Today I will show you tanura - a traditional Arabic dance that we watched while having dinner on a dhow boat. Here I want to make it clear right away - they didn’t tell us about him, so I’m taking the certificate from the Internet. Next there will be a lot of photographs, I will rarely add notes to them, because there is nothing to write except “spinning, spinning, spinning, spinning.” Here. But there are even two GIFs waiting for you.

To start - historical reference, taken from the Internet.

Tanura is a dizzying male, Sufi dance with skirts and tambourines of Arab dervishes, during which the performer spins around his axis for several minutes.
The art of dance is passed on from generation to generation, shamanic practices are used, the dance continues by rotating in right side 15-20-30 minutes. (Egypt)

The history of dance dates back to the 13th century, when Sufis under the leadership of Jalaluddin Rumi, a Persian philosopher and poet, indulging in prayer and asceticism, came to know God.
The gifted Jalaluddin Rumi found a path that still confuses orthodox theologians - the path of music and dance. The dance of the dervishes was originally a temple ritual, an action for initiates. To be admitted to the sama, the monk spent three years in a monastery, in strict asceticism: the first year he served his neighbors, the second - Allah, and the third he perfected his soul.
Unlike many mystics, Rumi considered it obligatory for every Sufi to fulfill religious precepts. At the same time, he attached exceptional importance to listening to music and singing, as well as dancing during collective celebrations. Rumi believed that earthly music is a reflection of the music of the celestial spheres, expressing the primordial awe of creation. The sacred dance of the dervishes, which has the character of a real divine service, personifies the dizzying round dance of the planets, filling the cosmos with triumphant joy.
Dance also plays a significant role during the collective celebrations of the Maulawiyya Sufi brotherhood, the founder of which was Rumi. After Rumi's death in 1273, this Sufi order gradually spread throughout the Ottoman Empire, and in some Muslim countries it still exists today. Novices who join this order are isolated from society for much longer. longer period than in other fraternities. They spend 1001 days in the monastery, that is, about 3 years. They devote the first year to serving their neighbors, the second to serving Allah, and the third to caring for own soul. The young dervish lives in a community and leads a life of strict abstinence, performing the most difficult work on the orders of his elders.
However, initiation gives him the right to participate under the direction of the sheikh in the cosmic dance ceremony called "sama". Dressed in white robes, symbolizing the funeral shroud, in a high felt headdress, reminiscent of a gravestone, wrapped in long black cloaks, representing the grave, which they throw off at the beginning of the dance as a sign of liberation from the carnal shell for a new birth, the dervishes circle around the dancer in the center of the sheikh is like a planet around the sun. Thus, to the sounds of the flute and drum, the highest union with Allah is realized. Today Rumi is recognized as the greatest mystic of all time. In the East, they believe that anyone who repeats the lines of Rumi's poem "Masnavi" in the mornings and evenings will avoid burning in hellfire, for "Masnavi", according to the poet Jami, is "the Koran in Persian language." Spiritual heritage Rumi is also highly regarded in the West. Even Hegel, who was extremely stingy with praise, considered him “brilliant.”

It so happened that the closed ritual turned out to be extremely spectacular, and its artistic value is obvious. The whirlwind created by the whirling dervishes, rhythmic music, hypnotize and captivate the viewer. Contemplating the dance, he receives some news about the world. Therefore, the dance-prayer of the Persian Sufis is now actively performed on stage in Turkey, and every year a dervish festival is held at Rumi’s grave.

No other dance has such a strange costume. Dervishes dance in tall red caps, white long dresses with a very wide skirt, and the black cape is discarded at the beginning of the dance. But here is the meaning of the outfit: the white robe symbolizes the shroud, the hat symbolizes the gravestone, and the cape symbolizes the coffin covers. The dance of the dervishes is a reflection on the world, a drama of death and rebirth; it is not for nothing that the grave covers are thrown off at the very beginning.

The position of the dancers on stage is also significant: they gather in a circle, in the center of which is the main dervish. This is not such a rare arrangement, but in this case it itself symbolizes the Sun and the planets, and in this cosmic dance the dervishes connect the sky and the Earth: for this, one palm of the outstretched hands is turned upward, and the other downward.

In an ecstatic trance state, with their heads thrown back, dervishes can spin for as long as it seems humanly impossible. It’s as if the dance is over, the dervishes fall to their knees. But – the music starts again, and the whirling will continue.
This art is passed down from father to son, i.e. in fact, by inheritance, which means it is a family matter. A little boy Since childhood, he has been learning this difficult craft and repeating his father’s mesmerizing rotations.

Tanura, an Egyptian stage performance of the dervish dance, means "skirt" in Arabic. The performer's costume consists of several heavy skirts, layered one on top of the other. The fabric is dense and heavy, sometimes the weight of the suit reaches 10 kg.

This dance, despite the deceptive ease of execution, is one of the most difficult dances not only in the Arab world, but in the dance world in general. This requires a unique vestibular apparatus, endurance and strong physical strength. All this is necessary because while performing the dance, the performer rotates around himself for 15 minutes, while holding tambourines and other objects in his hands, he performs a colorful folklore show. This is one of the most spectacular performances that can be seen in Egypt in Sharm Al-Sheikh, in the Palace of 1001 Nights.

Information taken from the sites: www.arabicdance.ru, www.art.1001chudo.ru

The dancer really spins very quickly, throwing and twirling first 2 tambourines, then 3, then 4, then 7...

The man on the right realized that he couldn’t take pictures. He didn't try again.

The guy behind me realized that he couldn’t shoot anything with his Canon either. Muahahaha, I can even go to Sonya.

Diamonds put aside - it's time for the ribbon!

Let's increase the level of entertainment - turn on the lights! And the handyman behind me realized that it was better for him to shoot with an iPhone than with a Canon.

By this point, ten to fifteen minutes had already passed, people began to get tired of the constant spinning, although it really looks amazing. The dance ended, the Arab came up with a new entertainment.

“Shall we go?” he says:)

Anyone could try to twirl their skirts - not everyone succeeded, and many could not spin for long - the vestibular region is not so prepared :)

This madam charged everyone not only with her smile, but also with her dancing and in addition to her skirt. Drunk, cheerful, happy!

The young handyman was also given a try)

Everything about this photo is perfect.

And we thought that the charge of positivity would be limited to the plump aunt, but no - now her friend is lighting it up.

New tricks - twisting a skirt with your hand. By the way, yes, for those who are worried - the skirt did break off the “crystal” from the chandelier, it flew right under my feet. They returned it, don’t worry, it’s not the first time for them either.

End of dance and program.

That's why my aunt was drunk and happy - it was her birthday! The whole boat congratulated her from the bottom of our hearts!

Well, she lit up the rest of the evening.

So, well-fed, satisfied and happy, we arrived back at night in Dubai, where we were taken to the hotel to rest before the next excursion - a trip to the oasis city of Al Ain.

WHY SPIN IN ONE PLACE?

Sufi whirling (or rotation) is meditation technique, which consists of circling around its own axis for a long time (usually from half an hour to several hours).

The technique got its name from the Mevlevi Sufi order, founded by the Persian Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273), in which whirling was part of the ritual of worshiping God and symbolized unity with him. Sufis twirled (and still twirl to this day) wearing heavy skirts, which were needed to stabilize the rotation and maintain its high speed.

Among people who practice meditative practices, whirling is unofficially considered the “royal meditation.” Why is this particular meditation singled out among many other techniques?

The fact is that during prolonged rotation around its axis, you can only stand on your feet in a state of “no mind,” a state of meditation, when all the energy in the body is located below, in the stomach and legs. This is the most stable position. If we think, worry, fear, rejoice, that is, if we have thoughts and emotions, what happens is in simple language It's called "dizzy."

When rotating for a long time around its axis, it is possible to stay on your feet only in a state of “out of your mind”

The secret of whirling, or rather stability during whirling, is extremely simple: the energy (or our attention) should be in the stomach and legs. Then we simply will not be able to fall - like the tumbler doll “Vanka-Vstanka”. Any rise in energy in the head, that is, the appearance of thoughts and emotions (and therefore “falling out of meditation”), reduces stability. And if after this you do not lower the energy down, do not return to a meditative state, a fall follows.

When thoughts come to you in static meditation, you can return to it again. When spinning, falling out of meditation ends in a physical fall. In static meditation you can simply sit and think that you are in meditation. While spinning, you cannot “pretend” that you are meditating. One must be in a meditative state of whirling completely and continuously.

There are two meditations where falling out of the process is especially pronounced: walking on coals (if you do it wrong, you get burned) and Sufi spinning (if you do it wrong, you fall).

When you meditate (circle) correctly, that is, all your energy is below, top part the body is free for the passage of the flow of cosmic energy. Therefore, the essence of Sufi whirling can be expressed by the formula: we stand firmly on the ground, open our hearts, and let in the energy of the cosmos from above. Hence the rise in strength and the state of absolute peace after meditation.

This technique can be presented as a metaphor for life. While we are spinning, we live; when we fall, life ceases. You can spin with pleasure or with fear that you will fall or lose control of the process. So you can go through life with pleasure or fear. But the good thing about meditation is that it first helps you learn to enjoy the process in a safe space (that is, during meditation), and then transfer it into life.

WHY DO MEN TWIST IN SKIRTS?
I was asked this question by everyone to whom I showed photographs of the circling. I answer. The skirt improves the quality of rotation; you cannot spin in it slowly, as it will fall on your feet. On the other hand, the skirt stabilizes the circling process (like a gyroscope) and prevents it from deviating to the sides. Spinning in a skirt takes experience, but the results are worth it.

WHY SKIRTSALL THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW?
In Kyiv, the idea of ​​spinning in skirts of all colors of the rainbow (“Chakra Spinning”) was implemented at the Rainbow of Life School of Integral Development. The seven colors of the rainbow correspond to the seven chakras of a person, each of which is responsible for certain qualities. When choosing the color of a skirt, we choose the qualities that we want to develop or work in ourselves. When skirts of all colors of the rainbow swirl, color harmony arises, the energy of all chakras (from lower to higher) is aligned, which is a condition for the harmonious development of a person.

WHAT DOES THIS MEDITATION GIVE?

First of all, whirling is a unique experience of being completely in the “here and now” during the entire meditation time (approximately 45 minutes). Such experience is difficult to obtain in society with all its problems, stresses and crises. As a result of meditation, a state of peace and tranquility comes to the practitioner.

When you do the same movement (rotation) for 45 minutes and at the same time try not to get lost in thoughts or emotions, you are thereby training patience, the habit of not demanding immediate results from life.

Many people are probably familiar with the situation when you start a business and it moves more slowly than you would like. In such a situation, I remember whirling, in which in order to achieve a result (a state of peace and tranquility after meditation), you need to whirl long time, without getting lost in thoughts, repeating certain movements, without thinking about the goal, but also without losing vigilance. Then the result will really bring satisfaction.

To be honest, I still feel some fear of spinning. Thoughts “will it work or not?”, “what if I fall?” are still arising. How to let go of this fear? In my experience, the only way out is to trust what is happening to you. When you trust the process, spinning is much more pleasant, instead of fear you get pleasure. Likewise, by trusting life, you can enjoy all its incidents and twists and turns.

Any difficult situation is easier to resolve if you feel your body. As soon as I lose my balance during the rotation, I immediately begin to breathe with my stomach and return my attention to the sensations in my body. This helps calm the thoughts and stability returns. If in a difficult life situation you remember the sensations in your body and relax it, the situation will seem much simpler.

During meditation, I had moments when it seemed like just a little bit more and I would fall. Then a capitulating thought arose: “Can I fall and not try anymore?” I have learned from my own experience that it is better not to fall. It is better to complete the meditation. You will fall and feel nauseous, and the fall itself is not very pleasant. If you complete the spin, you will receive satisfaction from the result, peace and fulfillment. It’s the same in any undertaking: it is better to bring it to completion by showing will and perseverance than to give in to difficulties.

ABOUT THE CIRCULATION TECHNIQUE
Circling is carried out “clockwise” or “counterclockwise”. The shoulders are straightened, the gaze is not focused on anything.

If you spin counterclockwise, the right hand should be directed palm up - a flow of energy flows into it from above, the left palm is lowered down to rest on the flow from below.

When circling clockwise left hand hold with your palm up, your right hand down. The fingers should be closed. If your hands are relaxed, they easily find their place in the flow.

Any meditation releases a lot of energy, so it is important to have a positive intention on where to direct this energy. Before (but not during!) meditation, you can think about some creative goal or write it down on a piece of paper, pin it to your skirt and spin it in a circle. If you do not create a positive intention, the energy will begin to dissipate; if you worry and fear a lot, fears can materialize due to the released power. Meditation (including circling) is a subtle tool that requires a conscious attitude.

To participate in Sufi whirling, it is advisable to have experience in other meditative practices that develop a state of “inner silence.” Then the circling will be more efficient.

Now I am putting together a group for classes in this practice in Kyiv!
Outdoors and indoors if there is a group.

I do whirling in nature (for now in ordinary clothes without Sufi skirts), if there is a stable group, it will be possible to rent a room. Join us!

© Dmitry Rybin, class leader

http://rybin-studio.narod.ru
When reprinting, a link to the author and his website is required

I have long heard that tanura dance makes a strong impression. But, really, I didn’t expect that the proverb “to see once...” would be so relevant for me. It’s just that I’m probably an impressionable person and susceptible to hypnosis. Therefore, from all the variety of noisy, colorful, extremely bright performances of the “hot night” today I can only remember men dancing tanura

The magic began with the quiet, alarming melody of a flute. All her sounds were literally felt physically: they, like hooks, fell directly into the consciousness, unerringly catching the “fish-emotion” and bringing it out. The flute was joined by the steady beat of drums and the rumbling bass of a tambourine. The rhythm in some unclear way controlled the heartbeat, filling it with a tickling sensation that the pulse was beating in time with these instruments. It is difficult to remember the face of the dancer who appeared on stage. My attention was involuntarily drawn to the skirt that swayed in time with my steps; it looked very heavy. This is not surprising, because it is precisely this, the tanura skirt, that is the main element of the mesmerizing dance, its main, Egyptian feature...

As if listening to the music sounding inside, the male dancer began a smooth rotation: one towards the sky, the other towards the earth. Faster and faster... Several layers of heavy bright fabric of the skirt, like a child's top, either merged into a shimmering circle, then suddenly acquired a dazzling purity of color... For those who were aware of what was happening and simply admired, the dancer physically embodied the principle of a mandala - a sacred design that can lead to a state of deep trance . Tanura “played” with color, influencing the spectator’s emotions, moreover, the physical state of those watching. With deceptive ease, the dancer continued and continued the magical rotation, like a spindle, collecting the audience's delight into a bright silk cocoon. When the dance ended, an exhalation of delight swept through the hall. And everyone had a feeling of personal presence during the creation of a miracle.

Path to God
Looking at a person dancing the tanura, better known as the “Egyptian skirt dance,” the viewer invariably feels that he is present at a sacred ceremony. After all, tanura (translated from Arabic as “skirt”) is a variant of the sacred Muslim dance of Sufi monks. Adepts of the spin dance claim that it arose simultaneously with the birth of the Universe. Meticulous researchers object and believe that it originated in Egypt in the 9th century, and they even name the “inventor” - Zun-Nun al Misri. What is interesting is not this, but the fact that, having conquered the East - from North-West Africa to Northern China - the dance again enchants audiences in Egypt. The world is familiar with it thanks to the religious and mystical teachings of the Arab sage Mevlana, the founder of Sufism, better known to Europeans as the Islamic poet Rumi. It was he who included meditative rotation in tariqa - the mystical path of movement towards God. The poet argued that God is pure being and absolute good. A Sufi who follows the path of tariqa is able to avoid the captivity of shadows, see God as the only reality, and can dissolve in him. And he is destined to be a conductor of grace in a world of pain and suffering. As you can see, Rumi’s teachings have a very indirect relationship to canonical Islam and rather resemble Buddhism with its wheel of Samsara. In addition, the Sufi order professed practically Buddhist pacifism and religious tolerance.

Sufis - members of the "Brotherhood of Purity" - lived and comprehended God through sacred dance. The rotating Sufi smoothly entered a state of meditation, in which his spirit was felt as a motionless center, and the rotating body, just like the moving world, was thought of as a potter's wheel (analogies with Buddhism suggest themselves). The dancer's right hand, raised upward, received the blessing of heaven, and the left hand, lowered down, transmitted it to the earth. The Sufi monk achieved incredible heights in a deceptively simple dance: a half-hour rotation was far from the limit. Throughout the Muslim world, the dance of the Sufis was spread by wandering monks - dervishes, ascetics and philosophers seeking freedom of the soul.

Dancing at the Gates of Heaven
For the first time, the philosopher and mystic George Gurdjieff introduced Europe to the art of dancing dervishes, presenting more than a dozen performers on stage at once. The spectacle created a real sensation, which, however, is not surprising. To understand that the simplicity of Sufi dance is deceptive, try spinning for at least a minute. Alas, you will not achieve a trance, but you are guaranteed to experience catastrophic dizziness. But in Egypt, the dance of the Sufis gained not only popularity, but also professional, that is, non-monastic performers. Only men dance. Of course: the weight of a multilayer tanura skirt sometimes exceeds ten kilograms! The art is passed down from father to son, they begin to rehearse at a young age, and achieve mastery of performance by the age of 25-30. Dance invariably brings joy to Christians, Muslims, and atheists. You know, I sincerely regretted that I did not know Arabic and could not ask the dancer about the feelings of a person who had entered a trance. And having inquired about the origin of the peculiar melody, in one of Sufi parables I read that this is the kind of music a person hears at the gates of heaven. I willingly believe it.

Text by ELENA Romanenko

Dervish dances from Sufia are known in Egypt as “tanura” dances, which translates from Arabic as “skirts”. Once a year, real dances of Sufi dervishes can be seen in the Turkish city of Konya, where from December 9 to 13, dervishes come to the grave of the founder of the order, Jalaled-din Rumi. The main thing in Rumi's teachings was that through the ritual of dance, one can get a little closer to God.

Dervish dance

The dervishes wear conical hats and flowing white robes. Drums and flutes provide the accompaniment for the passionate spinning of the dancers, who alternately raise right hand(to receive the blessing of heaven), then the left (to convey the blessing to the earth). After several hours of spinning, the dancers enter a trance, and it already seems to them that the whole world revolves around them, and not vice versa. This trance symbolizes final union with Allah.

Dervish clothing

The dance of “tanura” or skirt, if in Russian it is not for nothing that it has such a name. Conical hats, white clothes flowing freely in different directions - all this is present, but they are not the main attribute. Several heavy skirts, worn side by side, are the main detail of such a carefully crafted look. It was not in vain that it was said about the heaviness, since the fabric of the skirts is heavy and dense, and if several of them are worn, then the entire suit can weigh about 12 kg.

The Sufi dance of dervishes is popular not only in Turkey and Egypt, but also in many other countries of the East - after all, the cultures are largely similar. When performing in front of the highest-ranking officials of states - sheikhs - the dancers pass by him and receive secret instructions from the sheikh, which they then begin to perform to the beat of drums and the sound of a flute.