24 April 2003

Keep A Wish & Join The Traditional Open Festival: Hidrellez 2003

According to the cultural tradition, the Anatolian people used to celebrate "spring" with a festival called "Hidrellez" or the "festivity of spring" on each May´s 5th day. It is said that, whatever you wish for that night comes true! So, after such a "gray" winter and the terrible war days the Armada Hotel is organizing a semi-contemporary "Hidrellez-2003" and inviting all of Istanbul’s citizens to come and participate. The activities begin on Ahirkapi Street which Armada is on and will spread to the adjacent streets, Monday evening (5th of May). All the traditional spring foods and drinks (both the traditional ones and the brewery) will be sold through the street-buffets, while the local musicians perform gypsy and Balkan music. This year, in addition to the individual wishes, some white ribbons symbolising "peace" will be attached on the traditional Nahil´s...



The "Ahirkapi Roman Orchestra" which is consisting of the neighboring musician groups of Ahirkapi community will perform its second great street concert along with the guest performers...

"Küçük Hasan from Lüleburgaz" a "zurna" genious and the drum master "Tamer Kum and his group" will also be the "guest musicians" of the night!



PROGRAM:

19.00- Opening the "Hidrellez-2003" at Ahırkapi Street
Street concerts by the local musicians...
Spring foods by the portable street-shops: "Döner" kepab, meatball, "kokoreç", fish in bread, rice, pastry, "baklava", icecream, dried-nuts, etc. etc...
Lemonade, "scherbet", all other sorts of drinks...
21:30 - Concert- Ahirkapi Great Roman Orchestra, Guest performers
23:00 - Dance music with D&J
24.00 - Attaching the "Hidrellez 2003 Wishes" to the traditioal "Nahil" (wish-trees), Traditional street fires

Do not miss this wonderful opportunity! Keep a wish and join in the festival!

For detailed information call Armada: 0212-638 1370-78

info@armadahotel.com.tr

07 April 2003

Tango at 9 years old at Ahırkapı

"UNESCO INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY" will be celebrated at the Armada Hotel with the participation of the three tango groups. The 2003 Dance Day Message(*) which was written by Mats EK, the Sweedish choreographer, will be read during the performance...

The Program will start at 21:00.
Tango - by Ümit İris & Seval Uğur Mutlu
Salsa - by Viva Latin Salsa Group

Milonga- by “Tango Türk
Entrance: 10.000.000.-TL/pp (Includes 1 domestic drink and fresh fruit plate)

(*)What is dance? If you answer that, you are not trustworthy. But let me try, anyway: dance is thinking with your body.
Is it necessary to think with your body? Not for survival, perhaps, but for living. There are so many thoughts that only the body can think. Other things, like peace, might be more important than dance. But then we will need dance to celebrate peace. And to exorcise the demons of war, like Nijinsky did. Emma Goldman, the anarchist, maybe said it best : a revolution that does not allow me to dance, is not worth fighting for.

The god Shiva created the universe with his dance. But dance is the opposite of all divine pretentions. Dance is an everlasting attempt, like writing in water. Dance is not life, but it keeps alive all the little things that the big thing is made of.

Background - International Dance Day - 29th April
In 1982 the International Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, UNESCO, created International Dance Day to be celebrated every year on the 29th April.
The date commemorates the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727 - 1810), the creator of modern ballet.

Every year a message from a well-known dance personality is circulated throughout the world. The intention of International Dance Day and the Message is to bring all Dance together on this occasion, to celebrate this art form and revel in its universality, to cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers and bring people together in peace and friendship with a common language - DANCE.

The International Dance Committee of ITI is collaborating with World Dance Alliance for the celebration of International Dance Day.



On the other hand, you can join in these groups at each Sunday night for "Tango", on Monday nights for "Milonga" and Friday nights for "Salsa" at the Armada... For more information and reservation please call : 90-212-638 1370 (8 lines) Fax: 0212 518 50 60 – e-mail: Z.Kelebek - info@armadahotel.com.tr