*Performance Philosophy and Sufism* A two-day symposium hosted by the Centre for Performance Philosophy *Oct 6th-7th @ The University of Surrey*
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A two-day symposium and workshop on relationships between contemporary performance philosophy and Sufism.
This event is the first in a 3 part series looking at interconnected yet distinct notions of spirituality, spirit, the spiritual, and spiritualism, from a pluralist perspective
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Sufism is broadly known as the mystical or interior dimension of Islam, and is argued by many to be the very heart of original Islam. Its diverse modes of practice (dhikr, prayer, fasting, study, music, whirling) centre on purification of the individual by way of preparation for divine union. In relation to performance philosophy, such Sufi practices can be viewed as actions which philosophise universal (spiritual and nonspiritual, timeless) truths. The methodologies, or spiritual technologies, that open these truths within the student or devotee are living, breathing philosophies which may or may not be explicable via language or linear thought. This event focuses on the actioned practices of Sufism.Differentiating the process from an embodiment of abstract notions via practice, the philosophies themselves are manifested/realised/perceptibly known in multilayered and nuanced individual forms.
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With contributions from international experts, the event will include:
The film: A screening of the film, ‘The Woman Who Whirls’ (2017) – an ethno-poetics of contemporary whirling practice – produced by Hannah McClure and directed by Ella Wood
The workshop: Participatory whirling workshop led by Azize Guvenc, Hande and Emre Basaran and Faridah Busemann
The talks: Discussions on intercultural philosophy and practice by Cosimo Zene (SOAS) and Dunja Njaradi (Lancaster) and others.
The opera: A presentation on ‘Say I am You Mevlana’ (2012), a full length opera for an intercultural musical ensemble and orchestra by its composer, Michael Ellison.
The journal launch: The launch of ‘Global Journeys of Sufi Whirling, Sufism and Arts Practice’ a special issue of the journal Dance, Movement, Spiritualities (Intellect), co-edited by Hannah McClure and Dunja Njaradi.
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Oct 6th 10am-5pm with special participatory workshop and delegate presentations
Oct 7th 9am-4pm with keynote addresses, film screenings, panels, papers and reception
Registration £26 inclusive of lunches/tea/coffee/reception
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Book now at
https://www.surrey.ac.uk/arts/dance/20171006-performance-philosophy-and-sufism-symposium-1

Contributors
Dr. Dunja Njaradi is an associate editor of Dance, Movement, Spiritualities. She completed her doctorate on somatic movement and choreography in the department of Theatre Studies at Lancaster University. Publications include several articles and edited volumes on spirituality, somatics and ethnography. Dunja currently teaches at The University of Belgrade in the department of Ethnomusicology and is actively researching and teaching on topics of agency, histories and personal spiritualities.
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Dr. Michael Ellison grew up in Istanbul as the son of American ex-pats and later completed his music education at Tufts (MA) and his doctorate at The University of California Santa Barbara. Currently affiliated with The University of Bristol, Michael researches the music of Turkey and Anatolia, collisions and intersections of culture and contemporary opera. An active artist and composer, Michael is an ongoing codirector the Hezarfen Ensemble in Istanbul. Recent works include ‘The Sea Crossed Fisherman’ (2016), and ‘Say I am You Mevlana’ (2012) both full length operas for intercultural musical ensembles and orchestra.
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The late Dr. Rahmi Oruc Guvenc is a sufi master, a music therapist, an ethnomusicologist, a composer and a poet.He studied philosophy at the Faculty of Literature, Istanbul University. At the Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul he completed his doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology, focusing traditional music therapy. Oruc Guvenc founded the ‘Centre for Research and Application of Turkish Music’ at Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine. Later, he was appointed lecturer at the ‘Unit for the Research and Promotion of Turkish Music’ at the Turkic Research Institute of Marmara University.Earlier, in 1975, Oruc Guvenc had founded TUMATA (Group for the Research and Promotion of Turkish Music) and began researching the origins and healing properties of Central Asian music. He will be represented by Azize Andrea Guvenc, an ergotherapist, musician and his closest collaboratress as well as some of his closest students, Hande and Emre Basaran and Faridah Busemann.
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Professor Cosimo Zene is a specialist in Religion and Philosophy at The School Of African and Oriental Studies, London. With a particular emphasis on religions as lived philosophies and the need for dialogue between philosophies, Professor Zene opens a space for intersections and conversation – ultimately toward the goal of harmony and peace. His expertise in the parallel, conflicting and complementary structures of thought and practice in Bangladesh, India and South Asia bridge now outdated East-West and North-South divides. As chair of his department he has created the new BA program in World Philosophies, emphasising plurality and dialogue and leading the way in new thinking.
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‘The Woman Who Whirls’ (2017) is an ethno-poetics of contemporary whirling practice. It speaks from and to the nature of whirling through visual and spoken non-linear narrative. Broadly experimental in its visual style, the film invites the observer into the inner world of the dervish through its cinematography and editing choices. Issues of tradition and agency, methodologies of practice, and contemporary spirituality are considered. The film was screened with live performance at Liverpool Hope University in April of this year and will be formally premiered on the festival circuit 2018. It runs 11 minutes 34 seconds. Produced and performed by Dr. Hannah McClure, Director Ella Wood.
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Registration @
https://www.surrey.ac.uk/arts/dance/20171006-performance-philosophy-and-sufism-symposium-1

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