“Dünya Maskara” is a bilingual greek-turkish performance presenting a contemporary narrative in which dance, text, and music play an equal part. The performance is part of a broader project by choreographer Mairi Pardalaki, aiming to excavate and create unexpected connections between greek and turkish cultures. It draws inspiration from 19th-century bilingual songs and funeral inscriptions found in Istanbul written in “karamanlidika”, a turkish language writing system utilising greek characters, which was invented by the Rum orthodox population of the
Ottoman Empire.

Mairi Pardalaki and poet Çağla Meknuze explore the traces of this past linguistic proximity and invent new approaches, juxtaposing their writing with the archival themes: love, death, religion, and the place of women within them.
The performance is built between Greece and Turkey, engaging the artistic community in each country.
Rehearsals will take place in Istanbul and Athens, in September and October 2023 respectively, including first professional showcases of the performance.
The premiere is scheduled for 2024.

A project by Mairi Pardalaki
Texts Çağla Meknuze & Mairi Pardalaki
Based on publications by Matthias Kappler, Evangelia Balta, and Anastasios Iordanoglou
Original music Emre Malikler
Transcription of byzantine music Nikos Papageorgiou
Voice preparation Katerina Fotinaki, Anna Linardou
Performer in Athens-Istanbul Elina Demirtzioglou
Performers in Athens Sevasti Zafeira, Marietta Manaroli, Katerina Gevetzi
Performers in Istanbul Canan Yücel Pekiçten, Aslı Bostancı, Gizem Seçkin
Production Berdahi, Balkans Beyond Borders
Grants with the support of NEON Organization for Culture and Development (2023), Teatroskop South-Eastern European Network for Performing Arts (2023), Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation (2023), i-Portunus (2021), Be Mobile Create Together (2020)
Residencies Akbank Sanat Dance Atelier, Istanbul (2023), Kinitiras Artistic Network for Performing Arts, Athens (2023), Gate 27, Ayvalik (2021), Purespace Studio, Istanbul (2021)
With the support of Institut Français d’ Athènes, Institut Français de Turquie, İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), Zografeion Lyceum & Kadıköy Rum Cemaati Vakfı
Thank you Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası