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THE WHIRLING DERVISHES OF DAMASCUS RETURN TO WROCŁAW!

Several mystical accounts of divine origins are closely connected with music. They tell of the soul, heavenly by its very nature, refusing to take form until it was seduced by an angelic voice chosen by God. In Islam, religious songs are described by the general term inshad, meaning to desire and strive towards something, to have a goal, to follow a quest.

The Whirling Dervishes of Damascus and musicians performing
THE WHIRLING DERVISHES OF DAMASCUS RETURN TO WROCŁAW!

HADRA DANCE (DIVINE PRESENCE)

19 JANUARY 2023

Ethno Jazz Festival is honoured to invite you once again to an extraordinary mystical spectacle by the Whirling Dervishes of Damascus. The Syrian Whirling Dervishes of the Mawlawi brotherhood, with a guest appearance by the outstanding Quranic singer Noureddine Khourchid, will perform on 19 January at the White Stork Synagogue, a central venue in
Wrocław’s Four Denominations District of Mutual Respect.

Poetically, the inshad repertoire encompasses songs of praise to God and prayers. It praises the Prophet, tells of his birth and ascension, and recounts his heroic deeds and miracles. Much Sufi poetry also concerns divine love and ecstasy. The lyrics compile passages from poems sharing a theme but originating in different sources and historical periods. Sama, a spiritual concert, and the trance of the Hadra dance, meaning divine presence, directly express many mystical paths to God. The fundamental aim is to draw closer to God by purifying the soul through the practice of dhikr, or remembrance.

The Sufi sama ceremony may be purely vocal or accompanied by instruments, depending on the order and its rules. Instruments are considered part of the ritual, played not for pleasure but for the explicit purpose of praising the Creator.

Alongside the sung repertoire, the inshad tradition has also developed in the Muslim Arab world. It is sustained by professional singers, or cantors, who may belong to Sufi orders, although this is not always the case. They are invited to lead religious ceremonies, especially during Mawlid, the anniversary of the Prophet's birth, and on other holy days.

This ensemble of nine munhid cantors and two dancers is known for professionalism and fluid performance, appearing worldwide. Dancers from the Mawlawi brotherhood perform with them. The brotherhood’s founder is considered Jalaluddin Rumi, Sufi mystic and poet called Mevlana, “Our Master”, by his pupils. The familiar name whirling dervishes, however, derives from their distinctive expression of devotion to God.

They pray to God in an intriguing way: through dance. A characteristic feature of this order is meditation in motion, through a series of dance figures, the most spectacular being the dancers spinning around their own axes. Hence the name: whirling dervishes. This spinning is intended to imitate the movement of celestial bodies, which, according to Mevlevi belief, intensifies love for God within the human soul. During the dance, the dervishes almost lose themselves in the experience, feeling it profoundly. Through it, they express their unity with God. The dance aims to achieve a spiritual trance.

Noureddine Khourshid was born in Damascus in 1966. By the age of five, he was regularly accompanying his father to weekly Muslim religious ceremonies. He studied the Quran and religion as required, also receiving training in religious singing, before deciding to devote himself to religious studies. His talent and vocal abilities soon attracted attention. In 1987, he founded a group specialising in religious songs and songs in praise of the Prophet.

The Wrocław performance will feature the following line-up:

Noureddin KHOURCHID: Lead Voice
Abdulrahman MODAWAR: Solo, Choirs & Riqq
Mohamad KAHIL: Solo, choirs & Duff
Hassan ARBACH: Solo & choirs
Adel HALIMA: Choirs
Hamdi MALAS: Choirs & Duff
Mohamad KODMANI: Oud
Hatem ALJAMAL: Whirling dervish
Yazan ALJAMAL: Whirling dervish
Ahmad ALTAIR: Whirling dervish
Noureddin KHOURCHID: Lead Voice
Abdulrahman MODAWAR: Solo, Choirs & Riqq
Mohamad KAHIL: Solo, choirs & Duff
Hassan ARBACH: Solo & choirs
Adel HALIMA: Choirs
Hamdi MALAS: Choirs & Duff
Mohamad KODMANI: Oud
Hatem ALJAMAL: Whirling dervish
Yazan ALJAMAL: Whirling dervish
Ahmad ALTAIR: Whirling dervish

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Event details

THE WHIRLING DERVISHES OF DAMASCUS RETURN TO WROCŁAW

Date

18 January 2023

19:00

Venue

WHITE STORK SYNAGOGUEWrocław