Zeynep Akın/JINHA

ÊLIH - Dancers in Batman, Turkey are preparing to dramatize the story of Alan Kurdî, the young child from Kobanê whose body washed up on shore after his family attempted to flee the war in Syria.

Dancers will bring to the stage the story of Alan Kurdî, the 3-year-old child from the city of Kobanê in Rojava (Western Kurdistan) whose photograph shook the world. The Perperi Theater Group is preparing to debut their performance Saturday night in the largely Kurdish city of Batman, Turkey.

Director Avaşin Yorulmaz said that the four-act piece, which using dance to tell stories of the struggle for survival and freedom, is "a first in Kurdistan." The four-act piece is called "Life is Short, The Birds are Flying."

The dancers will also dramatize the story of 74-year-old Mehmet Erdoğan, a resident of the city of Cizre who was killed by police when he left his home to find bread during Turkish security forces' nine-day siege of the city. The act, called "Bread and Roses in Cizre," tells the story of a struggle for existence.

In the third act, called "The Shore," the dancers use white umbrellas to attempt to protect baby Alan. The final act of the performance, "Child and Bride," depicts the forced marriage of children in the area.

"In all four acts, there's separation, there's pain, but we don't end with an unhappy ending. This isn't Pollyanna-ish or a fairytale; it's our hope for our future," said dancer Leyla Kavak. "After every death, we beat our wings again; we show our existence, that we don't die. In fact, we fly again."

(gc/cm)