DJ Fabian Alsultany

Imagination is not the only vehicle of the TranceDance; of equal importance, music plays a vital role in the experience one undergoes in the shamanic state. DJ Fabian Alsultany has carved a unique niche in this aural realm, compiling the world's great traditional and electronic ritual music into a comprehensible whole. Long a major figure in the international music community, Alsultany's insightful ears lend a forward-thinking dynamic to modern ceremony: the DJ as inner vehicle.

Founder of both Uprise Management & Productions, managing top international acts and presenting some of the world's most progressive music festivals - including Africa Fete '99 US Tour and 2003's Asian Massive tour - and GlobeSonic Entertainment, a roving DJ collective and upcoming music festival tour, Alsultany has been a major pipeline for international artists to be presented in America. He has served as a resident DJ for Body Temple and Atma Groove event, his knowledge and love for these sounds coming through in the many international venues GlobeSonic has performed at, as well as their current New York City residency at Nublu. His Earth 'N Bass Vol. 1 release furthered his sonic mission, and he is currently working on releasing a forthcoming TranceDance mixed CD through his GlobeSonic imprint.

While breathwork is the most essential component to the TranceDance, music is the landscape by which travelers journey. The destination is silent dissolution, but the path is sonic. "Ritual music has been around since the beginning of time," says Alsultany, "since people started beating drums around the fire and chanting. What I do is bring both ancient and modern forms of music into a ceremonial setting as a soundtrack to a ritual." The ritual is reversion; by casting the light from eyes, one can plunge into their primordial essence, uninhibited. It is in this darkness one can truly deal with themselves, no longer confused by optics. By dancing to this music, they are literally entering that sacred realm protected, for songs are the protectors on the path to silence.

"Music is a guide to influence the direction of their experience," Alsultany continues. "I always walk into a Trancedance not having any idea what I am going to play. I only stick to one rule: starting primal and percussive, build up to solid dance oriented compositions, and take the TranceDance to a climax where it reaches a musical state that is strictly emotional and melodic." By confronting one's darkness can light be cast. As Carl Jung noted, "We cannot change anything until we accept it." TranceDance is learning to accept what you are in this very moment, fully and truly. It is not an escape, but rather a key out of any emotional or mental prison one is stuck within. The irony comes that they've been holding the door shut the whole time!

"I can only compare TranceDances to what I have seen in Morocco with the Gnawa or in Brazil during Candouble ceremonies," says Alsultany. "It is akin to what we have all seen on the Discovery or National Geographic channels - people falling totally into trance and going through positive, life-altering experiences. Parashakti does all the work - I just read the vibes of blindfolded crowd and provide the most righteous body shaking soundtrack imaginable. After a fully experienced Trancedance with Parashakti - I have seen lives change."

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