Music Therapy Tradition Workshop
A Personal Healing Journey with Makam Music//
This workshop offers participants a completely personal healing experience with special receptive sessions based on the principles of the ancient Turkish Music Therapy Tradition.
Makam music, which developed in the Khorasan culture approximately 1,000 years ago, was systematically studied by scientists and artists of the time, linking it to organs, emotions, time, and ailments. This workshop combines this deep-rooted wisdom with contemporary music therapy practices, opening up a unique and unique experience.
Each session is accompanied by improvised musical performance on a makam chosen according to the day and time of the week.
The positions are determined according to the individual needs of the participants, creating a personalized therapeutic effect.
This practice allows you to directly feel the spiritual and physical transformation power of the maqams and invites you towards an inner balance.
Duration: 90 minutes
Voice, Breath and Singing Practice
Gathering in Common Breath, Drawing Strength from Roots//
This workshop focuses on the ancient power of singing together, fostering a sense of harmony and unity. Using pieces from a tradition stretching from Central Asia to Anatolia, this workshop allows participants to connect with their cultural heritage and develop their musical expression skills.
Singing together allows the individual to discover their inner harmony through breath, rhythm and sound, while strengthening solidarity, sensitivity and flow within the group.
This workshop is not only a musical practice; it is also a space for emotional connection, rooting and touching upon collective memory.
By singing together the melodies inherited from our ancestors, participants expand their personal expression and experience the peace of being in harmony with the community.
Duration: 90–120 minutes
Rhythm Workshop
Flowing Together in the Rhythm
The Rhythm Workshop teaches participants the basic principles of rhythm keeping and offers them the experience of playing in harmony with traditional instruments such as the bendir, sıngırak and cymbal.
In this workshop, the structural elements of rhythm are conveyed both theoretically and practically; participants develop their body-mind coordination, attention and timing skills by experiencing rhythm instruments firsthand.
Rhythm exercises not only increase musical competence, but also reduce stress, stimulate creativity and contribute to the establishment of strong social bonds within the group.
This dynamic environment supports both individual and collective performance, providing a fun and transformative learning space that deepens participants' relationship with music.
Duration : 90 minutes
Baksi Dance Workshop
The Area Where Ancient Ritual Finds Healing Through Movement//
The "Baksı Dance," also known as the "Karacorga," is one of the oldest music- and movement-based healing rituals in Central Asian Turkish-Islamic culture. Performed by physician-bards known as "Kam" and "Baksı," this dance is a powerful tradition aimed at restoring balance in body, soul, and mind.
In this workshop, the history, cultural origins, and practice methods of the Baksi Dance are shared with participants. Following this, movement and rhythm practice is conducted using various examples.
Participants gain both theoretical and practical awareness by experiencing this ancient dance together.
Baksi Dance Workshop is not only a dance practice; it is also a space to connect with bodily memory, harmonize with collective rhythm, and connect with ancient wisdom.
Duration: 60–90 minutes
Archetypal Movements Workshop
Awakening to the Rhythm of Sacred Movement//
The Archetypal Movements Workshop offers the opportunity to experience ancient movements such as the Baksı Dance and Semah, the oldest healing dance of the Turks, inspired by the traditional dances of Anatolia, accompanied by a special musical repertoire.
This workshop uses rhythmic movements that begin in the hands and spread throughout the body, aiming to clear blockages in the body, reawaken forgotten emotions, and foster new ones. This way, participants take an active step toward transforming their inner state and adapting to a healthy life.
Archetypal movements are the physical expression of collective consciousness patterns common across cultures. While they manifest in different ways in each culture, they embody the same universal values and tap into the collective memory of human nature.
This approach is based on the concept of "Sacred and Healing Movement." From an Islamic Sufi perspective, the body is a divine gift, and respect for this gift is integrated with the intention of the movement.
The workshop was developed by Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç and Theoanalytic Psychotherapist Gerhard Kadir Tuçek and is successfully implemented in many hospitals and therapy centers in Türkiye and Europe.
Participants explore this ancient healing practice in depth through theoretical explanations and direct experience.
Duration: 90 minutes
Central Asian Dances Workshop
A Vibrant Journey Where Rhythm and Culture Meet
This workshop introduces participants to the rich folklore of Central Asia through traditional dances from Uzbekistan, Uyghur, Kyrgyz, and Kazakh cultures. Each figure is a powerful form of expression, conveying the emotions, rituals, and life styles of these regions through body language.
Participants learn dance movements specific to these regions and experience the harmony of body, rhythm and culture by developing their sense of rhythm accompanied by traditional music.
The workshop not only teaches dance but also aims to foster physical coordination, group harmony, and cultural awareness. This lively and fluid practice provides both an enjoyable and educational experience.
Duration: 120 minutes
Sema Workshop
Sema is a form of worship performed to draw closer to God and expressed through movement and dance. Developed in Islamic Sufism, sema carries a deep philosophical meaning; it is considered not merely a physical rotation but a turning toward the heart. It is a spiritual practice that holds a significant place in Sufism and is particularly known through the teachings of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi.
In the workshop, information is given about the basic principles and techniques of sema, and the sema practice is applied with the participants along with the explanations.
Over the past few years, some of the hundreds of people who have learned the sema have progressed from spinning for ten to fifteen minutes to spinning for one, two, or even six or seven hours straight. This practice not only provides a spiritual experience but also helps achieve physical and spiritual balance.
Duration: 90–120 minutes
Semah Workshop - Khorasan Semah
The Khorasan Semah is an ancient form of worship, embodying the spiritual heritage of Central Asia and expressed through music and whirling movements. Shaped within traditional Sufi practices, this semah is a holistic practice that unites body, soul, and intention.
In this workshop, the historical roots, basic techniques, ritual movements, and spiritual meaning of the Khorasan Semah are shared with participants. Following this, the Semah practice is performed together, accompanied by a specially selected musical repertoire.
Spinning movements are not just a physical action; they are a deep journey towards inner peace, surrender and the center of the heart.
The workshop allows participants to understand this ancient form of worship both through theoretical knowledge and to experience it on a spiritual level through practice.
Duration: 90 minutes
Sufi Music Workshop
Inner Journey with the Melody of Compassion//
The Sufi Music Workshop offers a spiritually profound musical experience based on the teachings of Anatolian saints. Participants will experience the spiritual power of Sufi music, accompanied by hymns that carry themes of compassion and unity.
They have the opportunity to experience its dimensions directly.
The workshop features selected hymns in various makams from across the broad spectrum of Turkish Sufi music. Each piece is presented not only as a musical expression but also as a voice of prayer, supplication, and inner transformation.
This workshop serves as a spiritual bridge, drawing from the roots of Anatolian lore yet responding to contemporary humanity. Participants have the opportunity to both deepen their inner worlds and strengthen their social ties.
Duration: 90–120 minutes
Marbling Art Workshop
A Silent Prayer on the Surface of the Water, Spirit Flowing in Colors//
This workshop, guided by artist Süyümbike Güvenç Noris, presents the art of marbling, one of the elegant branches of traditional Turkish art, as both an aesthetic and an introspective experience.
Marbling is an art form created by carefully sprinkling colors onto the surface of water, a harmonious dance of color and movement. In this workshop, participants learn the technical intricacies of marbling and have the opportunity to express their own creativity through this visual poetry on water.
Each color choice and brushstroke becomes a special moment where individual creativity meets the aesthetics of traditional art. At the same time, marbling is a practice that calms the mind and nourishes the soul.
is the process of meditation.
This therapy area, where water and colors meet, offers participants the opportunity to explore traditional Turkish art and approach inner balance and peace.
Duration: 90–120 minutes
Music, Movement and Painting Workshop for Children
Imagination Growing with Traditional Melodies//
This workshop is designed to introduce children to the fascinating world of Central Asian and Turkish music and to connect them with their cultural heritage in a creative way.
In the workshop, selected traditional pieces are performed live on authentic Turkish instruments. This way, children experience music not just by listening, but by feeling and observing.
Additionally, carefully selected Turkish folk dances develop children's movement skills, sense of rhythm and ability to adapt within a group.
Another colorful component of the workshop, painting, offers children the opportunity to express their feelings and express their inner worlds in creative ways in connection with music and movement.
This special program introduces children to the depth of traditional Turkish culture in an educational and fun environment, while also supporting their artistic expression, self-confidence, and aesthetic awareness skills.
Duration: 90 minutes
