Dancing prayers

Dunya (Dunya Dianne McPherson), of the Sufi-practicing Dervish Society of America, calls DSA's performance branch Dunyati Alembic, referring to the distillation vessel used in alchemical processes. Last evening, the group demonstrated the quiet, soul-stirring beauty of their practice in an intimate presentation at the spacious and welcoming Metropolitan Building, formerly an electrical parts factory, in Long Island City, Queens. Highlights of Dance As Prayer, Body As Sensual Voice: An Evening of Dancemeditation and Spiritual Bellydance included dreamy solos by Dunya (Thread, with violinist Annemarie Wiesner) and Zahava Griss (the modern dance-infused Untitled, with its Puccini aria sung gracefully by Rebecca Lee Lerman). All in all, Dunyati Alembic--which also includes Kate Temple-West, Anita Teresa, Stephanie Rudloe and Nisaa Christie--offered an evening of inspired and inspiring loveliness, capped off with an invitation to the audience to get up and shake a tail feather or two.

For information on future programs of DSA and Dunyati Alembic, click here.