Category: Turkish dance

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Learning Turkish – 3 Great Phrases to Know

Getting ready for the Turkish festival in Istanbul in June means learning some key phrases to make the trip a whole lot easier. I also enjoy some of the Turkish dramas because they are soooooo much more romantic than our shows. The love poetry is beyond compare and if you are a fan of Courtly Love as I am, there are two shows you can’t miss. Seyit ve Sura and Muhtesem Yuzyil are packed with romance and adventure. And available on Netflix with English subtitles

So now let’s get started.

  1. Alla alla. Pronounced allahalla. Easily my favorite. It basically means Good Lord which has sooooooo many uses, especially in traffic. And believe me if you have ever been in Istanbul traffic you know exactly what I mean.
  2. Insallah. Pronounced eenshalla. It means God willing. How many workshops will I take at the festival? All of them, insallah!
  3. Tesekkur ederim. Pronounced teshekur ederim. Not only can you use it to say Thank you, it’s also a very polite way of saying I’m not interested or I’ve had enough

So let’s get practicing!

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Sigara borek (Turkish filo pastry cigar)

One of my favorite Turkish dishes! The name sigara borek means cigarette pastry because of the shape. The mint and feta cheese combine for a refreshing and tasty treat. Whenever I performed at the Turkish restaurant in Delray Beach, they would let me wrap and make my own boreks. Of course I also made mine too fat and instead of looking like a cigarette, they looked like cigars!

Ingredients
Makes: 6 Turkish sigara borek

  • 150g feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon dried mint
  • 1/2 tablespoon chilli powder
  • chopped fresh coriander or parsley, to taste
  • 3 sheets filo pastry
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons oil

Method
Prep:20min  ›  Cook:8min  ›  Ready in:28min 

  1. Neatly lay the three filo sheets out on a work surface, one on top of the other. Make one clean diagonal cut across the pastry to form 6 triangles.
  2. In a bowl, combine the feta cheese, mint, chilli powder and fresh coriander. Mix well, mashing the ingredients together.
  3. One at a time, spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture in the middle of the pastry in a line but a bit towards the long side of the triangle pastry. Fold the sides in and then start to roll the pastry like you would roll a cigarette.
  4. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a high heat then add the sigara boreks into the pan. Once one side is golden brown, continue turning until evenly brown all over. Remove from the pan and transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper. Blot away any excess oil then serve hot.
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Florida Senior Living Dance Edutainment

Gypsy Fire South Florida Belly Dancers
Gypsy Fire Flamenco Dancers

Senior Living Dance shows aren’t just entertaining, they are also educational!

The music, the costumes, the pageantry but also the history. Educating our audiences on the history of the dance and time period while entertaining keeps everyone engaged. Those who are able are invited up to dance too. Those who are not, are encouraged to mimic modified movements in their seats.

If you have always wanted to give back to the community and love performing, give us a call. We are always looking for new dancers. Or if you are an Activities Director, looking for some fun and educational entertainment for your residents, contact us at 561-358-8132

 

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Turkish Oryantal and Roman Havasi

This weekend we were fortunate enough to have Ozgen, famous Turkish choreographer here in Miami. Saturday he taught a Turkish Oryantal choreography and Sunday Roman dance technique and choreography. Both days focusing on the Turkish 9/8 rhythm. He debunked a few myths most notably that Karshilama and Roman Havasi are not the same dance. When I first began belly dancing in NYC in 1999, and taught the Turkish 9/8, it was taught as a Karshilama with the disclaimer that the basic was what the NYC dancers interpreted from what they saw and felt with the rhythm. Mr Ozgen cleared that up by explaining that Karshilama is a male folk dance.

If you are looking for some great Roman Havasi music, there are the classics Rompi Rompi and Mastika. But also new pieces available such as Romantica from the album Didem and many selections from Kibariye. A favorite being Yanayim