Solo Performance by Ziya Azazi Date: 24 July 2025 Venue: Valletta Campus Theatre, Valletta (179, 86 Triq Il-Merkanti, Il-Belt Valletta, Malta) Duration: 15 minutes
“Movement is a language through which not only the body, but all layers of our being can transform."
Performance Description
Ziya Azazi will present a short solo version of Dervish in Progress as part of this year’s Malta Dance Festival.
Dervish in Progress (DIP) is a high-energy performance that reimagines traditional Sufi whirling through a contemporary physical and emotional lens. In just 15 minutes, this solo invites the audience into a powerful inner journey—an active meditation shaped by repetition, speed, and circular flow.
In this piece, the skirts are not just costumes; they are partners in the dance—symbols of freedom, surrender, and transformation. Each spin becomes a step toward awareness; each spiral, a leap in consciousness. DIP is not a fixed ritual—it’s a celebration of movement, existence, and growth in the here and now.
About Dervish in Progress
Dervish in Progress (DIP) is not only a performance but also a vision. Founded by Ziya Azazi, DIP frees Sufi whirling from traditional structures and reshapes it with an open, dynamic, and transformative spirit.
Through workshops, retreats, masterclasses, and the educational program DIPTEP (Dervish in Progress Teacher Education Program), the DIP vision continues to inspire people across the world. While these events share the depth of the method, the solo performance Dervish in Progress keeps whirling its way around international stages—with power, authenticity, and a deep sense of presence.
DIP invites artists, movers, and seekers to explore whirling as a modern path to self-discovery and transformation.
About Ziya Azazi
Ziya Azazi is an Austria–Turkey-based choreographer and performer internationally known for his bold and contemporary interpretations of Sufi whirling. With a background in gymnastics and contemporary dance, he has spent over twenty-five years redefining whirling as a deeply personal and physical form of expression.
His signature works—Dervish, DIP, and Ember—have been performed in more than 50 countries. He has led workshops in over 35 countries worldwide. Through the DIP practice and the DIPTEP program, he continues to develop whirling as a living art form, active meditation, and a unique tool for personal and artistic growth.
Credits
Concept / Choreography / Performance: Ziya Azazi Music: “Hayalname,” “Vefaname,” and “Nar-i Seher” – Mercan Dede Lighting Design: Lutz Deppe Costume Design: Ischiko
"Whirling is not just about turning—it's about syncing with everything and everyone life places in our path. It's how we experience motion and discover what it means to truly center ourselves." – DIP