FIRE OF ANATOLIA
Fire of Anatolia’s basic concept is the meeting of civilizations. It is a dance portrait aiming at the meeting of eastern and western cultures, giving universal messages of peace.
It presents the world a show, a cultural feast at modern standards, combining folk dances with ballet, modern dance and other disciplines of dance.
Fire of Anatolia, originating from the mythological and cultural history of Anatolia lasted for thousands of years, is a unique project that bears 3,000 dance figures and the music of the Anatolian people, which are compiled from almost every region of Anatolia. The project created by Mustafa Erdoğan aims to introduce the whole world the fire of Anatolia, which is based on the idea of combining the concept of “peace” with Anatolia’s cultural and historical mosaic of thousands of years.
Mustafa Erdoğan, who had taken his first step towards realizing a dream of long years in 1999, started intensive rehearsals requiring heavy work for the project that was formerly known as the “Sultans of the Dance”. First, ads were given out in newspapers, stating “dancers are wanted”. 750 people had applied. Among 750 people, 90 young people were selected and then a difficult working period that would last for one and a half year has started. Practices were lasting 8 hours and sometimes 16 hours a day… Costumes were prepared, and musical compositions were completed. Practices were performed in cooperation with estheticians, exercise instructors, dieticians, and massage professionals. In addition, stretching and yoga exercises were made. And then, concentration was mainly over steps of folk dances, ballet, and modern dancing techniques. Dancers have also taken theoretical lessons about the notation of the Anatolian rhythms.
And, after performing 3 - 4 shows beginning since May 3, 2001, another show was planned to be put on stage abroad, however because all the tickets were sold for the show in Turkey months in advance, it has been decided to continue the show in homeland. All over the world, Fire of Anatolia, having started its first world tour in 2002 from New Zelland to America, from Siberia to Bahreyn, from Oman to South Korea; particularly in the countries of Germany, France, Holland, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Martinique Islands in the Carribbean, the Azore Islands, Mexico, Russia, China.from New Zealand to America, from Siberia to Bahrain, was viewed by more than 47 million viewers in 5000 performances in 106 countries (the company performed in many countries for more than once).
Being deemed as one of the very numbered dance companies of the world by means of the tours in foreign countries and promotion activities till today, Fire of Anatolia is the most splendid show that became universal with the power of our national culture.
Fire of Anatolia has put on stage the first children Dance Group of Turkey, “Spark” in January 2010. Fire of Anatolia has its Dance Academies, in which the dance classes have been given, in Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Gaziantep.