‘Extremely intense’
Sufi whirling, sometimes known by the Arabic name Sama (which means “listening”), sees performers twirl in distinctive wide robes in a rhythmic turning that mirrors the movement of the Earth around the Sun. It’s more than a dance, said Gorgani — “it’s a prayer, an act of devotion to the divine”. A traditional part of Sufism, particularly in Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan, it is normally only practised by women when they are separated from men. But for Gorgani, in Sufism — a more spiritually focused approach to Islam founded by followers of 13th century spiritual poet Jalal al-Din Rumi — the soul is neither masculine nor feminine. To be female and a dervish “does not go against this spirituality”, she said. “In Europe, I am lucky to be able to express myself artistically and freely.” Her parents fled Iran after the revolution, and it was during her first visit there at the age of 14 that Gorgani became interested in Sufism. She has since taken part in many ceremonies in Iran and Turkey, but often secretly. Now her performances have been forced online by the pandemic, but she has been “touched and moved” by the number of people reaching out to learn more about Sama. Her first Zoom class, during France’s first lockdown, attracted around 100 people and the numbers have continued to grow as she delivers performances on every new and full moon. To her surprise, the experience has been “extremely intense”, with participants saying they are in profound need of meaning and connection. “I think I’ve helped some people reveal something to themselves,” she said. While rooted in her studies in the anthropology of music and dance, she nonetheless likes to mix up the soundtrack, opting not only for traditional Sufi music, but also live piano and even traditional French tunes such as those of Jacques Brel. “Wherever I find a state of grace,” she said.
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