Chinese audience are not unfamiliar with the 120-strong Turkish dance troupe Anadolu Atei, or Fire of Anatolia. Last year, they performed on CCTV's New Year's Gala. Now they are touring 17 cities in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou. On January 19, Mustafa Erdoan, the general director of Fire of Anatolia, led his troupe to the Shanghai Grand Stage, bringing a bustling and lively dance feast to local audiences.

Dancers perform The Fire of Anatolia. Photos: Courtesy of Fire of Anatolia

Dancers perform The Fire of Anatolia. Photos: Courtesy of Fire of Anatolia

Although he studied philosophy and public management at university, Erdoan always dreamed of establishing a large dance company. In 1997, Erdoan began to study folk dance at Bilkent University in Ankara and two years later he formed his troupe. He chose 90 talented dancers out of 750 applicants and trained them in ballet, modern dance and folk dance. With the success of the company, they began to tour around the world and have performed their show in 88 countries.

The concept for the two-act show is based on the stories of Prometheus in ancient Anatolian mythology. Act one is about the discovery of fire brought by Prometheus to humankind. Act two depicts the battle between good and evil played by two groups of dancers, one in black, and another in white. They perform fights with a sword dance. One of the scenes uses solemn and magnificent background music and dancers' white silk robes to create a tragic atmosphere for the death of the good. However, the story ends with the resurrection and victory of justice.

Dancers perform The Fire of Anatolia. Photos: Courtesy of Fire of Anatolia

The costumes are inspired by the Shaman Turks of Central Asia, the Zoroastrians and the Yezidi Kurds. The dance steps come from Alevi Muslim dances and folk dances of southeastern Turkey. Other inspirations come from western Turkish and Balkan dances. The show also features masterful belly dancing, whirling dervishes and Irish step dancing,  adding diverse exotic elements into the show. The dancers show great passion, vitality and agility, and the wonderful background music composed by Fuat Sakat and Taner Demiralp has made this show a great success. The music is a fusion of Turkish music, Aegean notes and European classical music, which enhances the dramatic conflicts of the story.