One show that is sure to put you in a spin

Published on 05/02/2004 00:00

The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey

Queen's Hall, Clerk Street, 8pm, Tuesday 16, 0131 668 2019

WHIRLING dervish (wurl-ing dur-vish): a mystical dancer who stands between the material and cosmic worlds. His dance is part of a sacred ceremony in which the dervish rotates in a precise rhythm. He represents the earth revolving on its axis while orbiting the sun. The purpose of the ritual whirling is for the dervish to empty himself of all distracting thoughts, placing him in trance. Released from his body, he conquers dizziness.

THERE was a time when choosing which live entertainment was simple. You could enjoy a musical, get caught up in good drama, relax with a spot of comedy or perhaps chill out at a poetry reading.

Next week, however, for those after a slightly more challenging night out, The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey are set to spin into Edinburgh.

The Whirling Dervishes are a dance troupe with a difference.

All its members belong to a sect of Islamic mystics called Sufis, which traces its origins back to the renowned 13th-century poet Rumi and the Mevlevi Order he founded in Konya, Turkey.

Focusing on the self-development teachings of Rumi - which were based around poetry, music and the concept that dancing can be a form of prayer - the Whirling Dervishes were born. And it is the characteristic, ritual spinning on the spot representing an act of love and a dramatisation of faith that gives the dervishes their infamous name.

At the Queen’s Hall on Tuesday, the modern-day show promises to display the sheer passion of Sufi trance music. The aim - to heal, transform, and connect to the divine - makes the ceremony a spectacular sight.

They will performing the Sema (meditation in motion) which takes the form of a highly structured ceremony. The Sema is a choreographed dance in which the dervishes’ gentle turns become increasingly dynamic as they strive to achieve a state of trance.

"Prayer meets art in a spellbinding visual spectacle in which the only distraction from our state of bliss is the rustling of the Dervishes’ robes," explains their publicist.

Organiser Kola Adefope adds their last show in London two years ago not only sold out but left people fascinated and wanting more. It’s the reason for the current tour, which is set to visit London and Dublin before finishing in Edinburgh.

Adefope says: "It will be a rare and spectacular visual event. The audiences are always amazed. There is no applause throughout - just a silent appreciation of what is being witnessed."

The dance is accompanied by the renowned Turkish Suleyman Erguner Ensemble comprising traditional reed flutes, strings, percussion and voice.

The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey promise an "astounding night of music, dance and mystique" with a unique twist.