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The ballet “Afife,” which portrays the artistic struggle of Afife Jale, a pioneer of Turkish theater who took the stage when Muslim Turkish women faced serious obstacles to performing, returns in a new production 28 years after it was first created.
The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet (IDOB) holds the premiere on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Turk Telekom Opera Hall of the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM) in Istanbul.
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Murphy told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the project began in 1998, when Halk Sigorta, Haldun Dormen and Rengim Gokmen, then general manager of the State Opera and Ballet, offered her the commission.
According to Murphy, the insurance company proposed creating an “Afife” ballet and presenting it to the State Opera and Ballet so it would remain in the repertoire.
The ballet was first staged in Ankara, Izmir, Samsun and Antalya, and IDOB presented it in Istanbul during the 2013-2014 season.
Murphy divided the work into four sections, running from Jale’s youth to her marriage to Selahattin Pinar. Four dancers portray the four periods, while a fifth, main Afife looks back and recalls the past.
The periods appear as “Golden Afife” (“Altin Afife”), “Red Afife” (“Kirmizi Afife”), “Purple Afife” (“Mor Afife”) and “Silver Afife” (“Gumus Afife”).
Jale took the stage at a time when serious obstacles stood in the way of Muslim Turkish women performing in theater. The ballet also features four men: her cousin Ziya, Interior Minister Mehmet Ali Bey, Dr. Suat, who treats her, and Pinar.
Non-Muslim actress Eliza Binemeciyan also appears. Murphy said Jale, who knew Binemeciyan’s role, takes her place when the actress cannot return from Paris, which marks Jale’s first stage appearance. More than 30 dancers perform in the production.
Murphy said she aimed to foreground courage and fortitude. “She was very unlucky. The audience feels her tragedy on stage. It touches their hearts. Some people can cry,” she said.
Murphy said the music remained unchanged, while the staging was updated to use the technology of the new AKM building. Small additions were made so dancers can move between the wings in time.
Ibrahim Yazici conducts the IDOB orchestra. Efter Tunc designed the sets, Bahar Korcan the costumes, Cem Yilmazer the lighting and Aisha Hajiyeva the video. Ilke Kodal and Melike Manav alternate in the title role, while other roles rotate among several dancers.
Tickets for the premiere sold out days in advance. The ballet returns to the same hall on Oct. 14, 15, 17 and 29.
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