25 young people from Turkey’s southeast show off swing dancing skills on historic bridge

DİYARBAKIR

At least 25 young people from the southeastern province of Diyarbakır have shown off their swing dancing skills accompanied by shawm-and-drum on the historic On Gözlü Bridge (Ten Arches Bridge) as part of the Istanbul Dance Ensemble, the BBC’s Turkish language service reported on March 15.

Dancers and trainers of the ensemble visited Diyarbakır to promote swing dancing and to train to young people in the province.

Following two-and-a-half months of training, at least 25 young people from Diyarbakır have shown off their dancing skills in some shows in Diyarbakır’s historic spots, such as On Gözlü Bridge, the Gazi and Erdebil mansions, the Yedi Kardeş and Evli Beden bastions.

Hakan Durak, the founder of “Swing Istanbul,” a dance ensemble, said swing dancing was the ancestor of all dances.

“In five and a half months, we have reached 25 dancers. There are already other dances here, there is halay [a traditional Turkish dance] for example. So, there is a predisposition in Diyarbakır [for dancing],” he said.