Dances of the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was truly a multicultural society. In order to be a full citizen, one had to be a Muslim, but not necessarily a Turk. Religious minorities, such as Christians and Jews, were protected and had their place in the state. The capital and courts were a colorful mixture of Turks, Greeks, Slavs, Albanians, Armenians, Roma, Caucasians, etc. The music of the courts mirrored this mélange. In our workshop we will explore the rhythms Çiftetelli, 9/8, 10/8 Sama'i, as well as 7/8. We can also learn a Sirto composed by a Sultan and accompanied by the hand percussion instruments Çalpare. This workshop gives the student and idea of what dance could have been like in the courts of Istanbul at the end of the 19th century.