Repertoire
"La Vida Loca"
by Seda Aybay (2009)
"La Vida
Loca" energetically fun and athletic movement
vocabulary combined with portray of different
personalities created through short vignettes from
life carried to stage. The ironic personality of each
character highlights the joys of life, yet hints at
what is often lost in ones' daily routine.
"Dreamcatcher"
by Seda Aybay (2008)
Dreamcatcher is a multi-media
performance “Exploring the suspension of the
conscious mind, the piece navigates the momentum of
the human psyche somewhere between dream and reality.
The athletic contemporary modern vocabulary is
designed around different dimensions, representing the
body, mind and soul working with and against each
other.”
"SEMA"
by Seda Aybay (2008)
Inspired by one of the
most famous Turkish artist's work, "Sema" offers
insight into Sufism through the philosophical aspects
and ceremonial rituals of the Whirling Dervishes of
Turkey.
"O" by Seda Aybay (2007)
"O"
(s/he/it, 3rd person in Turkish) is a solo piece about
losing someone and questioning the one's own believe.
Umbrella symbolizes the hovering, protection power,
which we as humans sometimes refuses because of the
extreme life experiences. Even though we think that we
can pull away, it is always going to be there with
us.
"Sesler"
by Seda Aybay (2007)
"sesler"
(voices/sounds synonymous of the word Seda in Turkish)
is inspired by Seda Aybay's own hunted memories of
life choices, mystics, shames, fears and guilts. It's
a journey of self-acceptance and forgiveness to find
and inner peace.
"$irket"
by Seda Aybay (2007)
"$irket"
depicts the fine line between sanity and insanity as
defined by mechanic, repetitive, and mundane work
requirements of an office job. The ironic cruelty and
madness of each character not only purposes to
entertain the audience, but also confronts and awakens
their consciousness through the portrayal of
sacrificed human feelings, senses and joy of life for
a simple title, position, promotion and/or
money.
"Istanbul
Hatiralari" by Seda
Aybay (2007)
"Istanbul Hatiralari" is a works in
progress piece constructed through short life
stories.
"NAR in memory of
Ataturk" by Seda Aybay
(2006-2007)
"NAR in
memory of Ataturk" is a 50
minute visual and dance performance inspired by the memory
of Turkey's greatest leader, Ataturk. As an activist of her
generation, choreographer Aybay takes the audience on a
journey through Turkish history, culture, and Philosophy by
artfully designing movement centered on determination of
Ataturk's life.
"VEDA"
by Seda Aybay (2006)
"VEDA"
is a 32 minutes piece inspired by the incresing
popularity of Latin music and dance forms in
present-day Turkey,
Aybay portrays different aspects of "brokenness". The new
work captures the desire to fit in with the crowd yet keep
one's identity, individuality, and uniqueness within an
ever-changing society. The Los Angeles Times noted "Seda
Aybay went her own way, focusing her artful quartet 'Veda'
on partnering: As each couple danced, you seemed to be
watching a summary of a complex relationship swiftly,
lightly impressed upon your consciousness."
"Hopes and
Dreams" by Seda Aybay
(2005)
"Hopes
and Dreams" (Adak):
Full scale, 70 minute performance of spoken word and
dance. Individuals strive to attain their wishes of
health, love, happiness, success, and material
desires. Through an innovative approach, Aybay offers
a modern perspective to an old Turkish tradition of
scribing wishes onto a red scarf and affixing them to
a tree. The red scarf serves as a bridge between past
and contemporary thought. Though each dancer's wish is
eventually fulfilled, this piece is not about
fulfillment. It explores through movement the
unavoidable and sometimes crushing struggle inherent
in attaining one's desires.
"Elements"
by Seda Aybay (2005)
A mosaic
created through the different qualities and the
delicate balance of air, fire, water and earth which
is vital for human life.
"4 Seasons"
by Seda Aybay (2005)
The
interplay of everyday people who interact in a city
park evolves through passing seasons and years.
"Beginnings...friendships...crossroads...youth...
Heat...sensuality...wishes...fun...
Expectations...love...mystery...coincidence...
Motherhood...guidance...loss...endless cycles..."
“Awakening on a
Spring Morning” : An 8 minute uplifting group piece
filled with visual images of park scenes from "4 Seasons"
was inspired by French paintings of spring gatherings and
picnics. The piece is danced to nostalgic melodies of
famous Chansons by Edith Piaff, such as “La
Foul” & “Sur Le Pont de Paris,” and
portions of the original soundtrack of “Amelie”
by Yann Tiersen.
“Silent Reach Out
in a Lonely Winter” : The 5 minute duet from "4 Seasons" was
created with the idea of angels coming down to earth and
hovering over lonely souls like gentle snow. The piece is
performed to its original music "Lullaby," composed and
performed by Andreja Smokvina.
"The Purpose of
Life" by Seda Aybay
(2004)
The search for the meaning or purpose of life through
different cultural, religious and philosophical aspects is
portrayed by 3 female dancers over 25 minutes.
"Kosem Sultan"
by Seda Aybay (2004)
This is
a reconstruction of a historical character taken from
Ottoman Empire, represent political, cultural and
traditional roles of women residing in palaces and
Harem, a term used to describe the room where all the
wives of the Sultan congregate. Through the revealing
story of "Kosem Sultan", who is recognized as one of
the most important queens of Ottoman Empire. Women's
issues between the past and the present that emphasize
the male gaze, the importance of virginity, and the
power of beauty.
Full story is 35min. work performed by 20 dancers. It can
be only performed with advanced notice. However, some of
the solos and small group pieces from the story are
available to be performed independently even within short
notice. See the info below.
“Dance of
Harem” : A 6
minute group piece from “Kosem Sultan”
performed with long floating, colorful shawls, as an
introduction to a fantasy world of Harem. Ethnic dance
vocabulary blended into modern world with the help of same
kind of musical aspect performed by Sertab Erener’s
song “Masal” from her album “LAL”
“Surgun”
: A 3 minutes solo turns into
a short duet, from “Kosem Sultan” performed by
female dancers describing the pain and the sadness,
loneliness of being send away by a loved one. Music is by
Sebnem Ferah “Yagmur” .
“Cry”
: A 4 minutes solo piece,
from “Kosem Sultan” is performed by a female
dancer. It is about mourning, crying after a lost love to
the Turkish music by Sertab Erener, “Yara” from
her album “Sertab Gibi”
"1001 Gecenin Oteki
Yuzu" (The Other Side
of 1001 Night Tales) by Seda Aybay (2003)
A story of a Turkish woman and her extreme relationships
with others shaped by the boundaries of tradition and
religion. Through multiple stories woven together, such as
mother and daughter relationships, religious pressure,
marital traditions, rules of society for women, and
unspoken domestic violence, Seda Aybay presents the tragic
sides of traditional lives which were at times admirable,
at others cruel, and sometimes violent.
"At the beginning it was like the famous stories of "1001
Night Tales", where everything ends with happiness, and
marriages celebrated through elaborate parties. Delving
deeper, I found the other, darker side of these stories.
They were reflections of traditions as well as sets of
rules of social roles in which people's lives become
miserable or even ended tragically as a result of rules and
limitations of traditions."
Full story is 40min. work performed by 17 dancers. It can
be only performed with advanced notice. However, some of
the pieces from the story can be performed independently
even within short notice. See the info below.
“Mother &
Daughter” : A
minute duet, from “1001 Gecenin Oteki Yuzu”,
revealing the closeness of restricted relations between
mother and daughter in a traditional family setting, where
love, respect, and obeying is the structure. Music is taken
from one of the famous Turkish singers; Sezen Aksu’s
album “Isik Dogudan Yukselir” – “Ud
Taksim”
“Lost”
: Solo piece from “1001
Gecenin Oteki Yuzu”, portraying the pain and the
struggle of a female character pushed by the traditional
rules. The traditional song “Bingol” is taken
from Kardes Turkuler’s album “Dogu”.
“Floating
Thoughts” :
Three and a half minutes long duet from “1001 Gecenin
Oteki Yuzu”, about two oppositional thoughts fighting
over leaving or staying. Music is taken from one of the
famous Turkish singers; Sezen Aksu, performed by herself
and Levent Yuksel.
“Ceremony”
: A re-creation of Whirling
Dervish Ceremony, after extended research and meetings with
Dervishes in Istanbul, Turkey. A 7 minutes group piece from
“1001 Gecenin Oteki Yuzu”, is performed by
female dancers accompanied by a soprano soloist vocalizing
“Yenilige Dogru” from the album “Isik
Dogudan Yukselir”.