Thread: Turkish BD party - ideas?

I just booked a last-minute birthday party for a Turkish gentleman's 90th birthday this Saturday. Although Turkish was always my first love, I haven't really been to it in ages, and I'm not even sure what to dance to. Suggestions?

I'm wearing a one-piece costume, and entering playing cymbals probably. Any specific music stand out in your minds? I'm thinking more of old standards, because that's probably the music I would already have. Ideas?

Thanks!

Hi! Ozel Turkbas has a nice 14 minute Turkish routine on her 'Alla-Turca' cd, which you could add a nice entrance bit to if you're doing a 20 minute set? Veil, floorwork if possible, chiftitelli; these sort of set the Turkish style (other than Rom) off from the Egyptian if you want to go that route. It sounds like fun! Enjoy. :-)

The Best of the Sultans would be a good cd. Rompi, Emine, lots of good old school stuff!

I would add Turkish folk songs that everybody can sing along to. Misket, Tin Tin and Uskudara are good. Hijaz Dolap (not sure that one has lyrics, but it's a good one) and Pencersi Yola Karsi could also be fun tunes. And, of course, Rompi ;-)

Ah Ozel -- I forgot all about those CDs!!

I don't have any Sultans CDs, just what I've yanked off Radio Bastet. I keep bugging Eebo about reissuing them and he just laughs and tells me they're in somebody's basement. :|

Who has the best, to-die for Rompi? I have several versions I'm not crazy about. Tin Tin is good -- I even know the folk dance version to that.

No floorwork -- the dress isn't really cut for that, and I'm not sure I'm up to it without a few weeks of stretching :) This should be interesting. The daughter says the old guy's rather spry and loves to dance. I wonder which one of us will tire out first! :)

I think Candan Ercetin does the best Rompi.
Turks will love any 9/8 songs. Bahcelerde Burulce, Yuksek yuksek tepeler, Osman Aga, Dillarla,

Of course, with Turks, it's best to find out where they are from in Turkey and use some of there local songs, especially as it is a 90th b-day party. If he's from a big western city (Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Izmir, etc) I'm sure someone that age would love a little Sanat Muzik even though it is not traditional belly dance stuff.

And of course you MUST have some music for a halay ready. Anything in 4/4 or 2/4 can work.


Too bad about no floor work.

I don't recommend yuksek yuksek tepeler even though it's 9/8, it's not for belly dancing. It is a traditional song to sing at Henna night( the celebration takes place night before the wedding) and it meant to sadden the bride and to possibly make her cry, cause she's leaving her parents home.. so that's not a good idea. Also Uskudar'a giderken, I wouldn't recommend I know it's something everyone knows but it's just not for bellydancing (we Turks think that). That should be fun! A 90 yearold Turkish man who loves dancing

Thanks for all the tips! We had a ball -- turns out I'd met the Guest of Honor before, at a Greek night. He danced with me and gave me a big hug and thank you as I was leaving. It was a lot of fun and I got to dance to the music that was my first love. Thanks again!!

One question, and I should have asked him, but several times he seemed to be motioning to me, almost as if he was doing that Bedouin women's clapping, where you clap forward of the body, only his hands never met. When I saw him do that before, I thought he meant for me to turn and spin, but now I'm thinking it's a gesture I'm just not aware of. Any thoughts? Thanks again!