![\"Ahmet](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art54\/graphics54\/ahmet2.jpg\")
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Recently, I had an incomparable opportunity to participate in a weekend of Oriental Gypsy music and dance, featuring the teaching of Ahmet Ogren<\/strong> of Istanbul, Turkey. He is a world-renowned dance master who excels at the Turkish Gypsy style of Belly dance, or as they say in Turkey, \u201cTurkish Roman\u201d.\u00a0 The focus of the weekend was an intensive workshop, exuberantly taught by this dancing legend. During eight hours, we learned as much as we could absorb, about this expressive, yet little known style of Oriental dance.\u00a0 In Ahmet\u2019s capable hands, we got a solid introduction to the style; which is fun; theatrical, and usually fast, with a lot of animated footwork. At times, the dance seems almost irreverent, but delightfully expressive when executed well.<\/p>\n Ahmet\u2019s friend, Ali Yenigun<\/strong>, (who is also from Istanbul but now resides in New Jersey) travels with him as his translator for describing the more complex ideas about the dance.\u00a0 Ali was always available to answer questions.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Ahmet starts by breaking down the rhythm of the Turkish 9\/8 rhythm in a simple way, and teaches how to move with it like a Gypsy. <\/p>\n We learned the difference between Turkish 9\/8 and Gypsy 9\/8 dancing. <\/p>\n Next, we learned\u00a0 moves and combinations, starting slowly to get the footwork and the timing down solidly. Ahmet made sure everyone got it! We drilled hard on the choreography that he has created with these moves. It was called an intensive workshop, and intensive it was! <\/p>\n \u00a0Ahmet combined teaching us some subtleties of the moves with more fun moves and another choreographed dance on day two. The moves and style are fun, and as I said before, at times irreverent, and exquisitely expressive when executed well. Tirelessly throughout the workshop, Ahmet demonstrated how to execute perfectly each move and combination. That in itself was a thrill to me! <\/p>\n Ahmet is a sexy and masculine dancer who combines a sense of playful humor and has the dedication and drive of a consummate professional. He pushed us hard, laughed, and encouraged us.<\/p>\n Ali was always available throughout the weekend\u00a0 to answer any questions we had about the dance (or anything else). An amiable man, he is an outgoing and has a quick smile; he is a treasure trove of information about life in Istanbul, the Gypsies who live there, and Gypsy culture in general.<\/p>\n Ahmet gave us a rare treat when he danced spontaneously for us at the hafla party on Saturday night. After the workshop, I was privileged to interview Ahmet and Ali, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them both.<\/p>\n The workshop and surrounding festivities (sponsored capably by local teacher, Joan Kafri<\/strong>) took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the spring of 2011. \u00a0<\/p>\n Interview<\/p>\n Maria:\u00a0 Have you always done this style of dance, and are there other styles that influence you?<\/strong> Like going out to dance to the popular music? <\/strong> What gives you inspiration in your dance? \u00a0(Here, I needed to define my term \u201cinspiration\u201d.)\u00a0 <\/strong> I was planning to ask you what your favorite music is for dancing, but now that I\u2019ve taken your workshops, I know the answer to that. It\u2019s all about the 9\/8 rhythm; it is a lot of fast, slow, and medium tempos, all done in the Gypsy way of using the rhythm. Including that\u00a0 important little pause, as compared to the Turkish style. From your workshop, I understand this so much more.<\/strong><\/p>\n What is your favorite listening music? <\/strong> \nThat\u2019s fantastic! You are sharing this wonderful style with the world! What do you have planned after the tour?<\/strong> Can you talk about men in Belly dance and how male dancing fits in the cultural traditions of the Roma life in the Middle East?\u00a0 Also, in the U.S.A., men are not used to doing much dancing; how can teachers encourage them? <\/strong> It is like theatre, isn\u2019t it?<\/strong> What is most important to give to your audience?<\/strong> Author Maria’s GS bio page<\/em><\/a>
\nAhmet:\u00a0 \u201cI started just doing regular dance, and have always loved to dance<\/p>\n
\n\u201cYeah! My special style is Belly and Gypsy and that is what I do professionally. I only teach this style, this combination of Turkish Belly and Gypsy dance styles.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAfter some more translating,\u00a0 Ali tells me: \u201cI express myself with dance.Yes, when I listen to the music, my body moves.\u201d <\/p>\n
\n\u201cMusic is international. I listen to music from all over the world. If I hear it and like it, I enjoy listening to it.\u00a0 Even if it\u2019s different and in a language I don\u2019t understand, like Greek or other music. If I like it, I like it. I always enjoy hearing a variety of different music.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Ali,](\"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/art54\/graphics54\/AhmetJoanAlismaller.jpg\")
\u00a0Where are you going next on this workshop tour?<\/strong>
\n\u201cI am going back home to Istanbul, then on to Australia, Japan, Belgium, Germany, Greece, and finally, Marakesh in Morroco<\/a>.\u00a0 I spend only 3 months on tour, then I return to teach in Turkey for most of the year.\u201d <\/p>\n
\n\u201cIstanbul! …performing, and\u00a0 teaching in Turkey.\u00a0 One renowned event there is a festival that is the biggest Gypsy festival.\u00a0 I teach and perform there.\u201d
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\nHow did you get started in dance? Is it part of your family or familia?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>
\n\u201cNo, I\u2019m not Gypsy. I learned to love this Turkish Gypsy dancing from when I was very young. Gypsies live all over Istanbul. From an early age, we always hung out with Gypsies in their camps and neighborhoods. I watched and learned this dance from them. I\u2019ve always loved to\u00a0 dance for fun. I was sixteen when I started dancing professionally. I have been doing the Turkish Roman style dance professionally for 20 years.\u201d
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\nWhat is the difference between this style of moves for women and for men?\u00a0 <\/strong>
\n\u201cThe moves are all the same for men and for women. The difference is how they do it. The men do it more macho. The women do it more sexy, … like the way women are in life!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIt is part of the culture, not\u00a0 just Belly and Gypsy style. Folk dancing too, it is different in each different area. When people see men dancing, they don\u2019t think of it as \u201cgay\u201d. Also, men who dress like a woman dance; it is like theatre …called \u2018Kotcheck\u2019<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cYeah! …like theatre.\u00a0 It comes from the tradition against women dancing in public. It is not considered \u201cgay\u201d. Now, dance is becoming more closed to men. Things are being influenced more by fundamentalists.\u00a0\u00a0 As for the cultural hangups here, they are a huge obstacle! It is a whole culture. Maybe you can do something to change it…\u00a0 I just bring this dance to people, and they learn it if they want.\u201d
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\nAre there\u00a0 some moves, and also costumes that are offensive to Roma or Gypsies when non-Gypsies are seen doing (or trying to do) them as \u2018\u201cGypsy Dance\u201d? <\/strong>
\n\u201cI am into sharing this great dance style with anyone who wants to learn it. In Turkish Roman
\ndance there is no skirt swirling, but in other countries, like Russia and Spain, yes.\u00a0 My personal opinion is that the swirling of a skirt is just an easier way to keep up with the music than actually keeping the beat with your footwork.\u201d
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\nDo you know if Spanish flamenco has evolved from Turkish Roman dancing? I saw your video on YouTube and you were doing that rhythmic, stomping kind of footwork,\u00a0 tapping, and stomping with your boot-heel and toe.<\/strong>
\n\u201cThat is just me, having fun with the Gypsy musicians and the crowd. I was being playful, playing with the musicians and the crowd; creating rhythms and having the drummers go along.\u00a0 I don\u2019t do it as any style like Flamenco.\u201d
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\nCan you talk about what is most important to you to give to your students, and what you enjoy most about teaching workshops?\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0
\n\u201cI offer the dance and make it available to anyone who wants to learn. If students take what I give, it makes me happy. I enjoy very much to see the students work so hard to learn what I am teaching to learn this style of dance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen the audience enjoys it, I enjoy it more.\u00a0 Like all performers, when I get a big response, it is more fun for me and satisfying to know that what I am giving is being received and appreciated.\u201d
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\nHow do you feel about spontaneous performance vs. choreographed performance?
\n<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cSpontaneous dance is better.\u00a0 It\u2019s not mechanical like choreographed dance is so much (except when it is done really well). For workshops though, one must teach using choreography. It is like you have to learn the alphabet first with choreography. Spontaneously is how I always dance when I am dancing solo. Gypsies always dance spontaneously when dancing solo. When dancing with a partner, then there must be some choreography.\u201d
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\nDo you have anything to say to teachers about how to teach students to dance spontaneously?<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe key is:\u00a0
\n1. I can demonstrate spontaneous dance, and I can teach you the moves,\u00a0\u00a0
\n2. …but I cannot give you emotion, …feeling. This comes from the individual dancer.\u201d
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\nThank you both very much for coming out here and doing this. It is a great opportunity to learn this wonderful style of music and to learn more about Istanbul and the Gypsy people.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAhmet’s Website<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n
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