SAMĀ is inspired by the Sufi practice of Sama (“listening”), which is a form of Dhikr (“holy remembrance of the divine”). The most recognized expression of the Sema is the whirling dervish tradition of the Mevlana Order, founded by the 12th Century poet Rumi. Many Sufi practices use music and movement to attain the ecstatic, trance-like state that is the heart of Sema.

The concepts behind SAMĀ are influenced by a number of spiritual practices beyond the Sufi tradition. The goal of the work is not to intimate or even evoke these practices, instead, SAMĀ utilizes the artistic tools of these traditions (drone based music, repetitive visual and rhythmic patterns, ceremonial gesture, bilateral stimulation, etc.) to create a ritual space where performers, and by proxy the audience, can drop into an altered state of consciousness.

SAMĀ is conceptualized as an immersive audio-visual experience for both performers and audience members, featuring live sound, movement, projected animations, and lighting design. The creative team consists of two dancers one percussion-playing vocalist, processed through live-electronics, a live video/projection artist, and lighting designer all of whom are working together to create a trance inducing experience.

Like the whirling dervishes and all transcendental ritual traditions, the purpose of SAMĀ is to find and share meaningful overlap between performance and prayer.

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