Repertory

Collage's repertory encompases a wide variety of traditional and modern dances from around
the world. We can custom tailor a program for any occasion, from educational events to cultural
programs to a full evening of music and dance.

 

 

ANATOLIA

Anatolia is the Luleci's latest choreography. The piece did its premier in May 12-13, 2007 as part of the Collage's 
annual spring show at the Boston University Dance Theatre, Boston, MA. “This number is my opportunity
to
honor all the different ethnic peoples that make up modern Turkey.” says choreographer Ahmet Lüleci.

Choreography: Ahmet Luleci
Costume Design: Collage

 

 

IDENTITY

The piece did its premier, May 13-15, 2006 as part of the CRASHart's "Dance Straight UP! " at the Zero Arrow Theatre, Cambridge, MA.

Choreography: Ahmet Luleci
Costume Design: Collage

The award winning choreography Identity is commisioned by CRASHarts.

 

 

DUALITY

Duality, Luleci's recent choreography is about conflicts and troubles of the inner emotions of a person.
The piece did its premier, April 22-23, 2005 as part of the CRASHart's "Ten's the limit" at the Green
street studio, Cambridge..

Choreography: Ahmet Luleci
Costume Design: Taylan Alkan

The award winning choreography Duality is partially commisioned by CRASHarts and
Moon and Stars Project.

 

 

PASSING

Passing is about the Nomadic people live and lived around the Balkans. 9 different music piece and styles
has been used to represent different cultural backgrounds. Luleci created an original piece based on the
traditional movements of these people who loved moving around and passing by just like himself. The
piece just had its premier, February 18-20, 2005 as part of the Dance Renewal Project's  "Crossing" at
the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, Cambridge.

Choreography: Ahmet Luleci
Costume Design: Paula Davis Larson

The award winning choreography Passing is partially commisioned by Dance Renewal Project.

 

 

balkanBLUES

Balkan Blues explores themes of death and rebirth, and the different reactions people have to death,
including shamanistic perceptions of death. Mr. Luleci was inspired by recent experiences with injuries
to people close to him, and their subsequent experiences of loss and recovery. Despite this seemingly
dark theme, the piece features Mr. Luleci's trademark high energy movements as the dancers celebrate
life and rebirth. The piece had its premier, January 17-18, 2004 as part of the Crash Art's  "Dance
Straight up!"
 at the Tsai Performance Center, Boston.

Choreography: Ahmet Luleci
Costume Design: Paula Davis Larson

The award winning choreography balkanBLUES is commisioned by Crash Arts.

 

 

eastern TIDES

Eastern Tides is the first in Luleci's recent series of pieces that are based on bringing different cultures
together through dance. Informed by a deep knowledge of traditional dance forms, Luleci creates modern
pieces that explore cultural difference and sameness. Eastern Tides compares and contrasts dances from
Spain, Hungary and Turkey
. These dances all feature a dominant lower body with a softer upper body,
and they are all danced with a similar fiery, proud attitude.

PART ONE The opening dance features movements from Hungarian Mekereki and Verbunk styles
adapted to Afro-Celtic music. With much energy and challenging dance steps, this dance embodies the
pride and machismo that characterize many types of traditional dances from the east.

PART TWO After the intensity of the first dance, we move to a more spiritual number that represents
freedom of expression. The movements are from the Turkish Zeybek dance style, and the music is from
an Indipop recording entitled Out On My Own.

PART THREE The third dance, based on Georgian and Azerbaijani women's dances, completes the transi
tion from the high energy, improvisational style of the hungarian dances to the serenity, grace, and unison
t hat are found in many traditional womenıs dances.

PART FOUR In the final part of the dance we reprise the Hungarian movements, and show them in the
context of similar dances from Spain and Turkey's Black Sea region.

Choreography by Ahmet Luleci
The award winning choreography easternTIDES commisioned by Dance Umbrella.

Click for media reviews and pictures for easternTIDES.

 

Coast to Coast

The inspiration for this piece comes from the history of the countries around the Black Sea.
This is one of the most contentious and most problematic regions throughout history, because
there are so many small countries that are so similar yet so divided. With this work, Mr. Luleci
chose one piece of music and applied movements from these countries, showing the underlying
commonalitites of the cultures. Mr Luleci was inspired by the movements from the countries
such as; Ukraine, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey.

 

 

All American

Breaking the Rules: Anarchy in Social Dance
The Original Can-Can This Can-Can was a social dance for couples, quite different from the later
stage version danced by chorus girls at the Moulin Rouge. The Parisian students who created this
wild, unconventional style saw it as a dance of resistance against authority, and used the opportunity
to wear shorter skirts and more brightly colored clothes than society thought proper.

Rock and Roll, Jitterbug and Bop One hundred years later, teenagers were again rebelling against
the rules. 1950s parents wanted a tranquil, safe and orderly society in which they could raise their
boom of post-war babies, and didn't care for the increasingly rowdy values and lifestyle of the teenagers.
The teenagers felt disenfranchised and persecuted, and they responded by buying millions of copies of a
tune which said "No we're not going to stop. We're gonna rock around the clock!"

Choreography: Richard Powers

 

Appalachian 1 - Originated in the southern Appalachian mountains, this free spirited dance has strong
ties to British Isles step dancing, African-American buck and wing style and Native American
traditional dancing
.

Choreography: Judy Erickson

 

Appalachian 2 - Adaptation of AMAN Folk Ensemble's Appalachian number,
originally choreographed by Jerry Duke.

Adaptation: Ahmet Luleci

 

 

Anatolian Mozaik


SILIFKE ( Southern Anatolia) is a "spoon dance" from southern Anatolia. Locals go to the Taurus
mountain in the summer time to escape from the hot and humid weather. There they dance, accompanied
by the rhythms they create with the wooden spoons they hold in their hands. This dance displays hopping
figures well suited to the mountainousl environment of the Turkmen people of the Taurus mountains

KARADENIZ (Northern Anatolia) Based on steps that simulate the movements of the fish and the stormy
waters of the Black Sea, these dances are well known for their speed and intricate footwork

BOLU (Central Anatolia) This suite of dances shows a variety of spoon dances enjoyed on special occasions,
such as weddings, engagements, and the "kina gecesi" (henna night) - a celebration among the women of the
two families and the bride's friends prior to the marriage.

ZEYBEK (Western Anatolia) Stemming from tales of heroism, the Zeybek style shows the pride, the confidence
and the courage of the Western Anatolian people.

TRAKYA (Nortwest Anatolia) Singing and dancing were a big part of life in Thrace, the peninsula connecting
Anatolia to the Balkans. The gypsy influence is reflected in these regional dances with diverse rhythms, steps,
and figures.

ARTVIN (Northeast Anatolia) This suite is a medley of men's and women's dances from Northeast Anatolia.
The women's figures, flowing and smooth, are in clear contrast to those of the men which emulate the ruggedness
of nature in Northeast Anatolia.


BINGOL
(Eastern Anatolia) A medley in the "Halay" style, this dance is performed by men, forming a line,
semi-circle, or circle, and holding each other's hands, shoulders or little fingers. One dancer acts as the leader to
direct the steps, sometimes even breaking away from the line to perform brief solos.

Traditional. Stage Arrangaments by: Ahmet Luleci

 

 

and more

 

EGYPT
Though oriental dancers are often known for their cabaret style performances, this Belidi style shows a group of
village women dancing amongst themselves just to have fun.

Instructed by : Regina Hancher

 

ISRAEL
Lyrical, graceful and energetic, these dances reflect the joy and musicality of israeli dances.

Instructed by: Sheila Finger

 

UKRAINE -
Exciting and spirited, this dance reveals the character and the energy of the Ukranian people.

Traditional. Stage Arrangemants: Regina Hancher

 

SAMARKAND / Uzbekistan
This very elegant and beautiful number was originally choreographed by Leonara Wood for AMAN Folk
Ensemble and adopted for Collage by Rosina Didyk.

Adoptation: Rosina Didyk
Music: Omar Faruk Tekbilek