Istanbul Nightlife Tips by midnight_mike

Sultana's: Belly dancing show

There are not many places to see a belly dancing show in Istanbul. One of those places is Sultana's, a packaged dinner show, which cost 40 Euro per person.

The Sultana, the mother of the sultan, was in charge of the harem and its concubines. At the beginning of the show, the audience watches as the sultana selects a new slave girl for the harem. If she is lucky, she will give birth to the next sultan and her power and wealth will increase. One of the ways a concubine would garner attention was by her belly dancing skills.

There are many good belly dancers here. Later in the night, folk dancers dressed in traditional Turkish costumes give a demonstration. The night ends with a singer performing well-known ballads from various countries.

This is more of a tourist trap than a cultural experience. I felt like I was in Disneyland, not Istanbul, while watching the show. That being said, I would recommend it to older travelers or people with children. The price includes the dinner, a small bottle of wine and transportation to and from your hotel.

You can purchase tickets from any travel agency in Istanbul or through your hotel. There will likely be literature about Sultana's in your hotel lobby.

Address: 16/1 Cumhuriyet Caddesi

Phone: 212 2193904

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Whirling dervishes: A spiritual journey

The Mevlevi Order of Whirling Dervishes was founded in Konya in 1273, but you don't have to travel to central Turkey to see one of their performances. The group featured in the accompanying photograph performed in a room at the Sirkeci train station. As you walk around Istanbul, look for flyers or brochures about their performances. Often, the Whirling Dervishes will perform as part of a dinner package.

There are not many followers left of this sect of Sufism, so what you see might not be authentic. The act of rhythmically spinning in synchronization is suppose to be part of the spiritual journey. The more you know about this group, the more you will enjoy the performance.

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