Casual in Istanbul

Vaslav Nijinsky

Vaslav Nijinsky was a Russian ballet dancer an choreographer of Polish origin. Nijinsky was one of the most gifted male dancers in history, and he became celebrated for his virtuosity and for the depth and intensity of his characterizations. He could perform en pointe, a rare skill among male dancers at the time and his ability to perform seemingly gravity-defying leaps was also legendary.

The ballet L'après-midi d'un faune (or The Afternoon of a Faun) was choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky for the Ballet Russes , and first performed in the Théatre du Châtelet in Paris on May 29,1912. Nijinsky danced the main part himself. As its score it used the Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune by Claude Debussy. Both the music and the ballet were inspired by the poem L'après-midi d'un faune by Stéphane Mallarmé.

Nijinsky as the faun was thrilling. Although his movements were absolutely restrained, they were virile and powerful and the manner in which he caressed and carried the nymph's veil was so animal that one expected to see him run up the side of the hill with it in his mouth. There was an unforgettable moment just before his final amorous descent upon the scarf when he knelt on one leg on top of the hill; with his other leg stretched out behind him. Suddenly he threw back his head, opened his mouth and silently laughed. It was superb acting.

Miguel Abellan...A Real Torrero in Istanbul

Istanbul welcomed Spanish and Latin media with famous Spanish and latino guys for a special shootings for  GUESS calendar…Cenk Erdem ; a friend and a member of PasionTurca team ; welcomed one of the most famous matadors from Spain,MIGUEL ABELLAN and besides shootings he had a chance to know a matador better,analyzing him closer, sitting on  a rug,drinking tea at grand Bazaar...Thanks to Cenk for this great interview and photos...

C:I wonder if you chose to be a matador, just because you had your role models as matadors in your own family or was it your childhood dream in a way?

M:I was only 5 years old dealing with bulls..It’s true that it’s all about having a model in my family in my case, cause my father used to be a famous matador…We were dealing with bulls in farm and i used to dream to be like my father adoring him…

C:If we cast animal rights activists’ reactions aside, don’t u feel uncomfortable killing a bull? Or how did you desensitize yourself about this ?

M:This is all about cultural difference…To kill a bull is a part of a ritual..Bull is a sacred creature for a Spanish matador and to kill him is a very natural part of the ritual and we don’t have a guilty conscience about it...

C:You say you don’t have a guilty conscience, but the sword you use is a kind of phallic object and using the sword feels like penetration in a symbolic sense, as a psychologist i feel like you underline your male sexuality…Do you agree that this is a way of glorifying male sexuality with patriarchal unconsciousness?

M:It’s true that it glorifies male sexuality but costumes play a crucial role in this process,not the sword….To have that costume gives a kind of pride in our culture…

C: It feels like circumcision tradition,cause the boy is supposed to be dressed in a very polished way in circumcision tradition,even he is supposed to have a baton though without a sword,and it glorifies male sexuality in a ceremonial way,it feels to me “matadors are about to go to a circumcision ceremony with their dress, what about costumes then? You wear traditional costumes or do some people design for each and every matador?

M:Absolutely, traditional costumes…It’s a kind of heritage, and to get dressed in that way makes me proud and it’s a part of ritual …

C:Do women go crazy about matadors with those costumes?

M:I can’t say no…it’s about our culture..On the other hand ,being handsome might be a kind of advantage for a matador…His shows may attract more people…

C:Madonna used the matador concept in her video “Take a bow” in 1994 ,and the video had many psychoanalytical associations…Madonna’s brooch and the sword were associated and when the matador killed the bull, Madonna prickled the brooch into her thumb …Consequently do you agree with the fact that matadors glorify male sexuality ?

M:I know her video well.She worked with Emilio Munoz…Madonna , chose Emilio among many others.Associations in the video might be true.Especially,women show much interest in our shows...

C:We see dangerous moments on the screen, have you ever been hurt?

M:22 horn hits ...(He opens his underwear and shows his  inguinal wounds,but i warn him that we are at Grand Bazaar..)..I was in intensive care for a while..My father had a more severe accident and doctors ceased his left leg…

C:We are hanging around Istanbul doing shootings, what attracts you in Istanbul most?

M:I know about Turkey and especially i know about Istanbul and Bosphorus…But what attracts me most is the idea of Turkish Bath, are we going together??