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Raindrop Turkevi Home arrow Press Room arrow TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY,April 15,2004,LUBBOCK,TEXAS.
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WHIRLING DERVISHES SET TO PERFORM AT TEXAS TECH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 15, 2004

CONTACT: Scott Slemmons, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

WHIRLING DERVISHES SET TO PERFORM AT TEXAS TECH

 

LUBBOCK - Turkey's Order of the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi will perform at 7 p.m., Friday, (April 16), at the Texas Tech University Student Union Building's Allen Theater, 15th Street and Boston Avenue.

The performance is sponsored by the Intercultural Dialogue Association, a student association at Texas Tech dedicated to promoting tolerance and understanding of different cultures and faiths.

The Order of the Whirling Dervishes was founded in the Ottoman Empire in the 13th century, in what is now modern-day Turkey, by philosopher and mystical poet Mevlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi, popularly known as "Rumi."

Christopher Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor of music history and literature and the director of Texas Tech's Vernacular Music Center, said the Order of the Whirling Dervishes is one branch of the vast Sufi tradition of Islam. Sufism espouses a moderate interpretation of Islam, which focuses on love, tolerance, worship of God, community development and personal development through self-discipline and responsibility.

"These universal themes are relevant to the social and political realities of today, and the ritual performed by the Order of the Whirling Dervishes has come to symbolize these values in the hearts and minds of millions throughout the world," said Smith.

The ritual of the Whirling Dervishes features the revolving dance of the dervishes cloaked in long white robes accompanied by music performed live on traditional instruments.

The Whirling Dervishes played a vital role in the evolution of Ottoman high culture. In addition to their focus on the arts, including classical poetry and calligraphy, the dervishes pushed music to the forefront of Turkish society. Many of Islam's leaders opposed music, claiming it was harmful to the listener and to religious life, but Rumi and his followers integrated music into their rituals as an important article of faith. The meeting places of the dervishes became known as schools of art, music and dance.

"Attendees of the performance in Lubbock will have the unique opportunity to witness this intensely spiritual and inspirational performance of the Whirling Dervishes without having to travel to Turkey," Smith said.

The Intercultural Dialogue Association also will award door prizes, including books, CDs, Sufi musical instruments and a round trip ticket to Turkey.

Tickets for the performance are $15 and $25, with $5 off for students. Tickets are available at the Student Union ticket booth at (806) 742-3610 or through Select-A-Seat.

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SOURCE: Christopher Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor of music history and literature, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2270, ext. 249, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ibrahim Sonmez, Atmospheric Science Group, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2905, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
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