Family of whirling dervishes in Syria hopeful about the future of the tradition in the country
by editors@theworld.org (Shirin Jaafari ) from The World: Latest Stories on (#6XW0P)
The al-Kharrat family in Syria has kept the tradition of Sema, or the whirling dervishes, alive for decades. Under the Assad regime, they faced restrictions on traveling abroad to participate in international events. Now, with a new government in place, they hope to expand their programs and to teach the dance to younger Syrians. The World's Shirin Jaafari visits the family in Damascus.