Star Aşena belly dancer
Star Asena lived both in Turkiye and Germany when she was a child. While she was studying at Marmara University , she completed LCC Modeling and Elegance School also. Although she didnt have any idea about dance , she began to dance in front of millions of people. She made her dance accepted in many European countries such as Germany , Sweden, Holland and Austria. She has been invited to the concert of Mig Jagger, to the birthday party of Tina Turner and to a night in British queen Elizabeths palace. She acted during the visit of former Amerıcan President Bill Clinton for HABITAT and performed her -close to press- show for all presidents . These were big steps to be a world star. She is still studying at İstanbul Bilgi University , Hotel Management.
Asena was the most popular dancer for a good 5 years or so from around 98-2003 ish, as she was the featured dancer on the IBO show, most popular tv show, prime time Sunday night when everyone is home watching tv.
I saw her before she was famous in 97, and liked her right away. Her dance was innocent then, unselfconcious and she smiled alot.... her style has changed alot over the years, its rare to see that smile from her now. she has 2 cds out, the latest one includes a VCD of her dancing (no smiles there!) Now she is the star at Kervanseri (top tourist show venue). Her departure from IBO show was dramatic, and she was main gossip material for the tabloids for a long time...
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Asena helped raise the publics image of Bellydance in the eye of the local Turkish people, everyone pretty much agreed that she was an artist, not just a cheap dancer (how they veiwed the majority of bellydancers there), she inspired a new generation of little girls who want be elegant bellydancers. So there will be more good things to look forward to in Turkish bellydance.
For the most part the Tourist shows are the prefered place to work for bellydancers in Istanbul, regular nightly work in one place. As for not taking the family, well actualy you will find bellydancers hired for all kinds of large scale family events, weddings, and other celebrations, kids no problem. But yeah, not in seedy nightclubs.
The new darling in the Turkish scene is Didem, who is the new featured dancer on IBO show. and everyone loves her. there are lots of clips of her on youtube also, definately worth checking out.
If you are particularly interested in Bellydance, than I think its worth the 60$ or so..... by the ways did you know most those shows you can arrive on your own and tell them you are just interested in drinks and to watch the show (instead of dinner thats included in the price), and the price comes down closer to 30 $, (be sure to dress nice).
also another place you can go, is the Orient Youth Hostel, on one of the backstreets of sultanahmet, they have a nice casual bar in the basement and bring in a Turkish dancer maybe a couple nights a week depending on the season, the dancers vary in quality as any individuals do, hey are usualy young working class bellydancers, who run from one show to another in the evening. But for a price of a drink at the bar, its good entertainment, and you get a feel for Turkish casual style bd, buts its totaly differnt experience than seeing Asena live with a small ensemble in the highend show.
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You can see Asena every week in Kervensaray in Istanbul! She performs always there! For 80 € you get eat and drink and the show! It`s amazing! It`s near the Taksim Place. Here is the phone number of Kervensaray! 00902122471630
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Asena - Ritimle Elele
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