Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

ENTERTAINMENT

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CULTURAL LES ARTS TURCS ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 0212-527 6859; www.lesartsturcs.com; 3rd fl, Incili Cavus Sokak 19, Alemdar; ₺ 70; j Sultanahmet) This long-established cultural tourism outfit based near the Basilica Cistern offers twice-weekly opportunities to attend a sema (whirling-dervish ceremony) at the EMAV Silivrikapı Mevlana Cultural Center in Fatih on Thursdays at 8pm. The ticket cost includes a 15-minute Q&A session in English, a guide and minivan transfers to/from Sultanahmet. The company also sometimes takes visitors to a Monday evening sema at a different tekke (Dervish lodge) in the same district. Other Les Arts Turcs offerings include religious tours and cultural workshops. HODJAPASHA CULTURAL CENTRE ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 0212-511 4626; www.hodjapasha.com; Hocapaşa Hamamı Sokak 3b, Sirkeci; performances adult ₺ 70-80, child under 12yr ₺ 40-50; j Sirkeci) Occupying a beautifully converted 550-year-old hamam, this cultural centre stages a one-hour whirling dervish performance at 7pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday year-round, with additional performances in busy months (daily in April, May, September and October). Note that children under seven are not admitted; and switch off your phone, as readers have reported draconian crowd-control here. Also on offer are a 1¼-hour Turkish dance show (at 9pm on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for most of the year) and a monthly 1¾-hour performance set in the Ottoman harem. PERFORMING ARTS