ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
27 to 29 November 2026 | HUIS Conny Janssen Danst, Rotterdam
“Whirling is not an escape from life, it is a way of returning to yourself, again and again.”
- Dervish in Progress
Dervish in Progress Returns to the Netherlands
After a long pause, Dervish in Progress is warmly returning to the Netherlands with a new three-day whirling workshop in Rotterdam. For the first time, we will gather at HUIS Conny Janssen Danst, a spacious and inspiring dance house located in Fenix 1, one of Rotterdam’s vivid cultural places.
This workshop welcomes those who already know Dervish in Progress and those who are meeting it for the first time. Whether you come from traditional, contemporary, experimental or meditative whirling, every colour of practice is welcome. The intention is simple: to offer clear tools, sensitive guidance and a shared space where whirling can become more grounded, spacious and alive.
Dervish in Progress is a contemporary whirling practice developed by Ziya Azazi, internationally recognised artist, choreographer, performer and teacher. Through decades of performance and teaching around the world, Ziya has shaped whirling into both an artistic language and a practical method of awareness. His work connects physical technique with breath, balance, emotion, attention and the courage to stay present while moving through change.
At the heart of Dervish in Progress is the wish to support anyone who loves whirling, regardless of tradition, background or style. Many people whirl in their own way and sometimes feel they are missing certain tools, clarity or structure. This workshop serves that need by offering foundations, refinement and a deeper understanding of the body in rotation.
“Each workshop is a meeting point of body, emotion and mind, and of people who choose to grow together.”
- Dervish in Progress
What We Will Explore
Across the three days, newcomers will receive step-by-step support, while experienced whirlers will have space to refresh, refine and deepen their practice.
We will work with posture, grounding, balance, breath, focus, acceleration and deceleration, skirt awareness, paired whirling approaches often referred to as Dervish Tango, and detailed questions about the fine mechanics of whirling.
Through this practice we discover the internal architecture of the whirling body: how the feet meet the floor, how the knees stay alive and responsive, how the spine rises, how breath opens space, and how the centre remains steady while the whole body moves. Technique becomes a doorway to presence, confidence and a more courageous way of engaging with life.
This Rotterdam gathering is not only a workshop. It is also a reunion, an invitation and a new beginning for everyone in the Netherlands who feels connected to whirling and to the wider Dervish in Progress community.
Workshop Schedule
• Friday, 27 November 2026 | 19:00 to 22:00 Foundations for newcomers and a space for experienced whirlers to refresh and reconnect with the essentials.
• Saturday, 28 November 2026 | 12:00 to 18:00 Integration for newcomers and focused development for practitioners with experience.
• Sunday, 29 November 2026 | 10:00 to 16:00 Deepening work for all participants with both foundational and advanced explorations.
Total: 15 hours of guided practice, discovery and shared understanding.
Prices
• Full Rate: 290 €
• Early Bird: 250 € (until 31st August)
• Whirling Community: 250 €
• Two Days: 220 € (beginners start on Friday)
• One Day: 130 € (just for advanced whirlers)
Beginners must start on Friday. Experienced whirlers may attend one or two days if they already know the fundamentals.
Venue
HUIS Conny Janssen Danst
Fenix 1
Dolf Henkesplein 3
3072 LN Rotterdam
The Netherlands
www.connyjanssendanst.nl
Contact, Information & Booking
• Lakshmana
lakshmana4000@gmail.com
• WhatsApp
+43 660 5860660
“Whirl your body to move your heart and switch your mind.”
- Dervish in Progress