Dans Askina
2009-2024
We held our final show on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts in Hopkins, MN.
Kristal Senlik (‘Crystal Celebration’) was a multi-cultural evening of music and dance celebrating our 15th year.
The first half of the show featured Turkish dance and music performed by Dans Askina Turkish Dance Ensemble, our Alumni Dancers, Sekhmet of Vermont, Serkan Tutar (Organizer and CEO of Rakkas Istanbul Dance Festival), and local dancer Benjamin Lamb (‘Ben Suleyman’). Live music was performed by incomparable local musicians Greg Herriges (bouzouki, guitar, and vocals) and Michael Bissonette (drums and percussion).
The second half of the show featured classical Azerbaijan music and traditional women’s dances, and was the first big-stage performance of this combination of artists in Minnesota. Traditional Azeri dances were performed by Dans Askina Azeri Dancers and international Azeri performer, choreographer, and instructor Leman Hendricks. Live music was performed by accoladed Azeri musicians Aqil Suleymanov (Mugham vocals) and Togrul Orucov (Kemanca).
