About Our Country; Türkiye, a country of utmost strategic importance in the world due to its geopolitical location, is on the crossroads between the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, which are referred to as the “Lands of the Old World”. This country, enjoying a wealth of divine gifts of all kinds of scenic wonders, is a unique bridge between all faiths as well as Eastern and Western civilizations. Türkiye is linked to the oceans through the Black Sea, Marmara and Mediterranean Seas, which encircle it on three sides. It is like a neighbor to the entire world and has been the epicenter of major trade and migration routes throughout history. The Black Sea is linked to the world via the Straits and momentous shipping routes pass through the Marmara, an interior sea. The country borders Georgia, Armenia and Iran to the east, Bulgaria and Greece to the west, and Iraq and Syria to the south. Türkiye, rectangular in shape, has a surface area of 814,578 square kilometers. In this respect, it is greater than all of its neighbors except Iran, and all European countries except the Russian Federation. The land segment on the European continent with 3% of its total area is called Thrace, and the remaining 97% landmass in Asia is called Anatolia.

İstanbul

BAKIRKÖY EZGİ FOLKLOR ARAŞTIRMA DERNEĞİ İSTANBUL-TÜRKİYE 1987 About Us : BEFAD means The Association of Research of Melodic Folklore. It is founded at 1987 by people who love folk dances. The association’s aim is to promote folk dances in the society, especially among young people and to contribute to society’s’ cultural values to live. For these aims, with its members, BEFAD is providing trainings with folk dance experts and researchers. Turkey has 7 different geographic regions and 81 cities. They are all, parts of Big Anatolian culture. This large country offers us a large range of dances from every corner of its geography. We are performing those dances with respecting its original structure, traditional costumes, accompanied with live music.

Every year, with members from different range of age, we are participating local and international festivals. We are glad to be a part of CIOFF which helps to promote globally this ‘local dance’ culture. Bonheiden (CIOFF-Belgium), Vosselaar (CIOFF-Belgium), Warfum (CIOFF-Holland), Straznice (CIOFF Czech Rep.), Varna (CIOFF-Bulgaria), Jaca (CIOFF-Spain), Dnipro (CIOFF-2004 /Ukrain), TG Mures (IOV-2008 / Romanya), Rivne (CIOFF / Ukrain) ‘’Mr. Victor Kovalchuk’’ Crnomelj (CIOFF / Slovenia ) ‘’Mr. Gregor Jevscek’’ Bonheiden (CIOFF / Belgium) Mr. Walter Casteels

Distribution of our dances according to geographical region of our country: East Anatolia Region : Bingöl (Man), Bitlis (Man), Elazığ, Kars-Kafkas, Southeast Anatolia Region :Gaziantep, Adıyaman Aegean Region : Afyon (Woman), İzmir, Blacksea Region : Karadeniz (Woman) Bayburt (Woman-Man) Marmara Region :Kılıç-Kalkan, Üsküp, Silivri, Kırklareli, Mediterranean Region : Silifke, İzmir Afyon Bingöl Bitlis Elazığ Kars-Kafkas Gaziantep Adıyaman Karadeniz-Kız Bayburt Kılıç-Kalkan Silivri Kırklareli Silifke Artvin Üsküp

OUR INSTRUMENTS Drum Small Drum Folk music instrument pumpkin violins

ClarionClarinet Accordion Kemençe

June 12, 2010 the photos do show

İzmir

Silifke

Silivri

Adıyaman

Kılıç-Kalkan

Üsküp

Gaziantep

June 12, 2010 the photos do show

Rivne / Ukrainian Festival August 2010 (Mr. Victor Kovalchuk)

Crnomelj / Slovenia Festival Juin 2011 (Mr. Gregor Jevscek)

Bonheiden / Belgium August 2012 (Mr. Walter Casteels)

Contact Information: President : Mr. Merih GÜRCİHAN Festivals Officer: Mrs. Sema GÜRCİHAN Office Phone : Web Address : befad.com Mail Address : Office Address: Dogu Sanayi Sitesi 2. Blok No: 20 Yenibosna – İstanbul – Türkiye