Nöbetçi Eczaneler
The 22nd International Bodrum Ballet Festival, organized by the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet (DOB) under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, opened with a performance of “Swan Lake.” Held in the North Moat of Bodrum Castle with the support of Türkiye İş Bankası, the festival has become one of the most prominent cultural and artistic events in the region. The immortal masterpiece “Swan Lake” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was performed by the İzmir State Opera and Ballet on the opening night.
The work, known for its classical choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, was presented with a contemporary interpretation by Armağan Davran and Volkan Ersoy. The production brought to the stage the dramatic journey of a cursed princess caught between fate and love, enhanced by magnificent music, impressive choreography, and striking visual design. The set design was created by Çağda Çitkaya, costume design by Nursun Ünlü, and lighting design by Oğuz Murat Yılmaz.
“I BELIEVE THIS YEAR WILL BREAK HISTORIC AUDIENCE RECORDS”
Before the performance, DOB General Director and Artistic Director Tan Sağtürk told reporters that they had increased the number of productions with excellent programming and were excited to meet the audience. He noted that ticket sales were nearly sold out and said: “I’d like to thank everyone at DOB. They’ve worked with great dedication. I believe this year will break historic audience records. I also want to thank Türkiye İş Bankası for their support. Last year, our festival reached 13,500 viewers, and we aim to achieve similar success again this year.”
“WE ARE HAPPY TO BE WHERE ART AND TOURISM INTERSECT”
Suat Sözen, Deputy General Manager of Türkiye İş Bankası, emphasized that Bodrum is one of Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations. Highlighting the significance of DOB hosting the International Ballet Festival in Bodrum, Sözen said: “We are happy to be present where art and tourism intersect. Last year was our first time supporting the festival, and it yielded great results. We had the best audience turnout ever. It looks like this year will surpass even that. This is a strong motivation for all of us.”
ARTIST ALMULA ÖZLEM COMMEMORATED
During the festival’s opening night, Oğuz Özlem—one of the first-generation Turkish ballet artists and the person who originally envisioned the festival—also addressed the audience on stage. He was warmly received and applauded for his contributions to both the arts and the festival. Tan Sağtürk later presented him with a plaque of appreciation. Additionally, the festival honored Almula Özlem, an artist from the Ankara State Opera and Ballet who passed away last year. The opening night performance will be staged once again this evening. The 22nd International Bodrum Ballet Festival will conclude on Monday, August 25.
