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The 22nd International Bodrum Ballet Festival opened its curtains in Türkiye with a spellbinding performance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s timeless “Swan Lake.”
The festival, organized by the State Opera and Ballet Directorate (DOB) under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, welcomed audiences at the historic Bodrum Castle’s Northern Moat, a striking open-air venue on the Aegean coast.
Supported by Türkiye Is Bank, the festival has become one of the country’s most established cultural events.
The opening night featured a performance by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet, presenting the iconic story of a cursed princess caught between love and fate. While the ballet is rooted in the classical choreography of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, it was reimagined through the modern interpretations of Armagan Davran and Volkan Ersoy.
The staging combined elegant movement with captivating visual design, with sets by Cagda Citkaya, costumes by Nursun Unlu, and lighting by Oguz Murat Yilmaz.
Before the performance, DOB General Director and Artistic Director Tan Sagturk shared the excitement of meeting audiences with an expanded program. He noted that ticket sales were nearing capacity and expressed gratitude to everyone involved in preparing the festival.
“This will likely go down as a record-breaking year for audiences,” he said, thanking Türkiye Is Bank for its support. The festival, which drew over 13,000 visitors last year, is expected to match or surpass that success.
Suat Sozen, Deputy General Manager of Türkiye IsBank, underlined Bodrum’s role as one of Türkiye’s most popular tourism destinations and praised the synergy of culture and tourism.
“Being part of the intersection between art and tourism is a great source of joy,” he said, emphasizing the festival’s role in attracting international and local visitors alike.
The evening also included a tribute to Oguz Ozlem, one of the first-generation artists of Turkish ballet and the originator of the Bodrum Ballet Festival concept. He received a warm standing ovation as he expressed gratitude for the festival’s continued success and was presented with a commemorative plaque by Sagturk.
The event also remembered Almula Ozlem, a performer from the Ankara State Opera and Ballet who passed away last year. The festival will continue with repeat performances of “Swan Lake” and will run until Aug. 25.
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