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Choreography

İşler Nanay (Turkish Romani)

Choreography in Turkish Romani style. Song İşler Nanay/Gel Bize Keriz Edelim by Kardeş Türküler.


The song "İşler Nanay" by Kardeş Türküler, also known as "Gel Bize Keriz Edelim," touches on themes of hardship and the struggles faced by working-class people in Istanbul. The lyrics express frustration about the difficulties of life, referencing the floods and the ongoing challenges in neighborhoods like Eyüp, Balat, and Gültepe. The phrase "işler nanay," which can be translated to "the work has stopped" or "things aren't going well," reflects a sense of despair and resignation in the face of these challenges.


In the song "İşler Nanay," the reference to a flood is both literal and metaphorical. Literally, it speaks about the challenges of living in areas prone to flooding, like some neighborhoods in Istanbul. Metaphorically, the flood represents overwhelming difficulties and struggles faced by the people, suggesting that their problems are as relentless and consuming as a flood. The rain that falls elsewhere but floods their area emphasizes a sense of injustice and hardship that is uniquely theirs.


The song incorporates traditional elements, particularly through the mention of "Çakır gayda," a dance that symbolizes joy and communal celebration. This reflects the importance of cultural heritage and the need to find joy amidst struggles, suggesting that dancing and celebrating can be forms of resistance against life's difficulties.

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Navigate the video easily:

Part 1 at 8:22

Part 2 at 24:52

Part 3 at 42:05

Part 4 at 59:00

*Record a video dancing this choreo, and post it on Instagram with a hashtag #ianadanceclub. Don’t forget to tag @iana_dance to be featured on Iana’s IG stories! :)

Suggested Technique Drills

Special Course on Turkish Romani Dance Technique (5 hours in 5 classes).

İşler Nanay


Aman bir hecalim var!

Her kime?

İstanbul'un pahasını, isini pisini, selini çekenlere!

Çal bana Çakır gaydayı

Oyna oyna, çalg gaydayı

Habe yoksa, ye yorganları

Gel Bize Keriz Edelim

Bugün de perhiz edelim

Gel bize, keriz edelim

Levan da nanay, kay movasta

Yetmedi, kalmadı, yetmedi

Yağmur ötelere yağar bizim mahalleyi sel basar

Hıdrellez geldi, geçer

Soske be burda çora kaldık?

Eyüp'te, Balat'ta, Gültepe'de

So tekara, işler nanay

---


Works have stopped


Oh, i have a statement

To whom?

To those taking cost, dirt and flood of Istanbul

Play the bagpipe for me, dear Çakır

Dance and play the bagpipe

If not, eat the quilt

Come to us, let's make (you) a credulous guy

Let's do a diet today, too

Come to us, let's make (you) a credulous guy

Levan da nanay, kay movasta*

It was not enough, it's over, it wasn't enough

The rain drops to another town, but our town have flood

Hıdırellez** came but will pass out

Oh Soske, we stand alone here

In Eyüp, in Balat, in Gültepe

So tekara*, the works have stopped.




* This part isn't Turkish

** Hıdırellez is celebrated as the day on which Prophets Hızır (Al-Khidr) and Ilyas (Elijah) met on the earth.

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