The Dances were originally created in America in the late 1960's by Samuel L. Lewis (1896-1971), who was a Sufi Murshid (teacher) as well as a Rinzai Zen Master. He also studied deeply in the mystical traditions of Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity.

”Now, with all the fun we’re having, I’m trying to teach spirituality. I can forgive you if you don’t agree with me on anything, but if when we do the dancing you don’t take it as spiritual, the whole thing falls down. We’re making no attempt to make dancers out of you, but as you elevate in your own personality you begin to find it’s easier for you to dance and to do things you couldn’t do before – even when you tried. Something happens inside the person.”

Samuel L. Lewis