Dilan Dance Company

Dilan Dance Company was founded in 2008 by Fethi Karakecili. The focus of DDC is research, practice, archive & performance of Kurdish, Turkish and other Middle Eastern traditional dance & music. It also focuses on contemporary and ballet dance styles. The vision is to keep the traditions and transform them into contemporary, Western dance understanding. The Company has performed at many events such as Kurdish New Years, Festival, Ontario Folk Dance Association and The TDSB.

Friday 3 April 2015

ArtsGames Conference evening reception in Toronto. April 01 2015.

ArtsGames conference is on National Post. My speech and presentation was representation of Middle Eastern Dance and Music in Olympic

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/artsgames-arts-olympics-canada-possible-host
Thank you very much for ArtsGames Organization.

Canada could play host to ArtsGames, Olympics-style competition aiming to showcase top artistic talent

Natalie Alcoba | April 1, 2015 9:54 PM ET
More from Natalie Alcoba | @nataliealcoba

Sylvia Sweeney, President of Art Games, stands for a portrait during the Art Games Conference in Toronto on Wednesday April 1, 2015.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim for National Post Sylvia Sweeney, President of Art Games, stands for a portrait during the Art Games Conference in Toronto on Wednesday April 1, 2015.

Oscar Peterson used to tell the story of a super-fan, who followed him around the United States to hear him master the piano like only he knew how.

One day, the jazz great went to shake this admirer’s hand, and the man from Georgia said he loved his music, but he could never shake the hand “of a nig—.”

Sylvia Sweeney, Mr. Peterson’s niece and a force in her own right, told that story Wednesday in Toronto, at the inaugural conference for the ArtsGames, which plans to revive the practice of recognizing excellence in the arts with gold, silver and bronze medals.

“He couldn’t help himself but follow this black man,” Ms. Sweeney said of the Peterson story. “That ripple effect of valuing another culture happens because we can’t help what happens at a visceral level. And this is what my motivation is.”

Ms. Sweeney, a former Olympian, has poured 20 years of her time, energy and grit into the ArtsGames project, an idea that stemmed from a conversation with her uncle about staging festivals that could foster cross-cultural understanding. It will launch next year, with its first online competition sandwiched between the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The first full-fledged Games is slated for 2018, in a host city that has yet to be selected. The finalists are in Switzerland, Canada and the United States.

The ArtsGames is not part of the Olympics, although the Olympics at one point included awards for the arts. But it is modelled on the international governing body of sport. Qualifying rounds will be held in music, dance, literature, visual arts and film and television.

“It’s a watershed moment for us,” said Peter Howlett, chairman of the International ArtsGames Committee, trademark holder of the ArtsGames. “We live in a world that is focused on promotability, rather than ability.”

We live in a world that is focused on promotability, rather than ability

The Games will use “competition to advance a sustainable future for the arts.” Revenue is expected to come primarily from sponsorships, now being negotiated.

The conference included representatives with a spectrum of expertise, from Jeff Neiman, the exclusive licensing and promotions agent for Universal Studios, to U.S. author and scriptwriter Khephra Burns to Zelma Badu, an associate professor of African dance at the University of Ohio.

Speakers pitched the Games as a way to tear down inaccurate perceptions of cultures, provide a broad platform for artists and expose audiences to talent from every corner of the globe. Mr. Neiman also suggested the product and branding possibilities are endless, pointing out most of the 4.7 billion viewers of the Olympic and Paralympic Games tune in during the opening and closing ceremonies — which are a pageantry of art.

Aaron Vincent Elkaim for National PostParomita Kar, member of the Dilan Dance Company, performs an Iranian dance during the Art Games Conference in Toronto on Wednesday April 1, 2015.

Fethi Karakecili, a York University professor and founder of the Dilan Dance Co, which focuses on Kurdish and Middle Eastern styles, said the Games can change how people view the Middle East. “I think ArtsGames will save the region’s instruments and dancers in this case. We need it, we need it more than every one else, to be part of ArtsGames.”

Michael Wendt, president of the International Dance Organization, said, “We must be very careful we are not competing with national pride, with traditions, philosophies, histories. There is nobody who is better or worse than somebody else. There is different.”

Added Ms. Sweeney, “It’s not about culture. It’s about art forms and disciplines.” ArtsGames is a way to “change the picture” about the world.

“I’ve been speaking about this a long time and I think everybody is so caught up in how much money they can make, they don’t understand the impact … It’s this kind of environment where you just want to be near something that is good.”

National Post

nalcoba@nationalpost.com
twitter.com/nataliealcoba

Thursday 5 March 2015

Dilan Dance Company will be performing in March 06 2015 on Friday in Toronto.

The Dance company will be performing at International Women Day organized by Kurdish Community Centre at Edessa Banquet Hall Friday (March 06) at 6:00pm. Tickets are $20 and open to public. Address 1811 Albion Rd Toronto.

Sunday 1 March 2015

March-01-2015 Dilan Dance Company is performing today at York University.

The event is organized by York University Kurdish Student Association. It will start at 6:00pm and end around 10:00pm. Kurdish music, Dance, Food and seminar by two key speakers Laurie Fraser and Ava Homa ( Writers). We hope to see you all. Address: York University Underground restaurant and bar at York Lanes. $10 dinner included.

Tuesday 30 December 2014

Fethi Karakecili and Paromita Kar are performing behalf of Dilan Dance Company at Cedar Art Centre ( Scarborough) In January 4th at 1-4 pm in 2015.

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/5236423-kurdish-canadian-artists-host-identity-exhibit-at-scarborough-s-cedar-ridge-gallery/

Thursday 11 December 2014

Dilan Dance Company performing at Universtiy of Toronto "Yalda "event. December 19th, 2014.

Thursday 4 December 2014

Dilan Dance Company is performing in December 5th at Erdal Erzincan Concert in Toronto.

We will be performing many dances from different cultures during the concert. Kurdish folk dances , Kurdish Solo( Kevokim) and Roman(Turkish) Solo by Dr. Paromita Kar, Gilaki (Iranian) solo by Yasmine Zemani. We hope to see you all.

The address is :

Seranade Event Hall, 821 Runnymede Rd, 7:00 pm. Toronto, Ontario.

Thursday 14 August 2014

Dilan Dance Company will be performing in U.S in September 12-13

Dilan Dance Company will be performing at University of Albany in NewYork in September 12 at the department of Middle Eastern studies. The poster is coming soon. Also will be performing in New York city as well at september 13.

Dilan dance company is performing at second Kurdish festival.

We are performing at The greater Toronto Kurdish House Festival as well. Here is the poster. Free event please stop by.

Dilan Dance Company is performing at Kurdish festival .

Dilan Dance company is performing at "12th Annual Kurdish Peace and Cultural Festival" organized by Toronto Kurdish Community and Information Centre. Saturday August 16 at 15:00-11:00 pm. Address is Earls Court park 1200 Lansdowne ave.( St.Clair west / Lansdowne) Toronto. Our performances schedule after 17:00pm. Free event..:) We hope to see you all there.

Saturday 21 June 2014

Performance in Brampton, Ontario.

Dilan dance company performing at Brampton today. The event organized by Mayor of the Brampton in city park. Performance by Paromita Kar (kevokim) solo dance. Thank you ...!

Monday 12 May 2014

ANF- NEWS...Article written on "The legend of Newroz". thank you...!

http://www.firatnews.com/news/kultur/10-ayri-ulkeden-danscilar-newroz-muzikalini-sahneleyecek.htm

Toronto Star...Article about Dilan Dance Company " The Legend of Newroz" by Joe Fiorito.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/05/11/the_kurdish_new_year_explained_fiorito.html

Friday 9 May 2014

Another article written in BestaNuce " The legend of Newroz"

http://www.bestanuce1.com/haber/102034/newroz-destani-ve-renklerin-dansi-kanada-da

Another article written in Kurdish News (Ozgur Haber) about "The legend of Newroz"

http://www.ozgurhabergazetesi.com/haber/27586/Newroz-Destani-ve-renklerin-dansi-Kanadada.htm

Interview with Jani Dilan- Voice of America about "The legend of Newroz"

http://www.dengeamerika.com/content/newroz/1910453.html

Article on Kurdish news (Ozgur Gundem) " The legend of Newroz"

http://www.ozgur-gundem.com/index.php?haberID=106515&haberBaslik=Newroz+Destanı+Kanada’da&action=haber_detay&module=nuce

Article written by Ava Homa" The legend of Newroz"

http://www.basnews.com/en/News/Details/World-Premier-of-the-Legend-of-Norowz-on-Stage-in-Toronto/19851

Monday 5 May 2014

http://rudaw.net/english/culture/02052014

Friday 2 May 2014

Article written by Ava Homa. http://ava-homa.blogspot.ca/2014/05/training-canadians-to-perform-kurdish.html

http://ava-homa.blogspot.ca/2014/05/training-canadians-to-perform-kurdish.html

Training Canadians to Perform Kurdish Dance at Turkish Olympiad

For the dance team, learning the Halparke has also meant learning Kurdish history, culture and a few words. Photo courtesy of Fethi Karakecili

TORONTO, Canada – At this year´s annual Turkish Language Olympiads, one of the performances at the opening and closing ceremonies will be a Kurdish Halparke dance.

That is thanks to Toronto-based Fethi Karakecili, a Kurdish dancer, choreographer, educator and scholar who has trained a multinational group of folk dancers to represent Canada at the Olympiads in May and June.

Karakecili’s group is an honorary team that will perform during ceremonies in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, and travel to Turkey’s Kurdish regions for events hosted by Gaziantep, Diyarbakir and Mardin.

For the dance team, learning the Halparke has also meant learning Kurdish history, culture and a few words.

“The touching, the same-sex hand-holding and the movements of knees were all challenging and awkward at the beginning,” students say, “but we are now comfortable and enjoy the dance much; in fact we love Kurdish dance.”

“Supas, Fethi! Roj bash,” students have learned to say to their beloved trainer.

The group is called “White Eagle Polish Dance Group” and is going to represent Canada in Turkish Language Olympic, held May-June 2014. Although the group is called Polish, the dancers come from a variety of nations, Ukraine, Russia, British and other countries.

The artistic director and choreographer of the first Kurdish Ballet Dance, Mem-o-Zin (2011) and a PhD Candidate at York University, Karakecili has been able to showcase the beauty of Kurdish dance, music, literature and customs at various settings across Canada including University of Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre.

Since 2013, Karakecili has been training Canadian High school dancers_ folk, ballet and contemporary dancer_ to link hands, move their shoulders, feet and ankles and perform Kurdish dance.

As a member of Board of Director of Community Folk Arts of Toronto, Karakecili was invited by Turkish Olympic Committee to take a group to Turkey to represent Canada.

Karakecili was born in Urfa, Turkey. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Folk Dance at the State Conservatory in Turkey and completed his Master’s in Dance at Istanbul Technical University – Social Science Institute.

During the time that even the word “Kurdish” was sinful, he taught for 7 years as a full-time faculty at Gaziantep University and Istanbul but moved to Canada in 2001 and completed his second Master’s at York University, Dance Studies.

For his PhD dissertation, Fethi is working on an ethnographic approach to Kurdish wedding rituals, dance and music in Kurdistan and Diaspora.

His other upcoming plan is to take another Kurdish Ballet on stage in Toronto. Newroz and Dance of Colors, is a Kurdish epic story of Kaveh and Zahak that will be performed on May 16, at Isabel Bader Theatre: 93 Charles Street West, Toronto

Originally published at: http://rudaw.net/english/culture/02052014#sthash.rdOipDN9.dpuf

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Sunday 27 April 2014

The Legend Of Newroz / Dance of Colours.

SOME PHOTOS OF OUR UPCOMING EVENT Pictures are taken by Media 55 Enterprises.

Dear Friends, Dilan Dance Company will be Performing in May 16 At Isabel Bader Theatre. Our New Choreography is "The Legend of Newroz" Dance of Colours. . Sevgili dostlar Newroz efsanesi dans muzikalimiz ile ilgili bilgiler yukaridadir. !6 Mayista yapacagimiz Gosterimizden bazi resimler ekledik umarim begenirsiniz..!

The legend of Newroz / Dance of Colours

The Legend of Newroz/ Dance of Colours.

Sunday 23 March 2014

Performed at Kurdish Newroz party in Toronto March 22 2014

Dilan Dance Company performed at Kurdish Newroz party Organized by Kurdish Community Center at Mirage Banquet Hall in Toronto .

Performed in Kitchener, Ontario .March 22,2014

Dilan Dance Company performed at Kurdish Newroz party in Kitchener, Ontario

Sunday 2 March 2014

Performance at Polish Community Church. March 02 2014 at 3:00pm.

We are performing at Polish Community Event today. The address is 156 Roncesvalles Avenue. We will be showing some of our favorite Kurdish dances.

Monday 20 January 2014

Dilan Dance Company Performing at Newroz Celebration in Brampton,Ontario. March 22 2014

The event is host by Iranian Community in Toronto. More details are coming soon. Open to everyone .

Dilan Dance Company is performing at International Women Days celebration. March 09.2014 Organized by Kurdish Community Center, Toronto

The event is happening at March 09 2014 in Toronto. Organized by Kurdish Community Center, Toronto. Open to everyone. More details will be post soon.

Dilan Dance Company is performing at Iranian Youth Organization. February 08 2014.(Saturday)

IC Youth Annual Fundrasing Gala on Saturday, February 8th, 2014 at 6:30pm at the Paradise Banquet Hall (7601 Jane St, Vaughan, ON L4K 1X2).
Boostan Multicultural Collective in collaboration with the Iranian-Canadian Youth Organization (http://www.icyouth.ca/).

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Performance in December..

Dilan Dance Company will be performing in December. The performance is Kurdish house new year celebration in December 28th at Armenian banquet hall in Toronto.

Monday 11 November 2013

Dance classes are starting soon!

Dear friends our classes are starting very soon. We have two new project to work on and choreograph. Please email or call me to register. I hope to see you all soon. Thank you !