Rana Gorgani, ambassador of Sufi dance in the West, offers a unique experience: a sensory dive into the Sufi universe.
With this artistic creation, the whirling dervish presents different aspects of Sufism, where spirituality, symbolism and socio-cultural reality are intertwined.
Through her words and her body, she weaves links between the arts: poetry, miniatures, architecture, music and of course dance.
This event is not only a transmission of rarely shared Sufi knowledge but also a dance show.
The artist, trained in dance anthropology and ethnomusicology, transmits his knowledge of Sufism to us. Far from the academic and educational aspect, this conference adapts to the public and is intended to be interactive.
In a conservatory, the content will focus on music, in a library, on poems and sacred texts
True mystical quest, Sufism is above all an inner search, a deep listening of one’s being, via meditation, music or trance states...
Dance, a path of understanding the universe, is notably introduced thanks to the poetry of Rûmî. This Persian mystical poet of the thirteenth century puts Love at the heart of this quest.
“There are many paths that lead to God and I have chosen the one of music and dance. ” – Rûmî –
The links between the Sufi dance and the natural cycles of the Earth, the stars, the cosmos, and the universe are exposed, while making connections with other Islamic arts such as calligraphy or miniatures.
“Do you know why the disciples of love, in the midst of their dances, lift and wave their arms? It is the door of the divine fragrances that opens at this moment in front of them, and, by this inspired gesture, they seem to push back the entire creation. – Saadi –
This introduction to Sufi dance has a strong bias: that of the feminine. In a world where whirling dervishes are mainly men, Rana Gorgani brings a new light thanks to its peculiarity of female whirling dervish. The major mystical symbols of Sufism are introduced. They are identical in architecture, miniatures, poetry or danced movements. In the Sufi dance, each gesture carries a strong poetic symbolism. The sun, the candle, the rose or even the perfume: these metaphorical and sacred elements each have a meaning coming to nourish the steps of the dancers.
The different countries where the Sufi dance is practiced today are presented. Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria or Iraq: the particularities of dance in each territory are retraced. The historical aspect is addressed by explaining in which context the dance developed or was repressed. Different periods are mentioned, going up to 2000 years before our era.
A time of questions-answers comes to close the show.
The danced interludes give substance to the conference. The Sufi swirling, a true upward spiral, touches the viewer in their intimacy, a dialogue from heart to heart and soul to soul.
Music occupies a major place : resulting from numerous researches, the soundtrack reveals the richness of Sufi music.
Optionally, a musician can also perform some live tracks, making the discovery more vivid.
“ La force du corps en mouvement ne laisse plus de place au psychisme.
C’est une nouvelle rencontre avec soi-même qui opère.
Le mouvement du tourneur, c’est l’émancipation de l’âme.
Ce mouvement de tournoiement balaie tout, la seule chose qui reste c’est le souffle. ”
– Rana Gorgani –
DURATION
between 60 minutes and 90 minutes.
FOR ALL AGES
from 7 years. 1 artist (can be accompanied by a musician).
MINIMUM STAGE SPACE
3m x 4m. The show is played in a frontal relationship with the audience. It adapts to any type of place where one can make enough darkness for video projections.
EQUIPMENT
1 lectern, screen, video projector with sound system, 1 HF or wireless lavalier microphone table provided by the reception structure
DECOR, ACCESSORIES
provided by the artist.
LIGHTS
ensured by a. e régisseur.se of the place hosting the danced conference. Allow enough distance between screen and game space to be able to illuminate the artist without making the images disappear from the slideshow.
VIDEO MANAGEMENT
ensured by the artist with remote control provided by the organizer. Slide show on Keynote, mac + VGA cable provided by the company.
EDITING TIME
45 minutes
REHEARSAL TIME
if possible a service, the day before and/or 2 hours on the day of the show.
LOGE
plan a quiet room with mirror and correct lighting for makeup + water + dried fruits.
NOTE
of the workshops «Sufi dance» all audiences can precede or follow this conference.
Photos, reproductions of paintings, soundtracks but also dance costumes: funds of great quality are unveiled.
The artist presents images from archives that will not be found elsewhere, whether they are Persian miniatures, unpublished Persian paintings, with some shots dating from the 1930s.
Some soundtracks are recordings made especially for this show and most of the music is difficult to access by the general public.
The texts and poems of Persian authors such as Rûmî, Hafez, Attar, Saadi or Shoravardi are shared; they have been at the heart of Rana Gorgani’s research work for more than 30 years.
“To a disciple saying to him:
I have traveled a great distance
to meet you,
The Master to answer:
It would have taken you one step, if you had set forth from your soul.”
– Shoravardi –
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