Fikret Atay
Rebels of the Dance
In the video Rebels of the Dance, two boys are filmed dancing to traditional Kurdish songs inside of the confined space of an ATM. The title is a variation of a televised transmission that presented ninety folk dancers, the “Sultans of the Dance”, which was a big success in Turkey. Shy, proud and joyful, the two boys appear to be influenced by a third person – the artist and his camera. Their play of eyes creates an atmosphere reminding one of the close scrutiny and state control of the Kurdish population. While Atay films, the music grows and intensifies, and the ATM machine becomes a simple decor for the scene, losing its proper function. As if in a state of triumph, music and dance take on the role of a new language of power, juxtaposing local identity with an international dimension of the city and country. This simple performance gives meaning to the geographical and political situation of Batman, whose oil resources are rich, although its citizens rarely reap benefits from its natural wealth.