Dj Seyhan  was born in Istanbul and came to Washington, DC for his master degree in 1992. He started his DJ career by accident- stepping in on the spot one night to replace a no-show DJ for a bar restaurant.  He was an instant success- establishing an energy and connection with the crowd and decided to keep DJ’ing to earn extra income.  DJ Seyhan’s first gig was in the alternative rock genre, he was later introduced to dance and house music- the rest is history.

Besides, DJ’ing for the last 21 years, DJ Seyhan has been active in the DC nightlife scene as a promoter and manager of various prominent clubs and lounges. He is a well known host for signature DC events, in high demand for prestigious fashion shows, magazine, media, corporate and non-profit events.

Gulder USA Ensemble is based in the Washington, DC area and specializes in Kazakh folk dance with traditional and modern elements as well as other central asian and middle eastern dances. “Gulder” from kazakh language translates as “flowers” and was created in 2017, has since participated in multiple international festivals, including cultural events organized by the World Bank, the George Washington University, the Silk Road Dance Company, Kazakh-American communities in different states, and the Persian Nowruz festival.  The group has also appeared on Kazakh TV and Iranian International TV on several occasions. The group’s choreographer, Zarina Alim, has extensive experience in folk, ballet, and modern dance.  All members of the group are very passionate about dance, though they want to demonstrate the colorful culture of Central Asia to the people in the US and other countries. The ensemble can be found on social media @GulderUSA:   
https://www.facebook.com/GulderUSA
https://www.instagram.com/GulderUSA
Gulder USA – YouTube

Founded in 2019 in Vienna, VA, Seksenrock performs covers of popular Turkish and Anatolian rock songs, along with contemporary Turkish music.

Nomad Dancers is a collective inspired by traditions of Central Asia, Middle East, India, and Turkey, traveling across borders and bridging cultures in search of the ultimate dance experience. Since 2008, Nomad Dancers have proudly presented 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.

Nomads have performed at the White House, Washington DC’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Istiklol Palace Theater in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and the Dora Stratou Theater in Athens, Greece, just to name a few. The collective is dedicated to bringing diverse audiences together, spreading cultural awareness, and promoting World Peace Through Dance! At the Turkish Festival this year they will perform:

1. UZUM REQSI – HARVESTING GRAPES – AZERI DANCE: This dance in Azeri style depicts the delights of the harvest season. Stylized movements represent picking the grapes and placing in baskets, tasting the grapes and smelling the delicious aroma. Choreography is by Olimdjon Beknazarov. Imagine yourselves in a sunny vineyard and enjoy Uzum Reqsi.
2. TASHKENT TRIO – UZBEK DANCE: Uzbekistan is famous for colorful ikat-dyed silk fabrics. This dance shows Uzbek women going to the riverbank at sunrise to wash their faces and braid their long hair. They put eye makeup and show off their silk dresses. Everyone is welcome to the celebration of beauty and joy. Choreography by Olimdjon Beknazarov.

We, DMV Turkish Music Ensemble, are an amateur choir composed of music lovers from different ages and professions, united by our shared passion for music. We intend to serve as cultural ambassadors who give voice to songs with our souls and hearts intertwined, embracing Atatürk’s legacy of
“Peace at Home, Peace in the World.”
For us, music is not merely a series of notes or a hobby, but a universal language that unites our hearts and builds bridges of genuine peace and friendship.
We speak this universal language with the voice of our hearts and aim to foster mutual understanding and respect by bringing people together from different cultures through the unparalleled power of music.
We believe that a world filled with music is a more beautiful world.

Founded three years ago in New Jersey, MV Studio began with a mission to offer Turkish folk dance classes to both children and adults, primarily serving the Turkish community. From the start, the vision has been to create a multicultural, international professional dance ensemble that brings together diverse backgrounds and reflects that richness in every performance. Today, MV Studio proudly features dancers from a wide range of cultures and continues to grow into a vibrant, culturally diverse dance collective celebrating unity through movement and art.

Hailing from Denizli, Turkey, Necati & Saykolar have been redefining Anatolian Folk Rock since 2011. Blending traditional Turkish sounds with rock energy, their performances are full of improvisation, humor, and high-voltage stage presence. Inspired by legends like Cem Karaca, Barış Manço, and Moğollar, they fuse the classic bağlama with electric guitars, drums, and modern rock instrumentation.

Band Members:

• Necati Karadayı – Vocals, Bağlama, Keytar, Wind Instruments, Percussion
• Alper Kayman – Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
• Barış Şanlısoy – Bass Guitar, Vocals
• Serhat Ergür – Drums, Percussion

Selected Discography:

• Albums: Dur Bak Dinle Geç (2014), Mütemadiyen (2017), Gurbet (2020), Güzel Ne Güzel Olmuşsun feat. Volkan Konak (2021), Bey Diyeceksiniz (2022)

• Singles: Gamzedeyim (2019), Leyla (2020), Kafam Güzel (2022), Yel Gibi (2024), Aşk Bankası (2024), Ses Ver Erci E (2025), Bi Garip Dünya (2025)

Social: @necativesaykolar, @dehaakademi

Location: Washington, D.C. | Supervisor & Choreographer: Yeliz Dingler
The DCA Youth Ensemble of Anatolian Dances was founded to preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Turkish folk dances. Composed of first-generation Turkish-American high school students, the ensemble performs choreographed pieces inspired by diverse Anatolian regions—from the Black Sea to the Aegean—blending tradition and modernity. Through dance, they strengthen their connection to their roots while sharing Türkiye’s cultural richness with American audiences, serving as young cultural ambassadors. Their repertoire includes regional dances such as Horon, Harmandalı Zeybeği, and Damat Halayı, performed at events including the Washington DC Turkish Festival, Chicago Turkish Festival, Turkish Embassy functions, and celebrations at the Diyanet Center of America.

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Azerbaijan House is presenting a special one-time ensemble performance for the Turkish Festival stage in Washington, D.C., featuring some of the most talented Azerbaijani musicians and performers. The group brings together Togrul Orujov on kamancha, Zaur Shah on nagara (percussion), Ilyas on keyboard, and vocalist Günay Quliyeva, with Nigar İbrahimova delivering a moving poem recitation. The musical program is directed and coordinated by DJ Bazaur, who also leads the stage performance. This collaboration celebrates Azerbaijan’s rich musical heritage, blending traditional melodies and rhythms with contemporary interpretations to create an inspiring and culturally resonant experience.

Hey everyone! You’re in for a treat today with the amazing Anar KZ Omirzaq 

uh-NAHR kay-ZEE oh-MEER-zak from Kazakhstan! 

She’s here to share her original songs straight from the heart, 

plus an American song translated into Kazakh—showing her love for preserving her language through music.  

She is a local DMV resident since 2016 and has performed several times on stages in New York and Washington DC, Nauryz Celebrations, at the George Washington University, World Bank, Fiest Asia, USA Asian Festivals. 

But that’s not all! Anar is also a multi-talented entrepreneur. 

Her new book, “Magic of SCALE: AI’s Deep Dive into Entrepreneurial Wisdom,” is on Amazon. It’s packed with insights from years of research and AI. Let’s show our support by enjoying her fantastic music and grabbing a copy of her book. Don’t miss out!

Amazon: https://a.co/d/hwRsSWQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6P9l5oQb8PhE0d7B2LI9Dz?si=WRW86WNIRMyxm_d2eENAtA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scalewithanar/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MsAnarkz