Sufi Dancing

They say that "what goes around, comes around." Sufi dancing proves this, in a most beautiful way. And ANYONE can take part, for Sufi dancing can be adapted for even the physically challenged. All you need is a willingness to touch the hands of a stranger.

Imagine some ten to thirty celebrants holding hands to form one large circle. Facing the center of the circle, the dancers always begin by honoring the Divine. (It's customary to honor Sufi dancing's roots by invoking the name of "Allah," which has a pleasing sound and rhythm when repeated, but any other name for divinity can be substituted.)

Stepping forward toward the circle's center, the dancers gradually raise their joined hands as they take seven steps, with each step singing "Allah" in a rising, minor key, tonal scale. So going inwards, we hear "Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah," and with the seventh "Allah," all pairs of raised, joined hands have met--neighbors are now touching.

Without breaking the rhythm, the celebrants now take seven steps backwards, repeating "Allah" with each step (singing now in a descending minor key, a single scale) and lowering their still-clasped hands till they are returned to their original positions.

This set of movements is repeated six more times, and each time the circle contracts and expands like the lungs of some great breathing being. The dancers begin to catch the sense of beauty in this union... with each repetition you see faces glow more brightly and hear voices raised more joyfully in celebration.

Having honored the Divine, it is time for the dancers to honor each other. Now the celebrants turn to face their neighbors, forming pairs. To the cadence of sweetly harmonic chants, perhaps accompanied by guitar, they move through a series of affirmations, at the end of each affirmation changing partners (as in a "Grand Right and Left" in American square dancing), and repeating the affirmation until the original partner is again met.

One such affirmation sequence might look like this: partners match each other's outstretched hands, palms touching, as they sing/chant words like these: "I am willing to open my eyes and see your innocence. A child of God you are; a mirror of myself."

Perhaps they may meet right hands and repeat a chant such as this: "The diamond remains ever a diamond, even though covered by centuries of dirt. Nothing you have done has ever altered the beauty that lives within." (See Credits.)

Dancing should continue for at least an hour, for the effect of these repeated affirmations is cumulative. Who can hear such positive acceptance, who can GIVE such positive acceptance over and over without being moved? The words you speak with a full, open heart are returned to you in equal measure, and the circle of strangers becomes a community of supportive friends, aware of the interconnectedness, the interdependence of us all.

Though Sufi dancing began in Islamic mysticism, today it is being used as a heart-opening, soul-expanding exercise without regard to religious affiliation. For Sufi dancing's great genius is its TRUE universality. Its implications are profound, its effects deeply moving.

Try it. You'll be glad you did!