Fernando Melo's Leaning Tree premieres at AKM

The modern dance production “Leaning Tree” (Rüzgar Ağacı) premiered at the Atatürk Kültür Merkezi (AKM) Theatre Stage as part of the 30th Istanbul Theatre Festival. The work is a joint production between the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet (İDOB) and the modern dance group MDTistanbul.

Choreographed by Fernando Melo, the piece was originally created in 2023 for the Danish Dance Theatre. The production draws inspiration from the world of Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershoi. The creative team includes light designer Raphael Solholm, costume designer Maria Ipsen, and sound designer Rafael Canete Fernandez, with music recorded by Copenhagen Phil.

Handan Uzal Dündar, the Programming Manager of the Istanbul Theatre Festival, noted that the project was developed over two and a half years to create a lasting work for the festival's 30th anniversary. The production is scheduled to be staged for two seasons.