The festival, now in its seventh year, runs Aug. 19-30 and will open with an Ankara State Opera and Ballet Modern Dance Troupe production called “Bin Kalp Atışı” (A Thousand Heartbeats), the Anatolia news agency reported. The two-act show combines three modern dance choreographies -- titled “Satie,” “Çekim” (Gravity) and “IN‹fusion›IN” -- with the music of Eric Satie, J.S. Bach and contemporary Turkish composer Emre Kesim.France's Käfig Company will be onstage Aug. 22 with their performance “Tricôté / Knit One, Purl One,” a showcase of their unique fusion of hip hop with other choreographic styles. The Antalya State Opera and Ballet will present “Harem,” a ballet in two acts, featuring choreography by Merih Çimenciler set to a score consisting of classical Turkish pieces by Dede Efendi, twice, on Aug. 25 and 26. France's Ballet National de Marseille will be the closing act of the festival with two shows on Aug. 29 and 30. The company will stage a performance made up of three separate choreographies titled “Somewhere,” “Herman Schmerman -- Pas de deux” and “Tempo Vicino.” All performances will take place at the Bodrum Castle.
Günay, speaking at a news conference at the Ankara Opera House announcing the festival's lineup, referred both to the festival and the Season of Turkey in France series of cultural events and said the exchange of cultural events between the two countries would prove extremely useful in establishing peace and understanding as well as helping the two nations get to know each other better. “And this situation will provide support for Turkey's efforts in its process of accession to the European Union,” he said.
