Magical nights at the castle with contributions from Türkiye İş Bankası

The 22nd International Bodrum Ballet Festival, organized by the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet with the contributions of Türkiye İş Bankası, will once again bring together distinguished examples of ballet art with the audience at the historical Bodrum Castle. The festival will offer ballet enthusiasts an unforgettable artistic experience with shows starting at 21:45 every evening between August 1 - 25, 2025.

The festival, which was launched in 2003 upon the suggestion of ballet artist Oğuz Özlem, has become an inseparable part of Bodrum's cultural identity over time. The festival will also lovingly commemorate Ankara State Opera and Ballet artist Almula Özlem, who passed away last year.

The grand opening: Swan Lake

The festival will open on the evenings of August 1 and 2 at 21:45 with “Swan Lake,” one of the first works that comes to mind when it comes to ballet. This masterpiece, which will be staged by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet, will come to life with the immortal music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and the choreographic interpretation of G. Armağan Davran and A. Volkan Ersoy. The dramatic story of a princess who is transformed into a swan by magic, woven with love and destiny, will create a fairytale atmosphere in Bodrum Castle with Çağda Çitkaya’s set design, Nursun Ünlü’s costume design and Oğuz Murat Yılmaz’s lighting design.

A fairy tale night “Sleeping Beauty”

The festival’s international guest, Moscow Classical Ballet Theatre N. Kasatkina and V. Vasilöv, will be on stage with the ballet “Sleeping Beauty” on the evenings of August 5 and 6. Adapted from Charles Perrault’s classic fairy tale, the work will be crowned by Bolshoi Ballet principal dancer Fuad Mamedov’s performance as “Prince Desire.” Natalia Kasatkina and Vladimir Vasilöv’s innovative interpretation after Marius Petipa, combined with Elizaveta Dvorkina’s fairytale set and costume designs, will take the audience on a dream-filled journey.

A love story in the language of dance “Romeo and Juliet”

William Shakespeare’s immortal love story will be staged by Mersin State Opera and Ballet on August 9 and 10. “Romeo and Juliet,” brought to the stage with the powerful music of Sergei Prokofiev and choreography of Nugzar and Medeia Magalashvili, will tell the story of forbidden love, passion and tragedy between the children of two feuding families through the elegant language of ballet.

Spanish wind: Don Quixote

On the evenings of August 13 and 14, the stage will host the energetic and joyful interpretation of the ballet “Don Quixote” by the Antalya State Opera and Ballet. With music by Ludwig Minkus and choreography by Marius Petipa, the rhythm of Spanish folk dances will envelop Bodrum Castle.

The dance of passion: Tango Passion

At the “Tango Passion” night to be staged by Ankara State Opera and Ballet on August 17-18, the works “Crossroads” with choreography by Can Arslan and “Tangata” with music by Ricardo Fernando accompanied by Astor Piazzolla will bring together the passion for tango with dance.

The moment when tragedy meets dance: Blood Wedding

“Blood Wedding,” to be staged by Samsun State Opera and Ballet on August 21-22, will take the audience to a dramatic story set in the Andalusian countryside, adapted from Federico García Lorca’s work of the same name.

Closing with a contemporary dance performance: 'Elektronika'

The festival will make a grand finale on the evening of August 25 with the “Elektronika” night to be performed by the Ankara and Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Modern Dance Ensemble (MDT Ankara and MDTİst), the strongest representatives of contemporary dance in Türkiye. The night, which consists of four different sections; Hoang’s “Rabbit Hole”, Erika Silgoner’s “Pasion S”, Alper Marangoz’s “Koz” and Dong Kyu Kim’s “Thrill” will offer an unusual and innovative dance experience with their dynamic choreographies blended with electronic music.

Where to Buy Tickets?

Art lovers can purchase their event tickets from www.operabale.gov.tr ​​and www.biletinial.com or from the Bodrum Castle, OASIS AVM and Turgutreis Marina ticket offices.