Dervish in Progress mit Ziya Azazi

Aims and Objectives:

Whirling is not the main objective of this workshop. The greater goal is to improve one’s physical, emotional
and mental awareness through whirling and the exercises prior to that. It leads the participants to perceive and
accept what is befalling throughout whirling, and reach an innovative movement by means of whirling.

Methodology:

The workshop consists of following steps:

• Warm up: stretching and breathing in order to enhance concentration preparing the body and mind to gain
strength to push mental and physical limits.

• Awareness: This step includes floor work, body part & upside down exercises, basic acrobatics and
improvisation in various levels. It aims to strength the awareness of senses and systems in preparation for
meeting the unknown arrangements to be encountered while whirling.

• Whirling: Further developments of physical, emotional and mental awareness are to be obtained in this
step. Whirling first starts at the vertical level. At the further steps repetitive movements are to be
experienced at both vertical and horizontal levels. This step helps the participants to feel and record the
conditions of their perception of space and body; thus the awareness improves. This is a step where the
participants in various aspects confront conditions that are not usual or accustomed. By accepting the
unknown, the knowledge concerning awareness and ability for the thrift of bodily energy will expand.