Premier ballet festival returns to Aegean town

MUĞLA - Anatolia News Agency

The Bodrum International Ballet Festival will continue until Aug 24, presenting local and foreign performances in the town. AA Photo

The Bodrum Ballet Festival is back for another year starting today, having cemented itself as one of the most important cultural events on Turkey’s southwestern coast.

“The most-asked question when the summer begins is about the ticket release date for the Bodrum Ballet Festival because people know that this festival has been organized for 10 years,” Bodrum Deputy Mayor Dursun Göktepe said Aug. 6. “Not only have domestic tourists showed an interest in the festival, but foreign tourists have as well.”

The festival has gained international importance thanks to the lovers of Bodrum and has become one of the most anticipated activities for locals, said the festival’s general art director, Rengim Gökmen.

The busiest summer

Gökmen said he had experienced his busiest summer since the establishment of the festival’s organizer, the State Opera and Ballet Directorate. “After the International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival, we completed the International Istanbul Opera Festival successfully as well. The Bodrum Ballet and Aspendos festivals will continue in August and September. In addition to performing everywhere in our country, State Opera and Ballet will represent Turkey in the international field,” said Gökmen.

Both Turkish and foreign performers will stage their performances throughout the festival until Aug. 24. The opening ceremony will feature “Love of Bodrum” by Mehmet Balkan, while the event will also feature “The Sufferings of Young Werther” by the performers of State Opera and Ballet, “Zorba the Greek” by the İzmir State Opera and Ballet, as well as “Harem” by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet, among other performances. The festival will close with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”