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 embassy events, most recently at the Embassy of Albania.
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 embassy events, most recently at the Embassy of Albania.
What's New?
Online Lecture:
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AZERBAIJANI DANCE:
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TAJIK DANCE: Furug
KYRGYZ DANCE:
Echoes of Kyrgyzstan
AZERI DANCE:
Sari Gelin
KAZAKH DANCE:
Karatorgai
UZBEK BUKHARA DANCE:
Sozanda
Uyghur Dance:
Dolan Meshrep
PERSIAN DANCE:
Barge Khazan
AZERBAIJANI DANCE:
Naxchivan Yally
PASSPORT DC:
Embassy of Azerbaijan
The Golden Road to Samarkand
Saturday, February 22, 2020 @ 2:15pm $25
ATLAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
1333 H Street NE Washington DC 20002
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
ATLAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
1333 H Street NE Washington DC 20002
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
Dance Journey Along
the Silk Road
Experience the dazzling diversity of Silk Road dances, from the deserts of Central Asia to the mountains of the Caucasus. Silk Road Dance Company performs with special Guest Artists. Enjoy a pre-concert Silk Road Bazaar of intriguing items. Concert is free with a $10 suggested donation; no tickets or reservations required. Sponsored by the City of Takoma Park's Takoma Park Arts series.
DC Turkish Festival
SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
Festival held on Pennsylvania Ave between 12th and 14th Streets NW
PHOTO CREDIT: JEFF MALET
16th Central Asian
Dance Camp
PHOTO CREDIT: Embassy of Uzbekistan
August 9 -11, 2019 Washington DC
Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan
People's Artist of Uzbekistan Kizlarkhon Dusmukhamedova
Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan
People's Artist of Uzbekistan Kizlarkhon Dusmukhamedova
The concerts below are presented by the Fairfax County Park Authority. Free to the public & held outdoors.
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances
JUNE 22
IRANIAN PERSIAN HERITAGE NIGHT
Ossian Hall Park @ 7:30pm
JULY 13
UZBEKISTAN HERITAGE NIGHT
Ossian Hall Park @ 7:30pm
AUG 17
HOORAY FOR BOLLYWOOD
Workhouse Arts Center @ 7pm
2018 Uzbekistan Independence Day
at the World Bank
LECTURE AT TEXTILE MUSEUM
Living Legacy: Women's Dances of Uzbekistan
APRIL , 2018 NOON
Annual Family Festival
at the GWU Textile Museum
SHAHNAMEH!
Adventures from the Persian Book of Kings
OCTOBER 21, 2017 @ 7 pm
Takoma Auditorium
$10 suggested donation
A magical bird, an evil dragon, a clever princess, and a valiant hero bring to life the Shahnameh, an ancient masterpiece written over a thousand years ago. With vivid choreography and ornate costumes, Silk Road Dance Company presents fantastical tales from ancient Persia.
Tirgan 2017
Iranian Arts Festival
Toronto, Canada July 27 - 30
Silk Road Dance Company Performs
in "Asia Rising" Concert in Cincinnati
University of London SOAS:
Living Legacy:
Women's Dances of Uzbekistan
Dr. Laurel Victoria Gray
OCTOBER 8, 2016 5 - 6:30 PM
University of London SOAS Room B104
State Department Reception at
US Chamber of Commerce
for Central Asian States
August 3, 2016
Evening at the
Embassy of Georgia
July 27, 2016 @ 7 PM
Embassy of Georgia
1824 R Street Washington, DC
Join the diplomats of the Embassy of Georgia for a special evening of native food, wine, music, film, art - and a very special Georgian fashion show and dance presentation by Silk Road Dance Company.
1824 R Street Washington, DC
Join the diplomats of the Embassy of Georgia for a special evening of native food, wine, music, film, art - and a very special Georgian fashion show and dance presentation by Silk Road Dance Company.
Baltimore Sun Covers
World Refugee Day Celebration
Silk Road Dance Company presented dances
of the Middle East and Central Asia.
Click here to read entire article
Persian Dances in Celebration of Iranian Culture at Fiesta Asia DC
Thanks to the initiative of group of young Iranian-Americans in Washington, DC, Iranian culture was represented at Fiesta Asia festival this year - the largest celebration of Asian culture and heritage in the nation's capital. Silk Road Dance Company performed contemporary and folkloric Iranian dances.
Embassy of Uzbekistan Hosts
Concert Reception for
"Dance Treasures of Uzbekistan"
On May 14th, Silk Road Dance Company presented traditional dances of Uzbekistan to a full house at the Takoma Auditorium. The program was introduced by
Abdufarrukh Khabirov, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Uzbekistan. After the concert, audience members enjoyed a reception with traditional Uzbek cuisine generously provided by the embassy. Guests also had the opportunity to view traditional Uzbek crafts and speak with embassy representatives about the country.
Azerbaijan Republic Day Celebration with Silk Road Dance Company
Silk Road Dance Company
at Embassy of Pakistan for Passport DC
Haft Paykar: Seven Beauties
Silk Road Dance Company's Folkloric Ballet
Based on Nizami's Tale of 7 Princesses
Photo Essay by John Walter:
2015 Silk Road Dance Festival
Uzbek Government Website
Highlights Silk Road Dance Company Concert
Russian Language Article on Silk Road Dance Company in Bukharian Times Newspaper
How Silk Road Dance Company Got Its Name
Learn more about the ideas and influences that led to the founding of Silk Road Dance Company.
Click here to read the 2013 Blog Post about this fascinating, creative journey.
Click here to read the 2013 Blog Post about this fascinating, creative journey.
Silk Road Dance Company
Wins Special Honors and Awards
Since 1995, Silk Road Dance Company's pioneering artistic achievements in presenting women's dance of the Islamic World has earned them many awards and honors. Read more... ______________________________________
Government of Uzbekistan Awards Laurel Victoria Gray with "Xalqlar Dosligi" Medal
From Uzbek Ambassador
Javlon Vakhabov:
"A wonderful evening The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the U.S. and Canada hosted yesterday launching the 18th Central Asian Dance Camp. It was my great honor to present the award “Friendship Among The Peoples” to Laurel Victoria Gray (Silk Road Dance Company) for her invaluable contribution to enhancing people-to-people ties and promoting #Uzbekistan culture in the U.S.
Laurel Khanum has not only dedicated her life mastering Uzbek dance in the U.S. and far beyond, but also remains most humble, professional, and passionate about what she is doing. And this lady is an internationally recognized scholar, choreographer, performer, costume designer, pioneer of Uzbek dance in America. I am inspired by her noble personality that always searches for new discoveries.
Laurel Khanum has mastered dances from Silk Road cultures and beyond. She combines her degrees in history with decades of field research and teaches dance at The George Washington University. Dr. Gray founded the award-winning Silk Road Dance Company (SRDC) in 1995, bringing the lovers of our culture together at the Central Asian Dance Camp annually, showing the beauty during many events across the U.S. and far beyond.
Dr. Laurel Victoria Gray, in one word, is our treasure in the U.S. Thank you for everything you have been doing over the years. I hope to continue our long-lasting friendship."
Asian Cultural
Celebration Keynote:
Silk Road Dance Company
OCTOBER 24, 2021 @ 4pm
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Celebration Keynote:
Silk Road Dance Company
OCTOBER 24, 2021 @ 4pm
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Silk Road Dance Company
Kicks Off 25th Anniversary at Intersections Festival
February 18, 2020 by Leslie Holleran
What better way to launch a dance company’s 25th year than with a sumptuous performance? And so, Silk Road Dance Company will perform The Golden Road to Samarkand at Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Intersections Festival in Washington, D.C., on February 22.
CLICK HERE FOR ENTIRE ARTICLE
What better way to launch a dance company’s 25th year than with a sumptuous performance? And so, Silk Road Dance Company will perform The Golden Road to Samarkand at Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Intersections Festival in Washington, D.C., on February 22.
CLICK HERE FOR ENTIRE ARTICLE
Uzbek Newspaper Report on
Central Asian Dance Camp
Russian Language Newspaper Report on our Central Asian Dance Camp at Embassy of Uzbekistan
https://m.uz.sputniknews.ru/culture/20190813/12230803/V-SShA-prokhodyat-master-klassy-tantsevalnogo-iskusstva-Uzbekistana.html?mobile_return=no
Uzbek TV Report on our concert
THE GOLDEN ROAD TO SAMARKAND
THE GOLDEN ROAD TO SAMARKAND
Our beautiful 2019 NAVRUZ video by Nazir Abbas.
Silk Road Dance Company Performs at White House
Nowruz Celebration
The First Lady introduces Silk Road Dance Company at the historic March 11, 2015 White House Nowruz Celebration.
“I think it’s so fitting that we are holding this celebration here today because, one of my favorite things about the White House is how it is truly the people’s house. A house that reflects the diversity of culture and traditions that make us who we are as a country. And Nowruz is one of those traditions.”
First Lady Michelle Obama
March 11, 2015
“I think it’s so fitting that we are holding this celebration here today because, one of my favorite things about the White House is how it is truly the people’s house. A house that reflects the diversity of culture and traditions that make us who we are as a country. And Nowruz is one of those traditions.”
First Lady Michelle Obama
March 11, 2015
Read the remarks by First Lady Michelle Obama and her introduction of Silk Road Dance Company by clicking on the link below:
Remarks by First Lady at Nowruz Reception
Remarks by First Lady at Nowruz Reception
Artistic Director Dr. Laurel Victoria Gray Spotlighted in NGOMA Dance Magazine
Dancing in the District
By Jaelynn Grisso
Dance conveys a culture without words, and dancers in Washington share the cultures they love from around the world. Each has unique characteristics, from dances of everyday activities in Central Asia to tributes to great kings in Africa.
CLICK HERE TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE
The amazing @DealVikings singers and the gracious, talented @SilkRoadDanceCo dancers were the highlights of #Azerbaijan Republic Day event!
— Emb of Azerbaijan US (@azembassyus) May 28, 2015Silk Road Dance Company Performs at 2014 White House Nowruz Celebration
Silk Road Dance Company presented Iranian, Tajik, Uzbek and Azerbaijani dance traditions at the very first White House Nowruz Celebration held on March 21, 2014.
Click here for link to WHITE HOUSE coverage.
Click here for link to WHITE HOUSE coverage.
Silk Road Dance Company, with the
Embassy of Uzbekistan, performed the concert "DANCES OF UZBEKISTAN" at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Click here to watch concert online!
Embassy of Uzbekistan, performed the concert "DANCES OF UZBEKISTAN" at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Click here to watch concert online!
Silk Road Dance Company
at Celebration of Textiles
Silk Road Dance Company returned to the Textile Museum to share dances from Central Asia and the Caucasus. Read more about the event by clicking on this link.
"Dance Along the Silk Road "
WE ARE TAKOMA
