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Folk Dances |
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Ciftetelli (Dance at the Palace) |
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Ciftetelli is one of the most common and traditional folk dance performed only by females during holiday celebrations and wedding ceremonies in almost every region of Turkey. All over the world the dance is described as the harmony of music and body. Ciftetelli adds the "spirit" to that description. It reflects the enthusiasm of Turkish people. The music has a very specific count that can be found in a lot of Middle Eastern music. Ciftetelli is happy, lively music with a combination of instruments, varying in tempo from slow to medium to fast. The costumes worn by the dancers resemble those worn by women who lived in the imperial palaces of the Ottoman Empire and do not represent a single region of Turkey. |
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Bitlis Dances |
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These dances, with its flamboyant colors, rough, fast figures, come from the eastern part of Turkey, famous for its high, majestic mountains, deep canyons and magnificent rivers and really harsh climate. The high speedy tempo of the Dance reflects this particular characteristics of the region. Among the figures clapping of the hands signifies cleansing the people of evil spirits and the sanctification of the dancers. |
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Blacksea Region Dance |
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This is from the northeastern part of the Black Sea coast of Turkey, where the typical instrument is a small three stringed violin called "KEMENCE". The vivid and agile figures of the dance resemble the movements of a famous small anchovy (Hamsi) amid the angry waves of its native Black Sea. This Dance performed by both females and males, mainly at the tea plantations of the eastern Black Sea region. |
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The Janissary Band (The Mehter Show) |
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Janissary was the name of the Ottoman Army and the Janissary Band is the first military band established in the world in the 15th century.
The main purpose of establishing such a band was to give morale to the soldiers and encourage and motivate them before going to a battle.
In 1826, as times changed, it was abolished together with the Janissary army. The songs and the marches performed by this band used the same tune (maqam) and music forms of the classical Turkish music.
Today, this band is reestablished just for entertainment and ceremonial purposes.
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The Mystical Sema Dance (Whirling Dervishes) |
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This is a mystical dance in which both the humanism and the concept of tolerance of the mid 13th century mystical Sufi philosopher Celaleddin-I Rumi are dominant.
Its theme is;
Whatever and Whoever You are, Come Again
Whether Idolater or Pagan, Come Again
In this ceremony people fulfill their obligation of servitude and gratitude to God by turning (whirling) ecstatically around the Saintly Dervish, who is considered the Light. The dance is performed by four parties who gradually speed up. Each party and each part of the clothes worn by the Dervishes have different meanings. |
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Fashion Show |
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Some classical Royal Ottoman and modern costumes designed by the Turkish Higher State Institute of Fine Arts to be presented by the TUTAV Group. |
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Davul Show (Drum Show) |
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This impressive drum show represents Anatolian Turkish rhythmic music and consists of short, vivid, rhythmic music performed by numerous Turkish drums. |
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