Nejla Yatkin Dance

Ouroboros by Nejla Yatkin is an evening-length interactive theatrical solo dance that takes the audience on a transformative journey. Set in the round, the performance original composition, ASL translation, and a fusion of dance styles, including contemporary and Middle Eastern dance. The piece draws inspiration from the ancient snake dances of the Middle East and centers around the powerful symbol of Ouroboros. 

From the moment the audience enters the space, they are transported into a nomadic tent setting. Greeted with the delicate scent of rosewater and tantalizing Turkish delights, they embark on a captivating experience that celebrates the life-affirming power of a gathering circle. Through dance, song (sung live by Nejla), and live finger cymbal/zill play, the performance weaves together multiple languages (English, German, Turkish, Movement, and ASL) and invites active audience participation in a journey of memory, place, paradoxes, and the cyclical nature of time and culture. 

Caretakers of Land/Land Acknowledgement: Chicago is located on the traditional unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other tribes such as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, and Fox also called this area home. 

Estimated Artist Fee: engagement cost: $8000-$10,000