Menacasea 2026 Symposium: Music, Dance and Spirituality in Muslim Contexts

The Institute of Ismaili Studies and the MENACASEA research network invite you to attend the fourth MENACASEA Symposium at the Aga Khan Centre, London.Taking place from Wednesday 28 to Friday 30 October 2026, the symposium explores the relationship between music, dance, movement, and spirituality in Muslim contexts. It brings together scholars, artists, and practitioners working across musicology, dance studies, anthropology, religious studies, history, performance studies, and related fields.Across diverse Muslim societies, music and movement have shaped spiritual practice, artistic expression, cultural identity, and communal life. From devotional rituals and religious theatre to folk performance and contemporary artistic work, these forms offer important insights into meaning, belonging, memory, and transcendence.The symposium will explore themes including:Performance and religious experience
Ritual, devotion, and embodied practice
Theories of dance, music, and performance
Folk and community-based performance traditions
Music and dance as expressions of identity and belonging
Healing, wellbeing, and the performing arts
Contemporary artistic interpretations of spiritual traditions
Historical and contemporary perspectives on music, dance, and movementA full programme will be published closer to the event.As part of the symposium, participants are also invited to a special evening musical event on Thursday 29 October 2026 at the Ismaili Centre, London. Further details will be announced with the conference programme.Please note that filming and photography may take place during the event. Images and recordings may be used across IIS websites, newsletters, and social media channels. These may include wide shots of the audience and lecture theatre, speakers during sessions, and audience members participating in discussion.
Views expressed during the symposium are those of the presenting scholars and practitioners, and do not necessarily reflect the views of IIS.