More about the Dances

The dances were originated by Samuel Lewis in the late 1960’s in San Francisco. He was a Sufi mystic, known by his students as Murshid S.A.M. (murshid is teacher). Jewish by birth, he was well versed in the Kaballah, he taught Christian mysticism and was a Rinzai Zen Master as well as a devoted student of a Hindu guru Papa Ram Dass.
The dances were inspired by his Sufi teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan, the master who introduced Sufism to the West, and Ruth St. Denis, a pioneer in the modern dance movement, poet and mystic.

The Tapestry of Lineage: The Weaving of the Dances

While the Dances of Universal Peace are rooted in the Sufi Message, they are a vibrant tapestry woven from many sacred threads. Murshid Sam’s vision was sparked by his encounters with these great souls:

• Hazrat Inayat Khan & Ruth St. Denis: Provided the spiritual “tuning” and the sacred “language of motion.”
• Papa Swami Ramdas & Mother Krishnabai: Through them, Sam experienced the power of the Ram Nam (the repetition of the Divine Name) and the path of pure, selfless love (Bhakti). Their influence brings the heartbeat of devotion to the Dances.
• Nyogen Senzaki: A pioneer of Zen in the West, he taught Sam the “Great Silence” and the precision of mindfulness, ensuring that the Dances are not just emotional, but deeply grounded in presence.
• Joe & Guin Miller: Known as “the Saints of Golden Gate Park,” the Millers were Sam’s dear friends and fellow seekers. They embodied a down-to-earth, “street-wise” spirituality that kept the Dances accessible, human, and rooted in the simple joy of being together.

By bringing these streams together, Murshid Sam created a path where the ecstasy of the Sufi, the devotion of the Hindu, and the clarity of the Zen Master meet in a single circle of peace.

“What does the dance do for us? First and foremost, it inculcates the sense of rhythm and enhances our response to rhythm. This is really a response to life. It makes us more living, which is to say, more spiritual.” Murshid Samuel Lewis

The Dances of Universal Peace (DUP) offer a remarkably efficient way to alter brain states by engaging the whole body. By replacing the “work” of silent concentration with the ease of rhythm and song, this practice allows participants to bypass the ego and reach a state of deep meditative flow much faster than traditional sitting.

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The Science of the Experience

• Vagal Tone & Natural Regulation: Singing and chanting activate the vagus nerve, signalling the nervous system to shift from “fight or flight” to a state of calm and safety. Because you are singing, your breath regulates itself naturally, calming the body without the strain of forced technique.
• Oxytocin & Relational Presence: By holding hands and sharing eye contact, you dissolve the sense of being a “separate meditator”. This social bonding increases oxytocin, reducing anxiety and fostering a sense of shared belonging within the larger whole.
• Quieting the Mind: These elements work together to reduce activity in the Default Mode Network (DMN)—the part of the brain responsible for self-referential “chatter”—effectively silencing the inner critic.

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“The Dances of Universal Peace change lives. And the world changes life by life. All over the earth people long for an actual experience of reverence for the earth and life in all its forms. The dances show how.” Saadi Neil Douglas-Klotz

Deepening the Path

As we honor the roots and the spirit of this movement, the journey continues through personal practice and shared presence. Whether you feel called to refine your own dance experience, explore the sacred archives of sound, or seek inner clarity through individual accompaniment, there is a space here for you to engage more deeply:

• Dance Mentoring — Embark on a personal journey of guidance and growth to refine your practice and integrate the wisdom of the movements.
• Original Dances and Zikrs — Enter a library of sacred movement and sound; find dance descriptions and recordings of Zikrs to support your remembrance.
• Spiritual Guidance — Heart-centered sessions for those seeking to deepen their inner life and navigate their path with clarity and grace.
• Regular Classes — Join our ongoing circles for Meditation in Ormskirk, Online Sacred Sound, and in-depth study of The Inner Life. These sessions are designed to support your daily practice and provide a consistent space for remembrance and connection.