Zypern
HAS-DER | Kibris | |
The association has been
continuously active from the day it was established. Among many activities
of the association are: field research in the countrym research and
re-arrangement of folk music, folk songs and folk dances; folk theatre and
folklore exhibitions. Symposiums, seminars and conferences about folklore
are often held and the association publishes a periodical called
Halk-Bilimi (Folklore). HAS-DER also has folk dancing groups.
Our folk dances are
basically compiled, through our researches, from individual, authentic
steps. These dances enjoy a general acceptance and are used by many other
folk dancing groups and schools in North Cyprus. Some of these dances are
Karsilamas, Syrto, Zeybek and the Butcher’s Dances.
Has-Der is the first
Turkish Cypriot group to create folk dances after in-depth research of
authentic, original sources. It is trying to develop an understanding for
modern styling in folk dancing in conjunction with authentic forms.
Has-Der’s researchers are already knowledgeable in the art of dance when
they go out to do research at authentic sources and over 100 visits in the
field has enabled them to utilise the old styles and methods to instruct
the present generation. As a result of this immense research work Has-Der
has managed to collect the first and only Turkish-Cypriot folklore
archives.
Has-Der’s folk music
department has also research authentic music at source and then created
modern scores from these. The first chamber orchestra formed by Has-Der
aroused great interest with its work which introdued Polyphonic Music
within the T.Cypriot community.
The first folklore
exhibition in N.Cyprus was also arranged by Has-Der, after 2 years of
intensive work. This exhibition was repeated in all towns of N.Cyprus and
was visited by more than 10000 (ten thousand) local and foreign people.
In the field of theatre
Has-Der has staged plays which were enriched by traditional folklore
patterns and for the first time in our country, folkdances were presented
to the audience together with theatrical elements.
Halk Bilimi (Folklore),
published by Has-Der is the first and only Turkish Cypriot folklore
periodical. It is published 4 times a year (once in every three months)
and includes topics of Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot and general folklore.
There is an annual
folklore symposium, organised by Has-Der every year. So far, more than 50
researchers and folklore specialists have had the opportunity to publicise
their work through these meetings. The papers sumitted to the first four
of these Symposiums have been collected in a book, which was published in
cooperation with the T.Cypriot ministry of Tourism and Culture. Has-Der
has also converted and old church building, known as the church of St.
Lukas, which has been deserted since 1958, into the association’s
headquarers after restoration of the building through the aid of the same
ministry.
Children group: In our
children parcticing groups we altogether have about 130 children. Some of
these children practice authentic style and some practice stylised/modern
dances, while some other practices music / chorus only. This group has
always been the main supply of adult dancers. We are proud to say that
children who has grown up from this group is now dancing in the adults
group and some of them are taking part in the executive committee of our
association.
The stylised group
consisting of 12 girls only with the ability od performing 3, 5 and 12
minutes non-stop. And the authentic group able to perform programmes of 5,
12 and 25 minutes of dances or a programme of 35 minutes enriched by
folklore sketces. |