Galata

The dancer, Cristiane Azem will pay tribute to the city of Istanbul through oriental dance and a review of different moments of its history from 10 to 14 June at the Teatro Gran Vía.

The show takes spectators on an artistic journey through the different historic stages of the city, from its origins as Byzantium, its transformation into Constantinople to its consolidation as one of the great centres under the Ottoman Empire.

The staging brings together dancers from Cristiane Azem’s professional company alongside members of the “Galata” educational group, which focuses on studies into Turkey. The audience is immersed in a visual and musical journey that combines choreographies inspired by Eastern tradition with elaborate costumes based on historical and pictographic research. The production also includes traditional Turkish dances, such as the Roman and the Horon, which showcase the country’s cultural and artistic diversity.

Cristiane Azem is a renowned dancer, choreographer and teacher specialised in oriental dance. Born in Brazil and resident in Spain for decades, Azem is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the dissemination of this discipline in Europe.  Throughout her career, she has founded her own company and has developed stage and educational projects focused on the study of the Turkish culture and the dances of the Middle East. She is also a graduate in History from the University of São Paulo (USP), having specialised in “History of Ideas, Religions, and Culture”.

Galata also enjoys a long history on stage in Madrid. The show ran for three seasons at the Teatro de Madrid between 2008 and 2010, was later presented at the Teatro Compac Gran Vía in 2011 and returned to the Nuevo Teatro Alcalá in 2012.

Approximate Duration: 2 hours
Recommended Age: All ages