Your experience

In Istanbul’s Old City at Kizlaragasi Medrese, explore an evening steeped in culture with a fascinating performance by the Whirling Dervishes. The mystical performers from the Mevlevi Order will guide you through their spiritual dance over 60 minutes during this event. You'll have the opportunity to observe their seven-part Sema ceremony, which represents humanity's birth. Adorned in white flowing gowns, they twirl gracefully as a response to divine callings. Accompanying them is live traditional Persian and Turkish music from an orchestra, enhancing the soulful choreography that transports semazens into trance-like states of whirling around, helping you reach nirvana.

Explore centuries-old traditions

The Mevlevi Order's ancient tradition centers on connecting with God through music and meditation, following in Rumi’s footsteps from 800 years ago. The dervishes perform a sacred dance ritual called ‘sema’ as an offering to Allah during this prayerful ceremony. Each element of the ascetic dance holds spiritual significance; for example, their white and black costumes symbolize life's birth and death cycles, while conical felt hats known as sikke represent human ego.