Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
For anyone who didn’t go to see The Fire of Anatolia Dance Troupe perform Troy because they were put off by the thought of Homer’s terse poetry, may I just say: “I am sorry for you. You missed a rare and wonderful treat.”
Somehow the Spring of Culture manages to consistently bring performers who leave us visually and emotionally stunned, yet crying out for more.
This performance went beyond even that and almost beggars belief.
The entire performance, from the dazzling mix of dance styles (nothing left out except perhaps Bollywood and the Highland Jig), almost impossibly fast footwork, wonderful costumes and technique was just stunning.
Based on Homer’s epic version of the legend of Troy, the dancers recreated the story in a way that, combined with the powerful musical accompaniment, took us back to the time when legends were written.
Their invisible web drew us in. There was indeed a powerful spoken and written commentary that interspersed the routines and allowed the audience to regroup and marshal their emotions before it all became too much.
The founder of the troupe and its artistic director, Mustafa Erdogan, has created something unique and magnificent.
My initial thought was that it was amazing just how skinny all the dancers, even the men, were. After watching them with their feet barely touching the stage during the entire performance, that was self explanatory. And, mind blowing. Is anyone supposed to be able to dance that fast?
Every scene was a blaze of colour with the costumes all looking brand spanking new and so detailed. How did they perform their costume changes so quickly?
The fight scenes were as good as any and better than most seen in the movies – and yet they were danced! The addition of powder to make the sparks literally fly as swords clashed was the kind of imaginative touch that made this piece so memorable.
For me, the crowning glory was Cassandra’s warning to the people that the war would not go well.
I felt overwhelmed and heartsick as she portrayed her message through her dance.
I am sure that many would opt for the gigantic wooden horse that appeared in the closing sequences or the fight scenes. Not to mention the truly delightful belly dancing routines, but for me this, Cassandra’s unheeded warning ,was the essence of the programme.
The final scenes were played out with footage of the Second World War flashed onto the horse and the clear message that violence and war can bring no rewards – only pain.
It was a wisdom as old as time that the world seems incapable of learning, brought to life by arguably the most talented dance troupe performing today.
– Christine Hasan
