18th Annual Conference

To round off a perfect first day of the 18th Annual Conference a concert had been planned in the Kaleic Fortress at the entrance to Antalya – a concert which was part of the 6th Festival (6.Uluslararasi Antalya Piyano Festivali). Around 200 participants in the AEHT Conference took the coaches to the concert and on the way back spoke in glowing terms about the performance. Indeed the jazz group, consisting of a pianist, a double bass player and a percussionist enchanted the audience with the talent and virtuosity. It was a true delight for the numerous jazz aficionados in the auditorium, and their applause after some amazing solos said it all.

On the second evening, October 24th, a change of atmosphere: as a prelude to the harem evening an equally Turkish introduction: a tasting of raki and Turkish specialities, an exhibition of costumes and accessories and very loud folklore dancing and singing. Just what was needed to whet our appetites for what followed later – the oriental atmosphere of the beautifully decorated hall, where we savoured an exquisite menu while watching male and female dancers expertly performing local dances. And how can we forget the demonstrations given by two magnificent belly-dancers whose lithe movements caused a sensation among the men in the audience. Excitement was such that the culmination of the evening was an energetic conga dancing its way around the room.

a magnificent belly dancer on stage


and even on a table !

We were in for a surprise the following day, October 25th, with another evening entertainment entitled Folklorama by the National Opera and Ballet Company’. This national troupe presented a whole series of tableaux in which music was blended with dance. It was superbly executed and the high quality of the show deserved a much larger audience.