INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY SPECIAL: USING SUFI-STYLE DANCE AS SPIRITUAL AWAKENING EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN MERE ENTERTAINMENT

 

Created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) and partnered by UNESCO, the observance of International Dance Day (IDD) is held on April 29 since 1982. The observance is meant to recognise the value of dance as an art form and explore its multiple ramifications.

As we celebrate IDD, there is a need to look at dance away from the over-emphasized aspect in terms of its use as entertainment and fun. “Dance can be used to provide spiritual, kinaesthetic-cognitive, therapeutic and spiritual experiences. Some neuro-scientific and psycho-analytical studies suggest that through specifically designed dance forms, different states of consciousness can be felt and accessed including that of soulfulness,” I had blogged earlier.

Advocating the importance of spiritual dance, Gabrielle Roth says, 'Dance is the fastest, most direct route to the truth - not some big truth that belongs to everybody, but to get down and personal kind, the’s-happening-in-me-right-now kind of truth."

Narrating her experience, Roth, in her blog ‘The Spiritual Power of Dance’, observes, "As a young dancer, I made the transition from the world of steps and structures to the world of transformation and trance by exposure to live drumming. The beats, the patterns, the rhythms kept calling me deeper and deeper into my dance."

And, she adds, "Prayer is moving. Prayer is offering our bones back to the dance. Prayer is letting go of everything that impedes our inner silence. God is the dance and the dance is the way to freedom and freedom is our holy work."

"Dance is perhaps one of the oldest and most widespread practices known to man, which not only fulfills our need for free expression and leisurely catharsis, but also bridges a gap between the finite and infinite," says Aletheia Luna who deems Sufi dance as one the powerful spiritual dances.

Indian Classical Dance forms and folk circle dances also have spiritual awakening potential, if one goes by Hindu scriptures. But, scientific studies are required to find their effect on states of consciousness.