The Oludeniz Dance Group wowed the crowds yet again at the weekend with their Turkish folk dancing routines. But it wasn’t just the traditional dancing that grabbed to headlines this time.

The Oludeniz Dance Group are a bit of a phenomenon in Turkey. A group of retired British expats dress up in Turkish folk costumes and perform traditional, complicated and sometimes muscle crunching dance routines that would be tough for people even half their age.

The group have visited various parts of Turkey at the invitation of the media and elected officials.

{mosimage}Earlier this year they danced in front of an international convention of foreign ambassadors in the North West town of Kars. They have also appeared on the Turkish number 1 TV show called the ‘Beyaz Show’. It seems Turkey just isn’t used to foreigners embracing their folk culture so the population is going crazy for more.

Following all of this publicity members of the group are regularly spotted when they are out and about. One member of the group whilst on a recent trip around Cappadocia was even recognised by a Jandarma guard stationed to protect one of the ancient sites. ‘I know you’ said the guard. And with a bit of relief he then said ‘You’re one of those dancers from the Beyaz show aren’t you?’

Well the dance group reached even headier heights last weekend when they performed for the 9th Annual Oludeniz Air games.

{mosimage}The Group performed the following Turkish songs with dances appropriate to the region from where the songs come: 

- Kiziroğlu Mustafa Bey (Kars in north eastern Turkey);

- Kara Üzüm Habbesi (Diyabakır in eastern Turkey);

- Hadi Gali (Fethiye’s own dance).

After performing on the sea front they were then whisked to the top of Badadag Mountain where they performed another dance and then paraglided back to the beach some 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) below.

Who says life has to be boring when you retire? Not the Oludeniz Dance Group that’s for sure.