The children of the International Turkish Olympiads show their performances during a week but behind the stage, there is a group of 40 people who have worked for 8 months in order to prepare the students for their performances. The old dancer of 'Fire of Anatolia', Cemil Özen, is directing the group.
The children of the Olympiads performed the biggest stage performance of our country. Behind the scenes is a group of 40 people who prepared the stage, costumes and other facilities during the performances. The art director of the group is The old dancer of 'Fire of Anatolia', Cemil Özen. Mr. Özen told us that he is very happy on being a part of the Olympiads. According to him, there is not another organization except this one for someone who wants to be at the peak of his/her career.How do they learn in a week?
"It is not possible to produce something without having talent. All the children of the Olympiads are the best ones of their countries. Actually, you are watching here the product of a one year long hard working. They participate in the elimination process in their own countries and then they can come to Turkey. This success actually belongs to their teachers. They explore these talents. The thing that we do is actually to bring all the talents togetger on the stage and show the whole. "
The First Rehearsals Are Done in a Virtual Environment
"We start preparing for the Olympiads in September. First, teachers work with the students. Thousand of students from 130 countries. There is a virtual pool of the Olympiads. The teachers record their workings to that pool and we watch them. We incorporate the students in specific projects according to their talents. This year's students who performed "Beşinci Mevsim" prepared for their performances in Turkey in just one week but before they came here, they worked in their home country for a long period. "
Their Performances Are Great
"When I compare the professional people to these children, I see that while the professionals spend many days and all their energy to produce something like this, the children of the Olympiads do the same thing in such a short time period. For example, the students from Ghana performed 'horon' in such a great way that I was amazed at their performances. "
All Working in Harmony
"I do not believe that we can have these kinds of good results in another organization. All the students are from different continents and countries but all of them are working in an harmony that results in great performances. Also the children reflect the principles of the Olympiads here, some of which are tolerance, friendship, and respect to other cultures."
United Nations Team
Music Coordinator of Turkish Olympiads, Bülent Kars: "The children who were rehearsing folk dance were having rest. I went to them and saw that they were playing football during the break. One is was Ghana and the other was Moldova but there were students from Ghana and Moldova in each team that really touched me.
Published in Turkish on Zaman Daily, 03 July 2011
