The Dances of Universal Peace (abbreviated DUP) are a form of spiritual meditative dance facilitated in the company of a number of other dancers in a circle. The dances are guided by a dance leader and musicians who usually play guitars, drums or other instruments to support and accompany the dance. Each dance has a chant, song , or mantra which is sung as the dance is performed. The chants are often sacred phrases put to traditional or contemporary melodies, and include a wide range of languages including Arabic, Aramaic, Native American, African, English, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindu, and Sanskrit. The facilitators of the dances claim that these forms embody the understanding that the truth at the heart of all religions is the same truth, and that peace can be promoted through an experience of this unity.
The emphasis is on participation regardless of ability, and dances are rarely performed before an audience. Dancers of all levels of ability dance together, and each dance is usually taught afresh at each gathering. The practice of the dance is designed to enhance the participants' individual spiritual awareness, awareness of their own body, and awareness of the presence and connection to others. Dances are choreographed with movements, steps, and gestures that encourage the dancer to explore the deeper mystical meaning of the chant. Dances were originally practiced at camps and meetings with a distinctly new age and alternative feel, but have increasingly come to be offered in diverse places of worship, schools, colleges, prisons, hospices, residential homes for those with special needs, and holistic health centers.
The Dances of Universal Peace were first formulated in the late 1960's by Samuel L. Lewis (1896-1971) and were then conducted in California. The original dances were strongly influenced by Samuel Lewis' spiritual relationships with Ruth St. Denis, a modern dance pioneer, and Hazrat Inayat Khan, a Sufi master. The influence on the dances of Sufi practices such as Sema and The Whirling Dervishes are apparent, although Samuel Lewis was also a Rinzai Zen master, a mystical Christian, and a Judaic scholar who drew on the teachings of many major religious and spiritual traditions, including native traditions.
"Eat, Dance, and Pray Together" is Sam's motto for creating a peaceful community.
The Dances have since developed into a global movement. Dances are continuing to be created and the number of dances is now beyond measure. There are currently over 300 video taped dances on youtube.com. The Network for the Dances of Universal Peace has members in 28 countries.
www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org is the website for the international organization for Dances of Universal Peace and a great resource for detailed information regarding DUP in the USA and worldwide.
References
About the Dances - International Network for the Dances of Universal Peace
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