By Emily Guendelsberger - Philadelphia Weekly - Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.December 12-17, 2007
The sema, the spinning religious ceremony most people think of when they hear “whirling dervishes,” originated in Turkey 800 years ago.
Sufi mystic and poet Jelaluddin Rumi, author of countless “love poems to the divine,” felt even in his pre-Copernican day that the place of all things in the universe was to revolve in harmony.
The distinctive turning ceremony he created to represent this idea is open to the public, accompanied by music and quite beautiful. Just don’t clap.
The spectacle is the ultimate expression of a religious philosophy that’s all about love, so it’s apt this octocentennial sema is taking place in one of the few cities in the world with love in its name, offering a rare opportunity to see the whirling dervishes of Istanbul without crossing the Atlantic, as well as a chance to hear translations of Rumi’s poetry.
Fri., Dec. 14-Sat., Dec. 15, 8pm. $30-$55.
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St. 215.898.3900
Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. http://www.pennpresents.org/
The sema, the spinning religious ceremony most people think of when they hear “whirling dervishes,” originated in Turkey 800 years ago.
Sufi mystic and poet Jelaluddin Rumi, author of countless “love poems to the divine,” felt even in his pre-Copernican day that the place of all things in the universe was to revolve in harmony.
The distinctive turning ceremony he created to represent this idea is open to the public, accompanied by music and quite beautiful. Just don’t clap.
The spectacle is the ultimate expression of a religious philosophy that’s all about love, so it’s apt this octocentennial sema is taking place in one of the few cities in the world with love in its name, offering a rare opportunity to see the whirling dervishes of Istanbul without crossing the Atlantic, as well as a chance to hear translations of Rumi’s poetry.
Fri., Dec. 14-Sat., Dec. 15, 8pm. $30-$55.
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St. 215.898.3900
Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. http://www.pennpresents.org/
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