Alec Koroluk, Meditation in movement. (DOCO 2026)

Whirling Dervishes are members of the Mevlevi Sufi order in Turkey, founded in the 13th century based on the teachings of the poet Rumi. They perform the Sema, a meditative, spinning ritual dance symbolizing a spiritual journey to God - and the embrace of his divine love. The ritual is not seen as a performance, and no clapping is expected or wanted. Instead - it is a deeply personal, meditative expression of their devotion, manifested through rite and movement. I aimed to capture the peaceful, flowing, and often meditative nature of this deeply personal devotion, both at an individual level, and as they moved among their fellow men.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.