In 2003, I attended Dunya's Winter Movement Monastery in Texas. We have known each other for years, having studied with the same Sufi master (drummer/segatgi Adnan Sarhan) in addition to both of us having lifelong involvement in music and dance. During an afternoon workshop, while her students were dancing blindfold, she silently signaled me to join her up on the dais and play zills in duet. This was the first time either of us played duet in the meditative style we learned from our teacher. Since then, I have played two concerts with Dunya, and have explored duet meditation in several concerts with Amina Salah.

Dunya dives deep with her zillwork into rhythmic trance and the arhythmic flow of sound and energy. Founder of Dancemeditation, her playing is a solo voice in support of inner explorations and helping spirits bloom. Of our first duet in 2003, Dunya says,"I'd been playing alone for years, and there we were, playing together. It was an amazing experience, because there aren't very many people who play zills the way we do. It was so companionable, and I really love that. In the Sufi tradition we both know, so many practices seem to be solitary, non-relational even when you're side by side, doing them in a group. This was a major shift for me, to see how two people who have the same traning could interact, in what I had only experienced as a solitary thing. It was really exciting, and really, really fun." 

 

Amina Salah searches for the deeper meaning in zillwork. She has explored playing zills not only as an accompaniment for dance but also as a path to share the joy of the music, rhythms and sounds they create. She expresses her life experiences through the sound of the zills, as her zillwork continues to evolve. Also inspired by Adnan Sarhan, and working closely with me over the last five years, Amina shares my passion for this beautiful and surprisingly versatile instrument.

For upcoming concerts, see my Calendar.

For more information about Dunya or Adnan Sarhan, see Archives and Links.

As of this posting, Amina Salah does not have a website.