MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE ?

The first Turkish ball was given at the Ottoman Embassy in Paris on 1 April 1856. A great deal of anxious preparation preceded the event, since the embssy'sd furnishings and tableware were found to be inadequate for entertaining guests who were to include not only eminent figures of Parisian society but royalty. The Ottoman government sent the sum of 150,000 francs for the purchase of crystal, silver and porcelain tableware, tables, chairs, sofas, footm'sr uniforms and much else that was required. Emperor Napoleon III honoured the occasion with his presence, and this first ball was a resounding success. From this time on the Ottoman elite began to attend these western style entertainments at foreign embassies back home in the capital of Istanbul.

The Turkish Republic was established in 1923, and in September 1925 at the request of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk the first ball to be attended by Turkish women as well as men was held in Izmir.

Under the Ottomans it had not been acceptable for Turkish women to participate in such events, so this ball marked a turning point in social attitudes. That same year the first official ball was organised to celebrate Republic Day on 29 October. Following these balls, parties and dances at which men and women appeared in public together gradually became more widespread, and private dancing schools opened to teach ballroom dances to those who wished to participate in this modern form of entertainment.

The 1930s saw balls become one of the most popular entertainments. Advertisements for them would appear in the newspapers days in advance, inviting people to attend these fashionable gatherings. Some were held to raise money for charities such as the Society for the Protection of Children, the Society for the Protection of Turkish Women, or the Society for the Relief of the Poor, or for supporting causes like the advancement of Turkish aviation.

An advertisement which appeared in Cumhuriyet newspaper on 2 March 1934 reflects the mood of the time: 'The ball to be held in aid of the Society for the Protection of Turkish Women on the evening of Thursday March the 15th at the Tokatliyan Rooms will be the seas'san most enjoyable and convivial ball.'

Among the most eagerly anticipated and elegant balls were those organised by the Press Association. A special newspaper was published for these events and distributed to the guests. On 4 February 1932 Cumhuriyet newspaper printed this news item about the coming Press Association Ball: 'February 9 is approaching... Preparations for the Press Association Ball to be held at Maksim's on the evening of the second day of the Bayram are almost completed. Yesterday the Press Association's ball committee convened to complete the final details. Manufacturers of local goods are to send gifts for the ball which will be distributed to the guests. There are other surprises as well.

Of course New Year's Eve was the occasion when people were most eager for such entertainment. As December advanced, everyone began to make plans. Families who stayed at home played lotto and parlour games, and if anyone had purchased a lottery ticket there was the excitement of turning on the radio and waiting for the winning numbers to be announced as they dreamed of entering the new year with riches. Some families even began to decorate their houses with Christmas trees at new year, and porters carrying pine trees were another sign that new year was on its way.

New western styles of entertainment at which men and women mingled were not confined to major cities like Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. For example, on 5 January 1932 Cumhuriyet newspaper published the following account of the new year ball in Bursa:

'The ball given by the People's Party on New Year's Eve was memorable. All the eminent families of our city, both Turkish and foreign, as well as party officials attended. An incomparable jazz band consisting of 12 musicians under the direction of the Kemalist teacher Necati Bey kept the dancing couples whirling with undiminished energy until dawn.

A competition was held among the ladies, who without exception wore locally made evening dresses, and the winner was Madam Alyanak, wife of the vice-president of the Ottoman Bank. She was presented with a gift by the National Economy and Savings Society. The tango competition was won by Mefharet Hanim and engineer Ziver Bey, and they were each presented with a set of Bursa towels.'

Today most people in Turkey spend New yea'sl Eve watching television and hoping that their lottery ticket wins the main prize. Whether anyone still plays lotto or parlour games I do not know. New Year's Eve balls are still sometimes organised in a nostalgic attempt to revive the past, and the tradition of holding Republic Day balls has continued, perhaps as a symbol of the Republic and of modernisation as once epitomised by these occasions.

* Cengiz Kahraman is a photographer

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