Turkish culture came to Baton Rouge Friday night when theTurkish performance group, the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi, visitedthe Union Theatre.
According to the Whirling Dervishes official Web site, they area part of the Islamic Sufi tradition. Their ritual performancessymbolize the values of love and service.
The first part of the program featured a performance by a Sufiband playing Turkish music and reciting poetic chants inArabic.
Rev. Thomas Lynch, a professor at the Public AdministrationInstitute, said although people may not understand the melodies andwords, they still can feel the magic of the performance.
The ritual dance, also known as the Sema, followed the band’sperformance.
According to the Whirling Dervishes Web site, the Sema consistsof four stages called selams, musical movements with distinctrhythms.
Jeff Day, a member of the Institute of Interfaith Dialogue, saidthe Whirling Dervishes performance was a “feast for thesenses.”
Day said it gives the local community a sense of anticipation tosee something new.
Day said there is a hunger for this kind of religious experiencein the Baton Rouge community.
“It is very touching that we are able to be a part of thisexperience tonight,” Day said.
Burak Aksoylu from the Institute of Interfaith Dialogue inAustin, Tex. said bringing the Whirling Dervishes to differentparts of the country exposes people to different religious culturesand is a way to help minimize religious intolerance.
“Ignorance is the root of intolerance,” Aksoylu said. “Educationis the key tool in overcoming our religious differences.”
Jehad Mahummoud from the Islamic Center of Baton Rouge said hewas very excited to see such a large turnout after the Universitywas closed for two days due to Hurricane Ivan.
“It shows a lot from the community since so many people stillcame out,” Mahummoud said.
Rev. Steve Crump of the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge saidcultural events such as the Whirling Dervishes give people a chanceto experience other religious customs and lifestyles.
“We need more people to support interfaith work in our region,”Crump said.
Lynch said he was very pleased with the turnout and theUniversity community as a whole.
“It is great that they can come together and appreciateculture,” Lynch said.
Susan Smolinsky, a member of the Jewish community, said this washer first time experiencing the Whirling Dervishes.
“The performance was wonderful,” Smolinsky said.
She said she probably enjoyed the performance so much because itis so different from what she is accustomed to seeing.
“This is the biggest Turkish activity to happen in Baton Rouge,”said Suat Namli, a mathematics graduate student and president ofthe Dove Interfaith Dialogue club at the University. “It is greatthat so many people came out and we need to have more events likethis in the future.”