Next week we have two activities that are centered around the Sufi tradition.
Sufi Music, Dance, and Tales Performance
Thursday, March 23
7 PM
$15
Often defined as the mystical or esoteric strand of Islam, Sufism’s defining feature is the centrality of the individual’s direct relationship with God. It’s a way of life in which a deeper identity is discovered and lived. This deeper identity, beyond the already known personality, is in harmony with all that exists.
During this magical evening, Esteban Valdivia (Argentina) and Gustavo Perez (Colombia) will play sacred Sufi music while Erika Dederle (Colombia) will enter into the sacred whirling dervish dance that has been practiced for centuries. The whirling dervish is an active mediation practice performed within a worship ceremony through which dervishes aim to reach the source of all perfection, or dharma.
The evening will be rounded out with the reading of Sufi tales.
Sufi Whirling Workshop and Sama Mevlevi
Saturday, March 25
10 AM – 1 PM
$30
In this workshop, you will learn the basic principles of the Sufi dance technique, called Sema, which unifies music, dance, and Sufi mysticism. Whirling is not only a physical exercise, but implies an internal preparation, a connection with the spirit, an exercise that has been developed for hundreds of years and achieved its maximum expression in the tradition of the whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order, in Konya. -Turkey- 13th century. The teacher who originated this order was Maulana Jalaludi Rumi, who acquired this spiritual expression in a complex ritual created to ecstasy the soul by connecting the turns of the human being with the cycles of the planets and stars.
In the workshop we will dance with traditional Mevlevi music, using traditional instruments such as the flute called Ney, the leather drums, bendir, the Turkish harp, Kanun, and other instruments of the region.
Each person will go at his or her own pace. No experience necessary.
To make reservations for the performance and to register for the workshop, contact: res@idiomartcuenca.com
idiomART is located at: Mariscal Lamar 14-25 y Estevez de Toral; Cuenca, Ecuador
Sarah HB
