Noureddine Khourchid & The Whirling Dervishes of Damascus

In the whirling counter-clockwise dance of the sema, the Sufis seek harmony with the cosmos, which is likewise in perpetual circling motion. The dance is a symbol of longing for a reunion with the divine, from which man has temporarily been separated. The body becomes a spindle, heaven and earth are united and the whole of humanity is embraced. The origins of this Dervish ritual are found in Konya in Anatolia, where it emerged from the thirteenth century onwards as a practice of the Mevlevi Order, devotees of the famous mystic Rumi.

Khourchid’s ensemble features two Mevlevi dancers and seven Munshid (religious singers) from the Shâdhiliyya Order. Instrumental accompaniment from the Arab lute oud and frame drums support the fervent singing – an evening that promises a deep breath of spirituality.