'Whirling Dervishes' celebrates 800th anniversary of the birth of poet-mystic Rumi

By Valerie Scher
CLASSICAL MUSIC CRITIC

November 15, 2007

Spinning like human tops, with billowing skirts and rapt expressions, Turkey's whirling dervishes seem to defy physical limitations.

ArtPower! at UC San Diego Turkey's whirling dervishes use spinning as a means of achieving harmony with the universe.

Unlike ballet dancers, they don't use the head-whipping “spotting” technique to avoid dizziness. Yet their spins – called “rounds” – can last for many minutes, far surpassing the famous 32 fouette turns in “Swan Lake.”

“Dervishes don't count their turns. Whatever they do, they feel it is not sufficient to express their love for God,” said tour manager Cenk Erdem, spokesman for the Istanbul-based Galata Dervishes, which appear tomorrow at UCSD's Mandeville Auditorium.

This year is the 800th anniversary of the birth of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, better known as Rumi, the Muslim mystic and poet who was the founder of dervish culture. In celebration, the Galata Dervishes have embarked on a monthlong North American tour that includes UCSD's ArtPower! program, titled “Ecstasy of the Whirling Dervishes.”

DETAILS "Ecstasy of the Whirling Dervishes” When: Tomorrow, 8 p.m.; pre-performance discussion at 6:45 p.m. Where: UCSD's Mandeville Auditorium, Mandeville Lane near GilmanDrive, La Jolla Tickets: $34 and $38; $17 and $19 for UCSD students Phone: (858) 534-TIXS Online: artpower.ucsd.edu

Traveling with the company is Esin Celebi, a 67-year-old female descendent of Rumi's, who will make a speech before tomorrow's event. The 16 practitioners in the all-male ensemble – eight dancers, six instrumentalists and two vocalists – range from engineers and tourism managers to professional musicians.

“Being a dervish is just part of their lifestyle,” said Erdem, a psychologist. “They're not into extreme religion, you see? When we were in New York City, we went shopping and visited outlet malls.”

The dancers usually begin training when they're about 9 years old, though some don't start until they're teenagers. The basic technique involves raising the right foot while keeping the left foot on the ground. Students strengthen their sense of balance by slowly revolving on a wooden board, with the toes of one foot positioned around a nail. It takes at least a year to become proficient at whirling.

DERVISH DELIGHT 'Ecstasy of the Whirling Dervishes” brings a reverent tradition to a new audience. Here are some things worth knowing: The word “dervish” comes from the word for “doorway,” signifying the entrance to a spiritual state. Before whirling, the dancers take off black cloaks that symbolize the material world. Their white garments represent spirituality. Their tall hats symbolize the tombstone of the ego. During the ceremony, it's believed that the power of the heavens travels from the upward right palm into the body and exits through the downward left palm and goes into the earth. – VALERIE SCHER

“The dancers go into a trance. It's like meditation,” Erdem said. “That keeps them from getting dizzy. And the music gives them energy.”

The kudum – a small double drum – is crucial to the opening of the ritual, making a sound that he compares to “the Big Bang, the birth of the universe.”

Such cosmic associations help explain the enduring appeal of the dervishes.

“We are often slaves to our egos so the idea of leaving the ego really fascinates people,” said Erdem. “People are so ambitious and try to be so rational that they neglect the heart. Rumi believed that love gets us closer to God.”

Even if you don't whirl, watching and listening is beneficial, according to the dervishes.

“It's purifying not just for the dancers but for the audience,” said their spokesman. “If people concentrate on the movements and the music, they will feel the love.”

 Valerie Scher: (619) 293-1038; valerie.scher@uniontrib.com

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