Dance trip to TURKEY! HIDRELLEZ Festival in Istanbul & Edirne
Schedule
Tue May 02 2023 at 07:00 pm
Location
Turkey, Istanbul | Istanbul, IB
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A real Romani experience in Turkey!HIDRELLEZ FESTIVAL in Istanbul & Edirne with OZGEN and REYHAN Tuzsuz
Details at this link - https://unisonturkey.com/tours/small-group-tours/hidrellez2023/
Are you ready to experience a glimpse of the Romani culture in Turkey? Oriental Istanbul is taking you to a wonderful and unique journey in Turkey where you will enjoy a great week full of Romani dance, culture and street parties.
You will be taught the technique and style of the Romany dance from master teachers Ozgen & Reyhan. After going through an intense course in Istanbul, we will travel to Edirne, the heart of the Gypsy community in Turkey to celebrate Hidrellez together with the locals in town.
Enjoy dinner with a local Romani band in the festival field in Edirne!
What is Hidrellez and how is it celebrated?
Hidrellez is the traditional early spring festival, celebrating the awakening of the nature, every year throughout Anatolia. It is believed that every wish you make tonight will be accepted, as tonight prophet Hizir comes to give help to those who need it.
Hidrellez is a very important day for Romanys and is celebrated all through the night with street parties. The streets bustle with Gypsy music bands and crowds dancing to the 9/8 rhythm. The tradition is to jump over a fire and make a wish. You can also write or draw your wish and bury it under a plant or tie it on a tree branch. Also in Edirne, the Romany people have the tradition to go by the river very early in the morning to take a ritual dip in the cold water.
How did we plan our program?
Romany dance is a street dance so people usually learn it by watching others dancing from childhood, but for us adults ( AND foreigners! ) it is not easy to master in a short time.
So, we have Ozgen who can breakdown basics and techniques in English and in his own style, then, we have Reyhan's lesson to experience authentic dance while we can implement what we have learned in previous lessons.
Not enough dancing? We can also arrange private/semi private lessons for you.
Hotels:
Palazzo Donizetti Hotel:
Our hotel in Istanbul is a 4-star hotel in the heart of Pera, Beyoglu. The location of this hotel gives you the chance to explore Istiklal Street and Galata on foot!
Edirne Palace:
One of the newest hotels in town. You will enjoy a nice stay and it's central location is definitely a plus, especially when you want to go to bed late at night after the street parties.
Ozgen is an internationally acclaimed Turkish dancer, teacher, choreographer and director.
Specialising in Turkish Oriental and Romany (Gypsy) dance, Ozgen is regularly invited to give workshops in Britain and abroad, and to perform at international dance events and Belly dance festivals across Europe, North and South America, and Asia.
Ozgen also offers private tuition to people of all levels, from beginners to professional dancers, as well as choreographingdance routines for events and music videos.
For more information about Ozgen visit http://www.ozgen.co.uk/
Reyhan, once a housewife but an extraordinary Romani dancer living in Istanbul is now very famous among dancers who are determined to learn this dance from a real Romani woman. Her dance style is strong, natural, real and beautiful.
She accepts students from all around the world during the year and she also travels abroad to spread her skills around. Even though with limited English, she is able to teach her students not only the technique but also the feeling of this fabulous dance. Reyhan teaches by doing.
Each of her lessons include a dynamic movement vocabulary, presented with positive energy and laughter.
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Where is it happening?
Turkey, IstanbulEvent Location & Nearby Stays: