By Dania Karina (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-13 08:57

A knowledge of music is vital to Turkish belly dancing, she says, as a dancer must be familiar with classical music as well as spirited contemporary songs.

Ismail Cagan Dilemre, a lute player from Canakkale, Turkey, is an expert in this field. Drawing on 13 years of experience, he has performed professionally with famous Turkish poets and musicians, such as Avni Anil, Aydin Tekindor and Nurettin Portakal.

"Today's classical Arab music and the Ottoman classical music have a broader repertoire. They utilize a wider range of makam (a system of melodic modes) and a variety of usul (rhythmic modes). Turkish belly dance music has its own sounds, specifically deriving from Ottoman classical music," Dilemre says.

"It is mostly about love and emotions. The belly dance attempts to visually communicate these feelings and emotions even with the simplest of movements," he adds.

All Turkish expats will proudly tell you about their belly dancing tradition. Ozge Nur Kiziloluk, a 22 year-old language student from Ankara, says most Turkish girls know how to belly dance.

"Belly dancing to a Turkish girl is like doing calligraphy to a Chinese. We learn to belly dance from the moment we were born, because we live in that culture. When we go to a wedding ceremony, every summer, every spring, we dance. It's part of being Turkish."

Along with other Turkish students, Sahin had initially come to Beijing to learn Mandarin. Driven by her ambition to try her hands in trading between Turkey and China, she feels that Mandarin has become a crucial language to know.

Coming from a different culture does not pose any problem for Sahin, who enjoys the experience of studying abroad and who travels around China whenever she gets the chance. Understanding her fellow Turkish homesickness however, she admits Beijing could use more authentic Turkish establishments.

"We come from a beautiful country, rich in culture and traditions, and we have our own ways of doing things different from the Chinese. I only know of two authentic Turkish restaurants here, I think they're not enough," she laughs.

"I know more than 50 Turkish people in China, but it is not easy to connect with them. There is no place for us to meet up and just be Turks."

Sahin says she began dancing professionally for relaxation and to keep in shape. "But I have danced ever since I was very young, and I am of Arabic descent. So if you ask me about belly dancing, it's in my blood," she says with a smile.

"Music and dancing are an integral part of me naturally. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge about Turkish belly dancing with more people in China, as well as to introducing more of Turkey's culture to anyone who is willing to learn."

(China Daily 06/13/2008 page19)

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