Whirling Dervish

Whirling Dervish

University of Phoenix

Whirling Dervish

Spinning and twirling, the material flows outward, creating an illusion of flying, similar to wings being uplifted by the wind. Dancing takes on many forms during the medieval ages, but watching the Whirling Dervishes, with layers and layers of cloth floating in mid-air was indeed a breathtaking experience. Dervishes were a form of religious dance, but there were many other forms of dance also. From the staunch Court Dance, to the wild paganistic gestures, dance played a major part in the lives of the people living in the medieval era.

The Medieval ages ran the gamut of styles and technique. Looking at a time line of about a thousand years, the middle ages began at different points for different cultures. Shortly after the fall of Rome, somewhere around 500 AD, until the Renaissance of the 1500s, many cultures were influenced by outside influences and took on combined rituals and experiences. Some of the earliest dance forms were handed down from previous generations. Such art forms as belly dancing, is only one that has lasted unto the 21st century. More than just entertainment, many of the other dances were created to fit the different societies that arose in the land areas. There was a major difference in the dances presented in the Western or European communities, from those in the Mediterranean areas.

Europe underwent major changes. With the introduction of the feudal society, classes of people were defined and peasants heavily relied upon the protection of the Lords. During this time, the role that dance played in medieval life was very significant and largely depended on what class one was in. Certain dances were meant for the higher classes or the courtier and the peasants performed other dances. The peasants were fond of pre-Christianity pagan ritualistic dance while the upper classes used dance as part of their tradition to enforce hierarchy and order. (Liz, 2002). The clothing worn