Ballet stars to illuminate Bodrum nights

The historic Bodrum Castle will once again host stars from the international and Turkish ballet scene during the 12th Bodrum International Ballet Festival between July 19 and Aug 6 Casting the sea and sand to one side for the next two weeks, the 12th Bodrum International Ballet Festival will bring a dose of high culture to the southwestern resort town between July 19 and Aug. 6.

During the event, selected ballet works from Turkey and around the world will be on stage in the historic atmosphere of the Bodrum Castle, which is home to one of the world’s most significant underwater museums.

This year six ballet productions will be present nine performances. Among the world-renowned foreign guests of the festival will be the Spanish flamenco masters of the Carlos Saura Flamenco Hoy show group and the Moscow Classical Ballet.

The festival will open Turkish literary doyen Reşat Nuri Güntekin’s immortal work, “Çalıkuşu” (The Wren), on July 19 before an encore is staged the following day. The work has been adapted to the ballet stage by choreographer Merih Çimenciler with the same name. It will be performed by the Mersin State Opera and Ballet, accompanied by Turkish music.

The group Carlos Saura Flamenco Hoy, which bears the name of famous director, screenwriter, actor and producer Carlos Saura, will be on the stage on July 23. The dance performance “Flamenco Hoy” from Saura’s “Flamenco Trilogy” is an energetic work by talented choreographers Rafael Estevez and Nani Panos. Famous dancers will gather for the work and bring the festival audiences to a different world.

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