Dances of Ecstasy  Wednesday 2 March 2005 8:28AM (view full
episode)   Woman: In western culture, we've all been taught how
to control. I grew up with a Catholic guy. From that religion I
did learn to hate myself and I did learn to hate my body,
because of that suffering I found what I was looking for in the
dance. God is the dance.  David Rutledge: A short excerpt from a
new film that's going to be screened on national television this
Sunday night. The film's called 'Dances of Ecstasy', and it
explores the world of ritual, rhythm and trance. And I do mean
the whole world: the film features footage of Sufi dervishes in
Turkey, a Yoruba Priestess in Nigeria, shamans in South Korea
and the Kalahari desert, and much more.  The film was made over
a five-year period by the producer-director team of Michelle
Mahrer and Nicole Ma, and I spoke to Michelle Mahrer in
Melbourne.  Michelle Mahrer: Well the film is about how
different cultures all over the world connect with a divine
power through dance and rhythm. And I