International Folk Dance Association   of University City presents . . .
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Turkish Folk Dances

a workshop taught by

Ahmet Lüleci

April 20 - 22, 2007
University City (St. Louis), Missouri

No previous experience required  •  No partners needed

Ahmet Lüleci is one of the most charismatic folk dance teachers we have seen in St. Louis.  As an award-winning dancer, choreographer, and folk musician, he is the director of a successful dance company.  But more than that, he is extremely popular with recreational folk dancers because his workshops and dances are just plain fun.  Most of the dances he taught during his most recent visit are still done regularly in St. Louis.  We have found that he appeals to both advanced dancers and people with little experience.to St. Louis.

Turkish dances are done in lines or individually.  Many of them are characterized by exuberant, whole-body movements or by characteristic shoulder movements.  To see pictures of his dance company and to learn more about Turkish dances, visit Ahmet's beautiful web site at www.luleci.com.

Schedule and Prices

See schedule at the left for details.  A weekend package is available for $45 which includes everything in the schedule except for the lunches.  You may use the Registration Form to order weekend passes and lunches.  Individual sessions, the lunches, and the Saturday night dance party may also be paid for at the door as indicated in the schedule.

Easier dances will be taught on Friday night as an introduction to the workshop.  The Sunday afternoon review session is for workshop attendees only, but other interested persons are invited to come and observe.

About the Teacher

A native of Turkey, Ahmet Lüleci is an accomplished choreographer, dance teacher, and performer as well as a researcher of Anatolian culture.  He started performing Turkish folk dance at the age of 8 and teaching at the age of 15.  He has worked with many professional and recreational groups worldwide, and he has won numerous awards.  He is currently the artistic director of the Collage Dance Ensemble in Boston, which won fifth place at the World Dance Competition in 2003.

Ahmet has a college degree in music with a specialization in voice, and plays the baglama, davul, and other Turkish folk instruments.  Since 1973 he and his ensembles have appeared in more than 60 broadcasts in Europe and North America.  He has served as Director of Dances for Hoy-Tur, one of Turkey's leading folk-dance associations, served as resident choreographer for the famed Aman Folk Ensemble in Los Angeles, and worked with many other dance ensembles in Turkey, North America, and other parts of the world.  Among his scholarly works is "The Culture in Southern Anatolia" which in 1985 won first prize in a national competition in folk-dance research in Turkey.  More recently, he was presented with the 2002 Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts and Humanities by the Assembly of Turkish-American Associates, and has won other choreography awards as well. 

Ahmet came to North America in 1985, and has taught many recreational dance workshops and camps in the United States and throughout the world.  He is co-founder and co-director of the annual World Music & Dance Camp at Cape Cod.  He is in high demand in folk dance camps, and has been featured at the major camps in the United States and Canada. Many of the dances that he has taught are done regularly in recreational folk dance groups in North America.  His trademark is his high energy which inspires those learning from him.  During his previous visits to St. Louis, Ahmet showed his ability to get even beginners to dance with the same confidence as more experienced dancers.

For more information see Ahmet's web site at www.luleci.com, as well as Dick Oakes' International Folk Dance Resources at www.phantomranch.net/folkdanc/teachers/luleci_a.htm, from which most of the above information was obtained.

To hear examples of the type of dance music that will be featured at this workshop, tune in to Music from the Hills on Saturdays from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on radio station KDHX, 88.1 FM in St. Louis.  The program is co-hosted by IFDA members John Uhlemann and Gitry Heydebrand.  You can also listen online — see KDHX's web site at www.kdhx.org.

Locations

University United Methodist Church (Friday and Saturday):  6901 Washington Ave., University City, Missouri; on the northwest corner of Washington and Trinity south of the Lion Gates on Delmar — see Google Map.  (Not indicated on the map is the fact that most of the streets in the area other than the main streets are non-through.)  Parking is available in the church lot and on Trinity, but please do not park on the residential part of Washington.  Walk by the playground in front of the church, and enter by the door at the inner corner of the L-shaped building.

The Focal Point (Sunday):  2720 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri; 1 1/2 blocks south of Manchester — see Google Map.  Watch for one-way streets in the area.  Park on street.  Directions will also be available at the Saturday sessions.

Other Information

Lunches will feature soup and sandwiches.  Dinner on Saturday will be our usual excellent pot-luck.  Contributions of fruits and sweets for snacks during the workshop would be appreciated.

Dress is casual.  Comfortable shoes are recommended, with hard-soled shoes (leather or synthetic) preferred as since rubber tends to stick to the floor.

Joan Amsterdam of International Folk Rhythms, Ltd. will have a variety of ethnic recordings, books, clothing and accessories, and crafts for sale on Friday and Saturday.

Crash Space is available — please contact Diana Blanchard at 314-726-5737 or diana.blanchard@att.net.

For Other Information:  Please contact Nancy or Rex Couture at 314-275-8228 or , or Barbara or John Uhlemann at 314-726-5838 or barbara.uhlemann@sbcglobal.net.