The artification of whirling derviches in France between the religious and the artistic

Abstract

Utilizing the theoretical framework of artification, this study analyzes the transformation of Sufi dance from a traditional religious practice to a staged artistic performance. Ethnographic observations and case studies conducted between 2018 and 2023 have identified four ideal types of discourse surrounding Sufi dance, ranging from traditional discourses to total artification, where religious meaning is displaced by artistic and aesthetic purposes. The article also examines the methods of teaching spinning movements, Sufi workshop audiences, and marketing strategies used by artists to gain recognition in both religious and artistic fields. Finally, the study explores the tension between traditional authority and dancers’ professional careers outside Sufi institutions. This research illuminates the complex dynamics of competition and cooperation that shape the relationship between art and spirituality within the Sufi tradition in contemporary France.