Digital Dervish + Flamenco Sonic: Dream Chamber

FOREWORD

The sema of the Dervish blurs the lines between dance and meditation while symbolically expressing the formation of the universe and mans’ transference of love and respect to God. This ritual turning practice of the Mevlevi Sufi Order dates back to the 13^th century to Muhammed Celaleddin better known as Mevlana. The duende is the expression of the soul for a Flamenco dancer- a flame that is provoked when in a state of ecstatic movement. Duende is not a tangible concept but one that is felt throughout the body and conveyed through passionate and striking movements. The soundrop is a small device that is attached to the body via a strap on the wrist or ankle. It is designed to track certain movements from the performer to which sounds and LED lights are mapped. The dancer uses the device as an extension of the body- a musical instrument that can provide layers to the separate pre-recorded music composition.

PART 1

Dervish sits in quiet meditation. The destruction of a mosque envelopes him as a reminder of how the practice of whirling was repressed. The seasons carry him as he is somber and caught in a pool of memories… darkness and uncertainty encroach. He wades slowly through a dream filled with a longing to reach towards the Divine Creator. Premonitions are mixed with remembrances… he begins to perform sema and thinks of his youth when a Flamenco dancer came to him. His movements become more aggressive and powerful as he whirls uncontrollably through his passage until he reaches a peak and then fades into darkness along with all the hovering reflections.

PART 2

Dervish is again in a dream state in an abstract world and wakes up to birds and the sounds of nature- he begins to meditate and perform his sema. He becomes enveloped in a storm of chaos as he whirls wildly and then collapses where he becomes dormant again. A Flamenco dancer notices and begins to move in similar patterns attempting to awaken him. They exchange their sounds and movements until they become intertwined in whirling. The Dervish seems to ‘remember’ the flamenco dancer as they both have a positive encounter. This is a story about landscape, earth, love, and life that encompasses music, imagery, and physical movement. The movements and gestures which are specific to these dance traditions are being highlighted and augmented with an original wearable device called the soundrop.

Music Composer, Wearable Tech Designer and Choreographer: Hedy Hurban
Filmmaker and Production Designer: Kaz Rahman
Dervish: Seyit Sercan Çelik
Flamenco Dancer: Pepa Sanz
Visual Effects Editor: Barış Çelik