The Commemorative Ceremony for Mevlana, the great Sufic saint (1207-1273), is one of the world's greatest spectacles. More than a million people descend on Konya, the ancient Seljuk capital, for the festival of the Whirling Dervishes.
At the Mausoleum of Mevlana in Konya, mystical ceremonial dances are performed in honour of the great teacher and thinker. Mevlana (which in Arabic means `Our Lord`) taught the preeminence of complete tolerance, positive thinking and awareness of God through love. He also believed that a union with God could be achieved through dance. Thus the Mevlana followers have been performing this religious `whirling` dance for centuries.

At the Museum of Mevlana in La Rende Caddesi, Konya, Turkey

Contacts: Turkish Ministry of Tourism
Tel: +90 (0) 312 212 8300 (UK +44 (0) 20 7629 7771)
Fax: +90 (0) 312 212 8391

The very popular and beloved Bulgarian folklore singer and soloist of The Filip Koutev Ensemble presents her new disk in which are included her genuine songs – pearls of the Bulgarian vocal art.

At the National Palace of Culture at 6:00pm

Participate the singer’s most talented students, as well as First Prizes bearers from the Valkana Stoyanova Competition held by the Tundzha Municipality – city of Yambol.

Daniel Spasov - soloist of `The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices`
Stoyan Varnaliev - Vulkana Stoyanova's student
Binka Dobreva - soloist of `The Mytery of the Bulagarian Voices`
Darina Salcheva - soloist of Trakia Ensemble, Plovdiv
Ivan Peychev - kaval player - State Ensemble Philip Koutev
Chamber Choir from the The Academy of Music and Dance Art, Plovdiv - conductor Vladimir Vladimirov
Veneta Dimitrova - Vulkana Stoyanova's student
Maria Koleva - Vulkana Stoyanova's student
Simo Krastev - town of Stralzha, awarded the Special prize at the competition `With the Songs of Vulkana Stoyanova`
Penko Atanasov - 12 years-old, town of Nova Zagora, Ist prize at the competition `With the songs of Vulkana Stoyanova`
Iliya Panteleev - folklore singer, General Inzovo village (Tundzha Municipality)

Paul Boizot will be playing for the evening session of Sophia Hatch's Winter Solstice celebration. The band will be Richard and Olivia Hunt ("Kopanitsa"), Helen O and Paul Boizot. Recorded music for the afternoon session - come to one or both.
Contact Sophia Hatch on 01422 843000.