FOMGET - Folk Dance, Music and Youth Ensemble and Youth Sports Club was established
in Ankara in 1993. FOMGET Club, with its large group of members, helps introduce
and promote traditional values through folklore, folk dance, and traditional music.
FOMGET also helps youth become positive and productive members of the community
by improving their social and cultural skills. FOMGER has participated in many national
and international Festivals and represented Turkey in international events in Austria,
Bulgaria, Greece, France, Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Romania, and South Korea.
FOMGET members are very excited to be performing in Washington, DC for the first
time. For more information on FOMGER please visit: www.fomget.com
Ferhat Göçer, a graduate of University of Istanbul , Faculty of Medicine
and the State Conservatory, Department of Voice; worked for the State Opera and
Ballet for two years, before moving to Sanliurfa, in Eastern Turkey in order to
fulfill his mandatory service as a medical doctor. As he returned to Istanbul to
work as a surgeon at the Haydarpasa Hospital, he had a new goal in music: combining
Turkish music with his classical background and introducing it to the world. Ferhat
Göçer is an extraordinary musician; his repertory extends to many different musical
styles and genres, including Opera, Napolitan, Chanson, Rembetico, Turkish Folk
and Classics and nostalgic hits; among others. Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra,
founded by Ferhat Göçer is the first and only private Orchestra of Turkey and accompanies
the artist at many sold out concerts. Ferhat Göçer’s albums sold millions in Turkey
and he has received many awards in recognition of his contributions to Turkish music.
Göçer’s primary objective is the meeting of Anatolian melodies with the universally
accepted symphonic music to expose the wholeness of different genres. His Anadolu
Aryalari (The Anatolian Arias) project has traveled across Turkey and beyond. Ferhat
Göçer joined forces with one of Turkey’s internationally recognized artists, Ömer
Faruk Tekbilek in the summer of 2004 for the “mood Nights” project which has been
recognized as one of the mile stones of his career. Ferhat Göçer also performed
with international artists such as Gino Castelli, Alessandro Safina, Patrizio Buanne,
Michael Bolton, Al Bano Carrisi and Emma Shapplin joined by Metropolitan Symphony
Orchestra. Ferhat Göçer and his Orchestra are going to be performing in Washington
DC for the first time. Turkish festival committee is pleased to present to the DC
audience this valuable artist for the first time. For more information on the artist
please visit: www.ferhatgocer.com
Ishtar Band - Formed in April of 2006, The Ishtar Band is a five piece band
from Pittsburgh that specializes in traditional bellydance songs from the 1920's
through 1970. While Ishtar focuses primarily on Turkish music, they also perform
songs from the Balkans, Greece, Spain, Israel and Egypt. Around the Pittsburgh area,
Ishtar has played in such varied venues as rock clubs, Middle Eastern restaurants,
nightclubs, jazz bars and art galleries. Ishtar features Melissa Murphey on clarinet,
Rob Metil on Fender Stratocaster guitar, Mark DeFilippo on darbuka, Beth DeFilippo
on riq and Jeff Chmielarski on fretless electric bass. For more information visit:
www.ishtar-music.com or
www.myspace.com/ishtarmiddleeast
A local bellydancer is performing to Ishtar’s music. She specializes in Turkish
style bellydance. Zarifa is an enchanting local Bellydancer specializing in Turkish
Oriental & Turkish Romani dance. Her individuality shines as she fluidly responds
to the music and audience.
Kardelen Turkish Dance Ensemble is a group of dancers dedicated to promoting
the culture of Turkey through dances from the region. Kardelen Dance Ensemble takes
its name from a resilient Anatolian mountain flower that survives under hardship
and severe weather circumstances. The group members are committed to helping underprivileged
children in developing countries who survive under difficult circumstances, just
like the Kardelen flower, and therefore donate a portion of revenues to organizations
that are engaged in the education and health of children. For more information visit:
www.kardelendance.com
Nomad Dancers is a collective inspired by traditions of India, Persia, Central
Asia, Middle East, and Turkey, traveling across borders and bridging cultures in
search of the ultimate dance experience. The Nomad Dancers proudly present Persian,
Afghan, Tajik, Azeri, Uzbek, Uighur, and Turkish traditional folkloric dances, as
well as Bollywood and Fusion choreographies, at cultural events, celebrations and
festivals in the Washington DC metropolitan area and beyond. Each of the individual
dancers brings years of professional experience in various dance styles to the group,
and have performed in venues ranging from universities and embassies to Washington
DC's Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, to the Philadelphia Museum of Art,
to the majestic Registan Square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan; from across the United
States to Italy, Greece, Cyprus, India and Afghanistan. The Nomad collective is
dedicated to bringing master teachers from around the world to help us refine our
skills and craft our choreographies, better enabling us to bring diverse audiences
together, and to spread cultural awareness of the region. Nomad Dancers is a proud
Arts Partner of Joy of Motion Dance
Center. Contact us for concerts and cultural events: www.nomaddancers.com
Silk Road Dance Company - The award-winning Silk Road Dance Company (SRDC)
presents traditional and contemporary women's dances from the Middle East, Central
Asia, and the Caucasus. Founded by Artistic Director Laurel Victoria Gray in 1995,
the ensemble's performances offer a unique glimpse into the life, culture, and art
of little-known regions. SRDC has won deep respect from the members of the communities
represented by the company's repertoire. They were the first American dance ensemble
to receive an invitation to perform in Samarkand, Uzbekistan at the UNESCO-sponsored
Sharq Taronalari International Festival; they were also the subject of a special
on Uzbek television. SRDC has performed at events for the Embassies of Egypt, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan, Turkey and Russia, and is frequently engaged by numerous cultural organizations
in the local Middle Eastern community. For more information visit: www.silkroaddance.com
For more information visit: www.silkroaddance.com
Turku, Nomads of the Silk Road: TURKU's saz, bass and layered percussion
is the raw energy in their music. Farzad Farhangi's soaring, yet contemplative violin
is the burning nuance swirling above that sea of churning rhythm. TURKU formed in
1996, released its first album, "Alleys of Istanbul" in 1998 followed by "Nomads
of the Silk Road" in 2000, and "Ozlem" in 2004." TURKU is working on its forth album.
TURKU has toured internationally, performing for audiences as large as 25,000 people,
from San Francisco to New York City to Samarkand, Uzbekistan. www.turkumusic.com
Washington DC Turkish Folk Dance Troupe - Ever since its creation in 1998
by several devoted Turkish/Turkish-American individuals, Washington, DC Turkish
Folk Dance Troupe has been a part of numerous social, educational, cultural, and
recreational events. With over 60 performances on its record, the troupe continues
to grow both in terms of size and repertoire. Anyone, regardless of past dance experience,
is welcome in the group. The troupe, as a whole, serves for the purpose of promoting
and broadening the awareness of Turkish culture in the U.S. through performances
of various Turkish folk dances; whereas, from the individual's standpoint, it is
a friendly and social environment where the learning and teaching of Turkish folk
dances are made possible through voluntary work. The troupe meets every Sunday afternoon
to practice. For more information, please visit www.turkfolkdc.org