An exciting evening of original choreographies with a fusion of Turkish, Balkan and Eastern European music and dance.
Berkeley, CA – January 19, 2007 – Collage, an award winning contemporary dance ensemble from Boston, MA, and Yöre, a Turkish dance troupe based in Stanford, CA, will present Anatolian Rhythms in Berkeley on Saturday, January 19. The show will feature a unique blend of dances from various regions of Anatolia, one of the greatest crossroads of ancient civilizations in history, as well as other eastern European countries. This will be Collage & Yöre's second joint show in the Bay Area.
The show will include movements from the shamanistic rituals of certain Turkish tribes and the breathtaking rhythmic steps of the Black Sea, as well as live musicians that will have audience members dancing in their seats.
Anatolian Rhythms is staged by Ahmet Lüleci, choreographer and internationally acclaimed artistic director of Collage. "Bay Area performing arts fans should not miss out on this unique opportunity to experience the energy, beauty, and passion of these dances,” said Luleci. "Anatolian Rhythms will bring music and dance lovers together to experience the heart and soul of Anatolia" added Mehpare Pam Askin, director of Yöre.
Described by the Boston Globe as “expertly crafted and beautifully performed,” Collage is a spirited and vibrant blend of ambitious choreography with both traditional and modern music and dance. “The spirited folk performers of Ahmet Luleci's Collage Dance Ensemble can flat-out dance.”
Collage Dance Ensemble
The internationally acclaimed Collage Dance Ensemble is one of Boston’s advocates for multicultural collective expression. Exemplifying its mission to promote harmony between people from different cultural and social backgrounds, Collage integrates Eastern European traditional performance with modern Western techniques. The company presents a range of pieces, from traditional choreographies to more modern interpretations that remain true to the spirit of the dance.
Yöre Folk Dance Ensemble
Yöre Folk Dance Ensemble is a rapidly expanding Turkish ethnic dance group based in Stanford, California. Yöre was founded by several folkdance instructors to teach the basics of Turkish ethnic dances from different regions of Turkey and became a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization in November 2005. Yöre teaches dance enthusiasts with limited dance backgrounds by relying on highly qualified and experienced folk dance performers as instructors and peers. Yöre participated in numerous local and international festivals and organized major shows performing ethnic dances from various regions of Turkey. The mission of the ensemble is to spark awareness of Turkey’s rich culture throughout its dancing.
Ahmet Luleci, Artistic Director
A native of Turkey, Ahmet is an accomplished choreographer, dance teacher and performer as well as a researcher of Anatolian culture. Collage allows him to further his goal of making folk dance and music accessible to a wider audience. Ahmet was presented with the 2002 Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts & Humanities by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations. He has also won the following competitions: 2004 and 2006 Dance Straight Up, 2001 Boston Moves, 2005 Tens the Limit, and the Dance Renewal Project.
His choreography was awarded the gold medal at the Hong Kong Open Dance Competition in 2004 (performed by Budlet Dance Company) as well as the first prize at the Ethnic Dance Competition in Germany three years in a row, 2005, 2006 & 2007 (performed by Elvan Dance Company). In 1985 he won the national Dance Research competition held by the Ministry of Sports and Education in Turkey. Ahmet has taught dance in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia and North Africa. He has degrees in Music and Fine Arts.
Anatolian Rhythms will be performed on Saturday, January 19 at 8 p.m. at Roda Theatre (Berkeley Repertory Theatre): 2015 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704. Ticket prices are $30 for adults, $15 for seniors and students. Tickets are available online at Berkeley Rep Box Office and www.ticketleap.com or by phone at 510.647.2949. |
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