The sacred and healing sounds of the East and West are the language of society and the heart. The “Bridges of Friendship” project was initiated in 1993 by Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç—an ethnomusicologist, music therapist, and master of the connections between music and Sufism—and continues to this day. The idea of presenting various forms of music and dance on stage as artistic performances is Dr. Güvenç’s vision. The roots of his tradition have guided him to build bridges from the Far East to the Far West.

The “Bridges of Friendship” project has been carried out by various artists and therapists in Turkey and across Europe at different times and locations since 1993: Istanbul, Ankara, Zurich, Basel, Munich, Essen, Hamburg, Salzburg, Vienna, Madrid, Barcelona, Brussels, Berlin, Nevşehir, Ürgüp, etc.

Bridges bring together many different beliefs, lifestyles, and experiences that are far apart, enabling them to coexist in a unified cultural community.

The “Bridges of Friendship” project aims, on the one hand, to preserve cultural authenticity and, on the other, to foster a climate of tolerance and friendship. Music, which allows people to breathe easily and peacefully and serves as a means of nonverbal expression, is a language that springs directly from the heart, reaches other hearts, and is felt throughout the universe.

Dances and songs aim to foster feelings of friendship, love, compassion, gratitude, praise, humility, generosity, patience, and joy, as well as to cultivate noble and beautiful aspirations. The performances feature archaic Baksı melodies and the artistic and spiritual folk tunes of various cultures. Music and dance have been practiced on Earth for thousands of years, and their ability to restore balance—particularly between the spirit and the body—is widely utilized. Perhaps the regions where this ancient healing tradition is still preserved and kept alive are Central Asia and the regions of Anatolian Turkish culture.

The tradition of music and movement therapy, which was practiced in Anatolia until 150 years ago, has been revived by Dr. Rahmi Oruç Güvenç; the materials and experiments used, along with the practices and clinical applications, have been presented in the fields of history, art, science, and medicine.

All religions and all spiritual paths seek humanity’s spiritual maturity and strive to enlighten humanity in this regard, focusing on advice and practices for inner peace, harmony, and balance. In Islamic Sufism, these ideas are supported by music and movement (such as rituals, the sema, hymns, and the invocation of God’s beautiful names). At this point, connections between healing and the material and spiritual realms can be observed. To live in harmony together, it is essential not to forget one’s own cultural and spiritual values and roots, to recognize other cultural and spiritual values, and to overcome fears (such as a sense of alienation) in this regard.

The overarching concept of the “Bridges of Friendship” projects is a message of peace, unity, and shared human values.