Learn about the whirling sema tradition.

The whirling practised by Sufis is an act of worship through which one seeks to be in harmony with the universe and Divine Reality. People of all faiths and none are welcome to participate and will experience a demonstration of Sufi whirling, music, meditation, and chant, as well as recitation of, and reflection on, Rumi’s poetry. There will be an explanation of the symbolism and history of whirling and an opportunity to try it, with instruction from Daniel Thomas Dyer, a dervish with traditional training in sema from the Mevlevi Order.

Please note that doors will close shortly before the advertised time so we request that you arrive 15 minutes before the start time.

About Daniel Dyer

Daniel is a student of the Sufi path and an author, musician, and publisher. He belongs to the Mevlevi Order founded on the wisdom of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, and studies under the guidance of Shaikh Kabir and Camille Helminski (founders of Threshold Society). He facilitates a Sufi circle under their auspices in Kendal, Cumbria, and regularly leads workshops on Sufi practice and literature.

About The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts

The Cambridge Festival of Islamic Arts runs from 19 to 29 November 2026, bringing performances, exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to Cambridge's historic colleges, museums, and cultural spaces. Open to everyone, the festival celebrates the beauty and diversity of Islamic arts, and, fifty years on from the landmark 1976 World of Islam Festival, carries that spirit into our own time. Find out more at cfia.co.uk.

Description supplied by the event organiser.