The Dervish dancers: Part 1

The following transcript includes both the text from the captions and a text version of the audio descriptions.

( men chanting in local language )

DESCRIPTION: Now, men and boys, most of them dressed in white robes and headscarves, stand in a large circle. A few men in green robes walk past. A dancer in a brightly-colored patchwork robe spins into the middle of the group. With his arms held out, he turns in faster-and-faster circles.

Dancer stops spinning The whirling dancer slows, and takes big steps out of the circle. A small group surrounds the chant leader. He wears bright green robes; long red and green neck-scarves; and a knit cap.

Other men in green robes stand near the leader, swinging their arms and clapping. The leader holds a bamboo staff. As he chants, he pulses and bounces with the rhythm.

Clear shot of man in green cap One man dances with a big smile on his face. Someone grabs his robe and pulls him to the side, revealing a new whirling dancer in a patchwork robe. The dancer takes to the middle of the circle, spinning on the balls of barefeet.

Leader's cap fills our view The dancer twirls past the chant-leader. Two men wearing green caps crouch low to the ground. They leap up grinning! The leader waves his staff and the men dance excitedly.

Group approaches from left Several men dance through the circle in a tight group. They pass the leader and HIS group. The two men in green caps jump up-and-down, grinning and pumping their arms with increasing energy.

Chanting ends suddenly The leader stands still and everyone stops dancing. He turns and walks away. The green-robed leader disappears into the crowd of white robed men.

( chanting stops, people conversing in local language )