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Sufi dance takes over central Java boarding school
"The Sufi dance is founded on overwhelming joy; love without racial, ethnic and religious discrimination."
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Give it a whirl: By twirling counterclockwise, dancers follow the rotation of the universe. (JP/Suherdjoko)
T
he Sufi dance, better known as the Whirling Dervishes, began as a meditative method of discovering the divine that was made popular by the Mevlevi Order in the early 1200s.
The traditional Turkish dance is currently being taught to students at Al Ishlah Islamic boarding school in Tembalang subdistrict, Semarang, Central Java.
“The Sufi dance is meditation in motion. One of the arms is folded across the chest, symbolizing a lack of charity while expecting to go to heaven. The other arm symbolizes sinfulness while failing to endure suffering in hell. Finally, the chosen path is the acceptance of Allah,” said kyai (cleric) Budi Harjono, the principal of Al Ishlah.
The dance is performed by turning — or “whirling” – counterclockwise, representing the rotation of the universe. Dancers wear elongated hats that symbolize gravestones and are dressed in white robes that portray shrouds.
“We are carrying gravestones, dressed in shrouds. It means that behind death, there is life. The Sufi dance is founded on overwhelming joy; love without racial, ethnic and religious discrimination,” added Budi, combining the practice with local culture.
