FESTIVAL STAGE PROGRAM

Carolina Hernández is a professional dancer from Colombia with over ten years of
experience. She has performed in countries such as Venezuela and Ecuador, and with
DanzAgher dance company from Medellin, Colombia, where she and her sister,
Sandra Hernández, are the founders and the directors. She has studied with dancers
like Randa Kamel, Tamalyn Dallal and Tito Seif. Today she will perform a belly
dancing choreography to a percussion peace and Kolbasti, an urban dance from
Turkey. https://www.facebook.com/carolinahernandez123

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.

Group El Turco was established in February 2018 in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area by Busra Kayi Tarhan and Serkan Uve Uzun.  The group’s passion for modern and classical Turkish music made them popular in the DC area quickly.  This is the fourth time they will be performing at the DC Turkish Festival. El Turco aims to appeal to people from different age groups, regions, and backgrounds, taking them back to the old days, giving them a sense of nostalgia. Touching the hearts of their audience is their joy.

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

Hacettepe University Children and Youth Folk Dance Ensemble Founded in 1996 Ankara Hacettepe University Children and Youth Folk Dance Ensemble has won many national and international competitions including in Romania (2000), Ukraine (2006), Ukraine (2008). In 2012 they won the World Championship in the International Folk Dance and Music Competition in Belarus which is the “Gran Prix” of folk dance. They participated in many international festivals around the world including United States, Germany, India, Oman, China, Taiwan, Yakutia, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Belarus, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, Macedonia, Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Ensemble, is currently directed by experienced instructors Murat Ozkan and Dr. Bahar Ozkan, has approximately 170 members and performs traditional and contemporary dances from many regions of Turkey. http://hacettepechildrenfolkdance.com

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 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.

Kirmizi Mikrofon (Red Microphone) Turkish Music Group is celebrating their first anniversary on the stage at the Turkish Festival.

Silk Road Dance Company was founded in 1995 by Artistic Director Dr. Laurel Victoria Gray – World Dance professor at George Washington University – and recipient of the “Xalqlar Do’stligi” Medal from the Government of Uzbekistan for her decades of work in preserving and promoting Uzbek dance culture. Her Silk Road Dance Company offers programs which reflect the depth and breadth of field research and study conducted by Gray who has received many awards for her life-time of creative work.  The award-winning, critically acclaimed Silk Road Dance Company (SRDC) presents an extensive repertoire of more than 200 dances from Central Asia, Iran, the Middle East, South Asia,  the Caucasus. and beyond.  With the goal of promoting “Cultural Understanding through Beauty and Delight,” their pioneering performances offer a unique glimpse of the life and art of ancient cultures, especially the Islamic World. The ensemble has given  performances internationally  in Uzbekistan, Qatar, Singapore, United Kingdom and Canada. Based in Washington, DC, the ensemble has graced prestigious national venues including two White House performances and  11  Kennedy Center appearances. They have given presentations for 11 different embassies, most recently for the Embassy of Azerbaijan. They performed at the Turkish Festival every year,  since its inception. This year at the Turkish Festival they will perform:

1. Arshin Mal Alan, 2.Tomo Tellerini Yan Dara Qiz, 3.Uzum Reqs 

Youth Dance Ensemble of Anatolia – A group of talented high school girls based in the vibrant heart of Washington DC’s DMV area, their journey is deeply rooted in our Turkish American heritage. They share a unique bond not only with our American surroundings but also with our extended family back in the enchanting lands of Turkey.  With unwavering dedication, they embarked on a quest to learn the intricate and captivating Turkish folk dances that have been passed down through generations. Each graceful step we take is a testament to our commitment to preserving our traditions.  Their mission is two-fold: to strengthen their own connection to their cultural roots and to share the rich tapestry of Turkish traditions with their American friends and a wider audience. Through dance, they bridge the gap between our two worlds, creating a vibrant fusion of cultures that celebrates the beauty of diversity.  This ensemble is more than just a dance troupe; they are the embodiment of cultural pride and the harmonious fusion of two worlds.