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Hz.
Suleiman Hayati Dede, Mevlevi Sheikh of Konya, Turkey (d.1986) traveled
many times to Western Europe and North America, bringing compassion and
love to the lives of all who were fortunate to meet him. In 1978 he sent
his son, Postneshin Jelaluddin Loras to America to continue fulfilling
Dede's inspiration; to bring the traditional teachings and practices of
the Mevlevi to the west. The Mevlevi Order of America offers regular classes,
seminars, and public Zikr ceremonies, and offers Sema, the Whirling Prayer
Ceremony to the public for Shebi Aruz, the anniversary of Mevlana's passing,
on December 17th each year. Music is an important part of their Remembrance
and Prayer. They have active circles in many cities on the west coast,
in upstate New York, Maui, and Honolulu. All people, of any religious or
spiritual tradition, are welcome to participate in these practices and
classes.
www.hayatidede.org |
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Perhaps
one of the oldest records of a dance contract can be found in the archives
of Greek papyri purchased by Cornell University. The following contract,
recorded in koine (the Greek used in the Hellenistic period), dates from
206 AD. "To Isadora, castanet dancer from Artemisia of the village of Philadelphia.
I wish to engage you with two other castanet dancers to perform at the
festival at my house for six days beginning with the 24th of the month
of Payni (May 26-June 24) according to the old calendar, you receive as
pay 36 drachmas for each day and for the entire period four artabas of
barley and 20 pairs of bread loaves and whatsoever garments or gold ornaments
you may bring down, we will guard these safely; and we will furnish you
with two donkeys when you come down to us and a like number when you go
back to the city. Year 14 of Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax and
Marcus Aurelius Antonius Pius, Augusti, and Publicus Septimus Geta Caesar
Augustus, Payni 16." The dancer Isadora is referred to specifically as
a "krotalistria," whereas the normal term for a dancer in Greek is "orchestria."
Therefore, Isadora was a specialist in castanet dancing.
www.bdancer.com/history/BDhist2b.html |
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Another
type of dance associated with Egyptian folkloric dance is the men's cane
dance, or stick dance. The Tahtib is the oldest form of Egyptian martial
art to have survived, intact, from remote antiquity according to Magda
Saleh. Egypt's first theatricalizer of folk dance, Mahmoud Reda, reports
viewing representations of this form depicted on the great monuments and
tombs in Luxor. The long stick used in the Tahtib in Egypt - thick and
solid bamboo staff - is known as Asa or Asaya, shoum or Nabboot. As Edward
Lane reported: "The Nebboot is a formidable weapon and is often seen in
the Egyptian peasant: he usually carries it on a journey; particularly
when he travels by night." The tahtib is a favorite at any festive occasion,
such as weddings, welcoming parties, and harvest festivals. It is also
practiced by the men as a pastime and used as a means of self-defense.
www.bdancer.com/history/BDhist2b.html |
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