The 101st anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Türkiye was celebrated with the Turkish Republic Ball held at Private Piri Reis Schools.
This year, the concept of the traditional Turkish Republic Ball of Private Piri Reis Schools was inspired by the last ball attended by the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Bursa eight months prior to his death. At the events held at the Guzelbahce and Karsiyaka campuses, 5th grade students had the opportunity to experience the lives of famous people of the period and the social life of the era.
At the ball, students dressed up as famous figures who have led society in the fields of literature, science, art, and sports since the founding of the Republic. Among these famous names were Sabiha Gokcen, the world’s first female fighter pilot; Samiye Cahid Morkaya, Türkiye’s first female automobile racer; Ismet Inonu, the Commander of the Western Front and the 2nd President of the Republic of Türkiye, who headed the Turkish delegation at the Mudanya Armistice and the Lausanne Peace Treaty, and Hulusi Behcet, who went down in history by describing Behcet’s disease.
The ball started with students entering the hall through the red carpet after their names were announced, dressed as historical figures. After that, the guests listened to the 10th Year Speech in the voice of the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The students first waltzed with the historical figures they attended the event with, and then they waltzed with their parents.
Sabrina Ataseven, General Manager of Private Piri Reis Schools, stated that they aim to not only describe the Republican Era but also have the students personally experience it and added, “The Turkish Republic Ball is our traditional event. Turkish Republic Day Week is celebrated with various activities throughout the school. At the beginning of the year, we paired 5th grade students with historical figures who are similar to them characteristically and asked them to do detailed research on these people. Nearly seventy 5th grade students at the Guzelbahce and Karsiyaka campuses gained learning experience outside of class and had an experience that will remain in their minds for the rest of their lives.”
The ball ended with a concert by the “saz” —a traditional Turkish musical instrument— team performing popular songs and folk songs from the early years of the Republic, followed by a choir of female students performing songs of the period, and a “zeybek” —Turkish folk dance— performance by male students.
