I was moved by the introduction to - and glimpse of - the Turkish Alevis, whose culture uses dancing as an expression of being. Really lovely to see. I had never heard of them, and rarely see things that touch my ‘Dancing’ sensibilities like this so I’m keen to find out more.
Description from Wikipedia:
Alevism is Turkey’s second largest religion, and possibly its oldest, but they’ve suffered a history of discrimination and violent attacks that has made them very cautious of outsiders. Even the Turks don’t know much about the secretive group.
Alevism is a folk religion that started some time before Islam in the villages of Anatolia - a rural region of central Turkey.
Alevism shares many beliefs with Islam, but the differences are also apparent. The private ceremony takes place, not in a mosque, but in an ordinary house. Men and women worship together. Alevism is based on an oral tradition rather than a sacred book.
Male and female worshippers dance and perform a traditional song.
The episode touched on various faiths of the Middle East, and there are invariably other points of interest in the program - but the glimpse of a culture that currently expresses itself in song and dance in love of God (Life, Being, Love) - was what I felt immediate kinship with.
Though I found the dance forms beautiful and attractive, I am most moved by the congruency of intent and form. I feel that all living cultures are ‘sort of’ languages that attempt to express and share something of the true experience of being – along with all sorts of specific emphasis that attempt to reconcile such unspeakable experience with human thought and society. I feel that most human endeavour tends to get lost in the latter and forgets the former. Perhaps this is because our cultural assertions become definitions and filters that prevent the sharing of a truly current or living connected-ness.
Though we cant get others to dance if they are unwilling – the value of the heart or wholeness that such shared communal dance holds, makes it an opportunity - or way - of remembering – whether we ever dwell on, or espouse any such thoughts as I am articulating, or not.
One of the things that the programme brought home to me – was how locked into our cultural ‘identities’ we become. Such that our ‘love of Life’ (I use this instead of the ‘God word’ here), excludes and estranges others who are different from us – with all the conflict and misery that that then brings forth.
Perhaps, the disintegration of western culture - (as I see occurring) - brings a growing willingness to rediscover a fresh approach – from a sense of Life-shared rather than my-life asserted. I feel its always the same story of self-will into integrated Will – but that new generations and indeed new cultures have to rediscover it in the terms and languages of their own life – and their own day. And we can only do this from taking the journey ourselves.
This shift into a heartfelt perspective is the movement that has always inspired my dancing. In ‘letting an inspired sense of Life come in and through’ the moment, and a holding and creating of the conditions in which Life is made welcome. In such instance, I feel dance is a vehicle or instrument – just as a musical instrument – (and even the one playing it) – becomes a means of expression of a greater or more inclusive life.
I’m fine that, for many dancers, they simply enjoy, feel good, and go home renewed and encouraged – for that is the fruit. But as a ‘parent’ I am also drawn to ‘hold the culture that provides’ and not just to ‘get fed’, and my vision of one aspect of circle dancing, (under whatever names), is of a consciously held intent to share on as we have received.
I saw something of that in the Alevi Gathering. The heart made tangible – as our centre – and not just as a form for entertainment or diversion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wdHs6h8F1A
Posts
