Sufi Dancers

A few months back I, Miranda and a few friends decided to go see a Sufi Dance performance over by The Khan. We got our first taste of using the Metro train to here. This is the cheapest way for us to get from Maadi to Downtown. It cost 1LE($0.15) to get on the train and then go where ever it may take you. We went out on a school night thinking it would be a quick show. It ended up being about a 2 hour show but it was totally worth it. This was amazing to see this performance. The performance involved singing, playing of different instruments and also the dancing itself, also called Sufi Twirling. It was absolutely amazing watching these men just twirl around for such an extensive period of time. One spun in place for about 15 minutes straight. We couldn’t believe it. 

After doing some research I found that this is actually a form of physical meditation. The hats they wear represent the “tombstone of the ego” and the skirt represents “the ego’s shroud.” Below is a bit more of what everything in the performance represents:

In the symbolism of the Sema ritual, the semazen's camel's hair hat (sikke) represents the tombstone of the ego; his wide, white skirt represents the ego's shroud. By removing his black cloak, he is spiritually reborn to the truth. At the beginning of the Sema, by holding his arms crosswise, the semazen appears to represent the number one, thus testifying to God's unity. While whirling, his arms are open: his right arm is directed to the sky, ready to receive God's beneficence; his left hand, upon which his eyes are fastened, is turned toward the earth. The semazen conveys God's spiritual gift to those who are witnessing the Sema. Revolving from right to left around the heart, the semazen embraces all humanity with love. The human being has been created with love in order to love. Mevlâna Jalâluddîn Rumi says, "All loves are a bridge to Divine love. Yet, those who have not had a taste of it do not know!"

Sadly I was not able to get much video of this performance because video is not allowed but I have uploaded a very short video I was able to get before I was told to stop recording. Also please enjoy the pictures I was allowed to take. This was an amazing thing to see, it was a different taste of the culture here. To be able to sit and watch it was wonderful. I hope to go back once more to see it again before our departure in July. But we still have other things we want to see before we go. I hope you enjoy.