As they spin on stage, the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi take their audiences on a whirlwind trip of Turkey and its ritual of the Sema, a dance inspired by the poetry of 13th-century Sufi poet Mevlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi.

	The Whirling Dervishes of Rumi When: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow. Where: Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Tickets: $25-$65; $14 with student ID; 412-394-3353 or www.proartstickets.org.

The troupe, which combines live music, singing and dancing, is making its first stop tomorrow night at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Music Hall, as part of a U.S. fall tour.

The performance is described by some as a spiritual experience, and that's definitely what it is for the dancers. The constant, quick spins are a way of meditating, praying and focusing on a message of love.

The Sema ritual "represents the human being's ascent to heaven, his spiritual journey," says Adem Baskaya, who teaches the dance in New Jersey and has performed with this group.

The dancers whirl "to reflect our universal truth that everything in our existence revolves: electrons, moons, planets, entire galaxies," Baskaya writes.

The performance begins with singers performing lyrics from a poem by Rumi about the prophet Muhammad. Live musicians accompany the singers and dancers, playing on traditional, hand-made Turkish instruments much like flutes and drums.

The dancers soon join the performance, wearing traditional costumes that flare out as they whirl. The wide white skirt represents the shroud of the ego, and the black cloak worn over it represents the soil. The cloak is later removed, showing that the dancer is spiritually reborn to truth. The camel-hair hats they wear symbolize a tombstone.

Rumi's poetry, expressed through the dance, focuses on love, tolerance and peace through worship. His poetry is popular not only with people of Islamic faith but across cultures in the United States.

While most audiences spontaneously applaud after the whirling concludes, the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi discourage clapping because for them this is a religious ceremony, not just a performance.

As with many religions and spiritual traditions outside of mainstream Christianity, dance is a sacred ritual as well as an art form.

"After praising God and praying to him with our tongues, we continue this with our bodies," writes Baskaya.

The growing interest in Eastern religions and religious practices in the United States has drawn big crowds to see the group. Some go out of curiosity, others for a meditative experience. Either way, the audience receives a lesson in Turkey's cultural and religious history and a visual treat in the bargain.