith shop one day and began whirling to the rhythm of the hammers. The order of the Whirling Dervishes was born.
Next week, some of the great Islamic poet’s spiritual descendants — the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi — will appear at the Rose Theater. The group, sponsored by the Niagara Foundation of Nebraska, will perform in several Midwest cities. The tour will culminate with an appearance at the Turkish World Festival in Chicago later in the month.
The dervishes, with their long, twirling, umbrella-shaped skirts, are among the most famous dancers in history.
Yet their famed movements are not theatrical performances. They are part of an elaborate religious ritual. Applause, therefore, is discouraged at the end of a Whirling Dervish performance.
“The whirling is strictly an expression of religious ecstasy,” said Bridget Blomfield, an assistant professor of Islamic studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Blomfield, who will give a short lecture on Rumi’s poetry before the performance on Wednesday, said the Whirling Dervishes are practitioners of Sufism. They are the mystics of Islam. Among other things, they emphasize peace and tolerance. And they are ecumenical in their faith — they believe all religions offer valid paths to God.
“Sufism is like Buddhism,” Blomfield said. “If you make a mistake, a Sufist or Buddhist will chuckle and ask what you’ve learned. They don’t talk about punishment.”
Rumi’s poetry is an expression of love and ecstasy. The Whirling Dervishes express those same sentiments in movement.
The performance is divided into two parts. The first opens with a prayer and includes performances from a drummer and flute player. In the second part, the dancers begin to whirl. They keep their arms crossed at first, but as the speed increases, the arms are raised and the palms are turned upward.
Blomfield said she has whirled and found the experience unforgettable.
“You do achieve a real inner silence, which allows you to hear and see the chaos of the world around you.”
[Picture: Prof. Dr. Bridget Blomfield. Photo: http://www.unomaha.edu/religion/Blomfield.htm]
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