Whirling Dervishes

Last night I had the opportunity to watch the famous whirling Dervish dance at the Karabaş-i Veli Cultural Center in Bursa. This is a dance of unity and a stylized form of meditation. The Dervish dancers wear tall, conical felt hats and long, white robes with full skirts. They spin, for very long lengths of time, with their right arms extended to heaven and their left arms to the floor. It is hard to put into words the disorienting feeling of watching this highly symbolic dance. The earthy chanting juxtaposed with the angelic whirling of the dervishes left me entirely transfixed. This is a must-see for anyone considering a trip to Turkey!