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Istanbul’s bellydancers and DJs fight for survival as Turkey’s night-time economy takes a hit – The Guardian
With inflation at more than 100%, and a ruling party hostile to Istanbul’s vibrant nightlife culture, performers and bar owners are facing severe struggles
It’s 11pm at a rooftop restaurant overlooking Istanbul and the patrons are ready to party. In a corner, neon lights illuminate a DJ pumping Turkish pop music to long tables of patrons increasingly loose on raki, Turkey’s aniseed-flavoured national drink. Some have already got out of their chairs to dance, when suddenly the music shifts: the bellydancers have arrived.
A male bellydancer in a pink crop top dances, followed by a blond bellydancer in a rhinestone bra, and then Aslı Can, who enters the room in a storm of high kicks and hair flips.
It’s a typical meyhane night – the name for a traditional restaurant where people spend hours drinking listening to music and watching bellydancing, a staple of Turkish social life for centuries.
As the trio move between the different tables, jostling and wiggling with patrons, they begin their tricks – Can at one point does a full backbend over a table as she dances. Within half an hour, her top is stuffed full of 100 lira notes.
But while the notes look like a lot of money, they are declining in value even as Can dances. Turkey’s currency is hitting daily historic lows amid an economic crisis that continues to batter Istanbul’s nightlife industry. In 2021, the lira lost half its value against the dollar, and it has slid to previously unseen levels in the weeks after the re-election of president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Erdoğan’s economic reforms have made life perilous for small businesses and have devalued wages, despite his decision to raise the minimum monthly wage for public sector workers to 15,000 lira (£450). But those wage rises don’t extend to the waiters, DJs, dancers, club promotors and bar owners who make up Istanbul’s vibrant nightlife scene.
“There used to be times where people would tip me $100 per person,” sighs Can, who has been dancing for 30 years. Now, she says, most customers tip 100 lira for a dance – £3. Before the economic crisis began in 2018, 100 lira was worth about £22.
The crisis could spell a slow death for an industry that provides not just a vital financial lifeline to Turkey’s most populous and lively city, but also an essential slice of its character, one that has long been neglected by the municipal administration and the government.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s cost-of-living crisis is affecting everyone from patrons to performers and club owners. The official inflation rate is close to 40%, but the Inflation Research Group (ENAGrup) estimates it is actually more than 100%. Price rises in hospitality are keenly felt. In May alone, ENAGrup tracked a 7% increase in food prices and 9% in cafes and restaurants. A night out has become an indulgence that many are struggling to afford.
“Everyone at the restaurant complains about the prices,” says Aslı. “Every day the prices change. It’s expensive to go to a meyhane, so instead people are drinking at home. More often now, I’m going to people’s houses to perform.”
An achingly slow recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic included a widely unpopular ban on music after 1am that lasted until the end of June, years after all other regulations were lifted. One MP from the opposition Republican People’s party (CHP) was so enraged that he demanded a parliamentary inquiry, explaining that the nightlife industry had been hugely damaged by the pandemic. “Due to the indefinite restrictions, musicians had to sell their instruments and shut down their businesses,” he said, claiming that some musicians had killed themselves as a result.
But even with the removal of the ban, those who work in the nightlife economy fear there is too much working against them. “For people out to party, there’s no second one or third drink. You can’t, it’s impossible,” says Tuna Öztürk, known professionally as Tuna Oz, a DJ and bartender who has worked in Istanbul’s nightlife scene for decades. “Things used to be more enjoyable for me, as I used to play two or three times a week. Now if I can play once a month I’m happy,” he says. “The situation during the pandemic put a dent in the industry; there was a massive loss of clubs and bars afterwards. Now there are just a few clubs. The music ban made everything more difficult.”
Öztürk has grown used to working multiple jobs to survive, spending his days at a bar tucked into an Istanbul backstreet and his nights at neighbouring Club Banger. The minimum fee he expects from any of the backstreet nightclubs he plays at is 1,000 lira (£30), sometimes rising to 2,500 lira for bigger clubs. “It should be much more,” he says. Sometimes, the clubs are so empty that he feels guilty demanding a fee.
Both Can and Öztürk say the housing crisis and other effects of the economic downturn has made their living costs almost unbearable. Inside Can’s apartment, stuffed with sparkling costumes alongside her many cats and dogs, she pulls out a collection of battery-powered camping lamps – her electricity and gas have been cut off for two years, as she can’t cover the arrears that built up during the pandemic. She estimates that turning on her electricity would cost her at least 11,000 lira, money she simply doesn’t have.
A really good week bellydancing will get her 5,000 lira, but those weeks are rare. She has taken to fortune-telling as a side gig, but it still isn’t enough.
Öztürk, meanwhile, spends his days playing soothing classical music in the bar and cafe where he works before the nights get hectic. Unlike in other cities where nightlife is a valued part of culture, complaints from the police about the noise or patrons outside the bar are common.
“If the police want to fine you, they’ll fine you – they’ll find something,” he says. “We’ve never seen any support from the government or municipality – instead all we get from them is stress, pressure.”
While Istanbul has a nominally liberal mayor from the opposition CHP, protecting nightlife has not been part of his priorities. In addition, the Beyoğlu district that forms the hub of the city’s bars and nightclubs is controlled by Erdoğan’s Justice and Development party, which has long seen nightlife as an anathema to more traditional Turkish culture, despite its long history in Istanbul.
Öztürk leans back in his chair, sighing in frustration. “I think their mentality is to be against the nightlife scene,” he says. “They’re against how people choose to enjoy their lives.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers 2023-24 promotional schedule will provide fans with a fun-filled season of great giveaways, special theme nights and memorable celebrations. It all tips off with back-to-back games on Opening Weekend at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Fans in attendance on opening night, Friday, Oct. 27 vs. the OKC Thunder at 7:30 p.m., will receive a Cavs vintage t-shirt presented by Cleveland Clinic.
On Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m., the Cavs host the Indiana Pacers for Breast Cancer Awareness Night presented by Cleveland Clinic. In support of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Cavs and Cleveland Clinic are once again teaming up to educate fans on how to join in the fight against breast cancer. All fans attending the game are encouraged to wear pink.
Two exclusive bobblehead nights headline this season’s fan giveaways:
Other fun giveaways this season include:
The Cavs have teamed up with valued partners to present a variety of special theme nights throughout the season:
City Edition Premiere presented by KeyBank
Friday, Nov. 17 vs. Detroit Pistons
The Cavs will debut the 2023-24 City Edition uniform for the first time this season. The Cavs will also unveil their new city edition court. More details to be announced soon!
In-Season Tournament presented by Betway
Friday, Nov. 17 vs. Detroit Pistons
The NBA In-Season Tournament is a new NBA element that Cavs fans will not want to miss! The inaugural tournament begins Nov. 17 for the Cavs competing in Group East A with the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers.
Cavs Retro Night presented by adidas
Wednesday, Nov. 22 vs. Miami Heat
Celebrate in style with the Cavs and adidas for Retro Night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Take a trip down memory lane with throwback music and nostalgic fashion trends from some of the best decades in history.
Salute to Service presented by Ohio CAT
Sunday, Nov. 26 vs. Toronto Raptors
The Cavs will honor current and former members of the United States military during their annual Salute to Service presented by Ohio CAT.
Sustainability Night presented by Republic Services
Thursday, Nov. 30 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Fans will be reminded of the importance of living a more sustainable and ecofriendly lifestyle. The Cleveland Cavaliers in partnership with Republic Services will host Sustainability Night to bring awareness and resources to help fans reduce, reuse and recycle.
Black Heritage Celebration presented by Crown Royal Regal Apple
Wednesday, Jan. 31 vs. Detroit Pistons
The Cleveland Cavaliers 20th Annual Black Heritage Celebration presented by Crown Royal Regal Apple will kick off Black History Month. BHC events and tributes will take place at Cavs games throughout February.
Bow Tie Night
Sunday, March 3 vs. New York Knicks
The Cleveland Cavaliers, in partnership with NF Forward and the Children’s Tumor Foundation, launched the Bow Tie Campaign last season. Bow Tie Night honors Nick Gilbert, the late son of Cavs Chairman Dan Gilbert and his wife Jennifer Gilbert, and others affected by the genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis (NF) for which there is no present cure. Bow Tie Night will be dedicated to raising awareness and funding to further advance NF research efforts to eradicate the disease.
Women’s Hoops Night presented by Avery Dennison
Friday, March 8 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
On the heels of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four on Friday, April 5 and Sunday, April 7, the Cavs and Avery Dennison will celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by recognizing women’s sports and highlighting women’s basketball.
Mental Health Awareness Night presented by Cleveland Clinic
Monday, March 25 vs. Charlotte Hornets
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Clinic partner to educate fans and share mental health resources through activations during the game.
Autism Awareness Night presented by Cleveland Clinic
Friday, April 12 vs. Indiana Pacers
In recognition of World Autism Month, the Cavs and Cleveland Clinic will host their annual Autism Awareness Night to bring awareness to autism and autism care.
Fan Appreciation Day presented by Discount Drug Mart
Sunday, April 14 vs. Charlotte Hornets
The 22nd Annual Fan Appreciation Day presented by Discount Drug Mart will complete the Cavs regular season at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. During the fan-favorite celebration, the Cavs will give away thousands of prizes throughout the game and across all digital platforms. Fans in attendance will also receive a clear Cavs tote bag presented by Discount Drug Mart to carry home all their prizes.
Additional theme and awareness nights and celebrations during the Cavs 2023-24 season include:
The entire 2023-24 promotional schedule is available at cavs.com/promo
Ticket Information and Promotions
Single game tickets for all 41 regular season home games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse are on sale NOW at cavs.com/promo.
Family Fun Pack presented by Molina Healthcare
Bring the entire family to a Cavs game! The Family Fun Pack presented by Molina Healthcare includes four tickets, each with a $10 food and beverage credit, starting at just $20 per ticket. This offer is available for select games and additional tickets can be added to
packages. Fans can access this deal at cavs.com/offers.
Cavs Student Pass presented by LECOM
Take advantage of exclusive ticket offers just for college and high school students! Sign up with a school email at Cavs.com/studentpass to receive last-minute ticket offers as low as $10.
Cavs Fast Break Pass
Score last-minute ticket offers with a text! Fan can text* FASTBREAK to 30594 to receive notifications when last-minute seats become available.
*By signing up via text, you agree to receive recurring automated promotional and personalized marketing text messages (e.g. cart reminders) from Cleveland Cavaliers at the cell number used when signing up. Consent is not a condition of any purchase. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. View Terms & Privacy.
NOTE: All promotional schedule giveaways and theme nights are subject to change.
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September 26, 2023 | Men's Basketball
By: Wes Bloomquist
Ready for the fight.
??? https://t.co/u76U8y6Xpf pic.twitter.com/SVfd7iX1PK
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Since putting on gloves at 13 years old, Canelo Alvarez has gone from red-haired rookie sensation to boxing royalty.
Born in Guadalajara, the Mexican star has won gold in four divisions and he’s the current undisputed super middleweight champion. He has beaten the best in boxing, including Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan, and Gennadiy Golovkin.
Now 33, the battle-hardened Canelo has transitioned into the “veteran” category and some feel his best years are behind him. He now seeks to prove his doubters wrong when he defends his titles against Jermell Charlo on September 30.
“I always believe that I’m number one, my whole career,” Canelo said at a media workout. “You need to believe in yourself, I still believe I’m number one. But I believe there is more than just one fighter alone at the top, there are a few. I still feel young and fresh. I never think about the end of my career. I just train and fight year after year. I still feel that I’m at my best.”
The Canelo-Charlo fight takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, a familiar home for Canelo, whereas Charlo is headlining there for the first time. The 12-round bout, plus undercard action, will air on Showtime PPV in the U.S. and DAZN in the U.K.
MORE: The best five years in boxing history revisited
Per Sports Interaction, Canelo is the -388 favorite, while Charlo, the undisputed super welterweight champion, is the +288 underdog. Despite those odds, Charlo, also 33, sees himself as the better fighter.
“This is the biggest fight in boxing, and I’m coming to leave it all in the ring like I do every time,” Charlo said. “I manifested this fight into existence and earned it with everything I’ve done in this sport so far. Canelo is a great fighter, but he’s gonna see what Lions Only is all about. When the fight’s over, people are gonna have to recognize that I’m the best fighter in the sport.”
Charlo is not worried about the weight gain, having to move up two weight classes to take on Canelo. Sparring big men and working alongside his brother Jermall, the WBC middleweight champion, Jermell believes this is the perfect time to fight Canelo.
Does Charlo have a fair point? Could Canelo be overlooking the supposedly smaller man?
Canelo already announced his intentions on The Breakfast Club to retire around 36-37. He even teased retirement if he lost to John Ryder in May, which is a fight he would go on to win by unanimous decision. A former pound-for-pound No. 1, Canelo has tough challenges ahead of him outside of Charlo, including David Benavidez and a potential rematch against light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.
Boxing great Bernard Hopkins believes Charlo is a different challenge for Canelo, who hasn’t fought below super middleweight since 2019.
WATCH: Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo, live on DAZN
“His style is totally different from the styles that Canelo has fought. [Charlo is] younger, more determined to prove that Canelo’s time has been great, but it’s up,” Hopkins told Fight Hype via Boxing Social. “I just believe that Canelo will have to get him out of there early. The later the fight goes, the more Canelo will start showing not only his age but he’ll start showing the success he’s been enjoying for so long is starting to look different.
“I see hard-earned, skillful moments in that fight where [Charlo], who wants to prove himself, will come out and show us something that we knew he had, but he’s never had to show it till he steps in with Canelo. Canelo elevates Charlo. I just think he has the skills, and if he maintains that mentality, it can be really a nightmare for Canelo, based on style.”
Charlo was supposed to fight Tim Tszyu for super welterweight gold before a hand injury nixed a planned bout. He wants to become undisputed at 168, return to 154, and potentially take on pound-for-pound No. 1 Terence Crawford. Regardless of his upcoming plans, Charlo’s focus is solely on beating Canelo, the man who has had beef with both brothers.
Holding more gold and honoring family is enough motivation for Charlo. Though he has proven everyone wrong over the years, the current uncertainty surrounding Canelo may be the perfect time for the Louisiana-born Charlo to face the super middleweight king.
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