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At the heart of the Antalya Culture Route Festival, the Fire of Anatolia dance ensemble entertained audiences at the Aspendos Ancient Theater, delivering a free, two-hour performance that drew intense interest from residents and visitors alike. The show blended folk steps from across Anatolia with modern forms and projected the Turkish flag and scenes from Anatolian landscapes onto Aspendos’ storied walls, while a special segment dramatized the building of the ancient city itself.
The performance took place in the ancient theater of Aspendos, an open-air venue in Antalya, and left no seats empty.
Nearly 1,000 latecomers watched standing, as spectators switched on their phone lights before the show to applaud General Artistic Director Mustafa Erdogan. Dancers later returned to the stage with Erdogan to salute the crowd, which kept the applause going for minutes.
Drawing on the mythological and cultural history of Anatolia, Fire of Anatolia weaves more than 3,000 traditional folk dance figures together with ballet and contemporary dance.
The ensemble kept momentum throughout the evening, inviting viewers to follow a narrative that moved between regional motifs and modern choreography.
Beyond Aspendos, the festival continued across Antalya with concerts, theater, talks, and film.
Known as “Koca Ses,” singer Murat Arli lifted the mood in Cumhuriyet Square, followed by pop artist Yonca Evcimik, who performed long-loved hits for a packed crowd.
At the Aktuel Open-Air Stage, the “Ulu Ozanlar ve Kirk Saz” concert gathered 40 baglamas on one platform for what organizers described as a first in Türkiye and abroad. Baglama is a traditional long-necked string instrument widely used in Anatolian folk music. Artists Cengiz Ozkan, Muharrem Temiz, Ayfer Vardar, Cem Celebi, and Ilke Turkdogan performed together, bringing deep-rooted melodies to a shared stage.
On the dramatic arts front, “Therese Raquin (Bir Cinayetin Anatomisi)”—adapted from Emile Zola—earned strong audience feedback at Hasim Iscan Cultural Center. The adaptation and translation were by Onur Ali Yuce, with direction by Murat Cidamli, focusing on crime, love, and conscience in nineteenth-century Paris.
In the ancient city of Patara’s Council Building—described by organizers as a historic assembly space—younger participants reached the final session of the “Culture Assembly Debate Tournament,” arguing their ideas in a civil and disciplined setting. Antalya Culture & Art hosted a talk by assessment specialist Mustafa Sekban on effective and sustainable study methods under the title “The impact of efficient studying on exam success.”
Festival-goers joined the “Kaleici Tour and Workshop,” stepping into a program that combined history, culture, and craft.
A visit to the ancient city of Phaselis offered a close look at the area’s layered past, while the “Sinema Yollarda” mobile truck brought open-air cinema to residents in Korkuteli district.
In the “Sen de Soyle” talent contest, a live public vote selected Ozge Yesiltepe as Antalya’s new voice, moments before pop singer Buray took the stage. During his Konyaalti Beach Park concert, the audience sang along to favorites such as “Olmusum Leyla,” “Rampapapam,” and “Mecnun.” In a now-familiar concert moment, Buray sent large inflatable balls into the crowd during “Mecnun,” prompting playful scenes as fans kept them aloft.
At the end, he told the audience: “We are glad you came. A big round of applause to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and to the Culture Route Festival. The biggest applause is for you. So glad you are here.”
Children also shared the festival spirit. The Konyaalti Beach Park Children’s Village hosted an illusionist show and a “Smurfs” theater performance, while workshops at Turkan Soray Cultural Center—“Child Impressionists Suleyman Tabak Workshop” and a pottery session—helped young participants build skills through arts and crafts.
The Antalya Culture Route Festival continued with a range of activities across the city and concluded yesterday with additional events.
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