Central Asian Cultural Festival 23-28 March, 2012
A festival that presents magic of culture, music and dances of Central Asian countries comes to life in Doha. The festival will host such big names like Salamat Sadikova, Ramiz Usmanov, Rauf Avezov, Ofarin Dance theater and many others. It will open its doors to public on 23rd with small fashion show, amazing photo exhibition with works of renowned photographers: Eric Lafforgue, Chris Herwig and Boaz Rottem.
Opening ceremony will be in conducted in Katara Art Center from 05:30:pm till 08:00:pm. Admission is open .
Ofarin Folk Dance Show (Uzbekistan)
Dance Theater of Alia Shalharova – “Ofarin “was created in July 2003 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. They presented their first spectacle “Rakkosa” (dancer) on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater named after Alisher Navoi. During the activity, “Ofarin” introduced viewers five solo programs: “Rakkosa”, “Dreams Come True”, “Dance – my life,” “Lullaby for the planet” (Netherlands-Uzbekistan), “Dreams” (United Kingdom, Uzbekistan). In 2004 Ofarin “became a laureate at the international festival” Summer Festival “in South Korea, the 2006 winner of the international festival” Kassalka “in Kazakhstan (Astana). The theater’s repertoire is not only the Uzbek and oriental dances, and modern dance and dances of the peoples of the world. Performers dance “Ofarin” visited on tours to Indonesia, Korea, China, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Lithuania, Latvia, Japan and France, as well as almost all CIS countries. Kambarkan Ethnographic Ensemble with Salamat Sadikova (Kyrgyzstan)
Kambark
an is fairly regarded as the most famous folk ensemble in Kyrgyzstan which is using people’s ethnic music traditions with modern music. Founded in 1988 Ensemble KAMBARKAN, it has visited many foreign countries representing cultural Kyrgyzstan and received numerous awards, including Toktogul’s State Award. Its repertoire consists of traditional Kyrgyz music with different modern covers and also fragments from famous Kyrgyz epic “Manas”. Salamat Sadikova has been the premier female voice of Kyrgystan traditional music for the past two decades. She went on the become the lead female voice of the Kygryz national folk music and dance ensemble Kambarkan. Both with Kambarkan and as a solo artist, Ms. Salamat has performed extensively throughout Central Asia, Turkey, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, China, Russia, Korea, USA, Netherlands, Spain and Japan.
Usmanov Opera Singer / String Quartet in classical music evening (Uzbekistan) 
He was 29-year-old soloist of the State Academic Bolshoi Theater named after Alisher Navoi was born in Bakhmal district of Jizzakh region. In 1996, he entered the Yunus Rajabi musical college in Tashkent and then Uzbekistan State Conservatory. Tutored by the honored artist of Uzbekistan Abdukhalil Abdukadirov, Ramiz Usmanov was invited to the country’s main theater after the graduation. Called Pavarotti of Central Asia, Usmanov is one of the most renowned Opera singers in the region. He will perform solo pieces and duet accompanied by piano.
Azalia Galiakhmetova Violinist / String Quartet of Dushanbe (Tajikistan)
Talanted violinist and Azalia Galiakhmetova will perform with quartet of Dushanbe State Music Conservatoire their new pogram, that containt world famous classic pieces, as well as Tajik composers works.
Bukhorcha Musical Dance Ensemble (Uzbekistan)
“Bukhoro Guzallari (Beauties of Bukhara)” ensemble has actively been taking part in various state-level holidays as well as festivals, and contests and receiving honorary awards. Among the ensemble members are the winners of Mukarrama Turghunbayeva national dance competition for young female dancers and “Raqs Gulshani (Dance Garden)” contest for young female and male dance performers. The main purpose of “Bukhorcha” ensemble is to study and disseminate national classical vocal – instrumental music, dance art, and folkloric melodies and songs performed in certain traditional ceremonies. The ensemble’s repertoire includes music and dance samples typical to Bukhara and those representing Khorezm, Fergana, and the Muslim Orient. Such music and dance works as “Women Embroiderers,” “The Spring of Bukhara,” “Takhayyul,” “Tanovor,” “Sallamno,” “Javoniy,” “Karashma,” “Nozanin,” “Orazibon,” and “Musiqiy Guldasta (The Musical Bouquet)” are also part of the ensemble’s repertoire. Intricate dance movements, for example, “Charkh (Rotation),” “Charkhi Du Zonu (Rotation on Knees),” “Mor Pechon (dance form resembling a snake),” and “Bedona Qadam (Quail Walk)” make single dance composition of ancient Bukhara’s folkloric art. All performances in the ensemble are accompanied with national music instruments: doira, tanbur, nay, ghijjak, saz, Qashqar rubab, Bukharan rubab, and ud. “The Musical Bouquet” suite, the ensemble’s one of the exemplifying programs, demonstrate all niceties and possibilities of each traditional music instrument.
Avesto Ethno Jazz Music Group (Tajikistan)
Over the last 17 years the group “AVESTO” is one of the leading ethno-jazz bands, not only in Tajikistan, but also Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Working in different genres, always experimenting, ethno-jazz-rock group “AVESTO” builds on a rich old Tajik national music. In his creativity musicians synthesize modern jazz music and Eastern ethnic music culture. The main directions are “Fusion”, “Ethno-jazz-rock” and “Free Jazz”. A beautiful, unique voice of soloist.
Tahmina Ramazanova, oriental melodies and improvisations of musicians are the original image of the group. During its work the group recorded and released 6 solo albums. “AVESTO” invited as honored guests at the International Festival “Voice of Asia”, which is annually held in Almaty – Kazakhstan. “AVESTO” writes and produces a CD at the company “DOUBLE MOON RECORDS” – Germany, which is being implemented in all European countries (Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, France, Belgium, etc.).
LOLA Dance Ensemble (Tajikistan)
Tajik State Dance Ensemble “Lola” was established in spring 1965. The ensemble’s repertoire is diverse and rich. Its performance was welcomed in Afghanistan, Iran, India, Pakistan, Mongolia, France, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Germany and Sweden. During the years of independence of the Republic of Tajikistan Ensemble “Lola” went on tour in Japan, China (Shanghai, Urumqi), Turkey, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, and Belarus. The ensemble won the audience with the beauty of its dances, is active participant in cultural – events urban, regional and national scale, frequent guests in remote cities and districts.
Mike Del Ferro and Musician Andrey Mongush (Republic of Tyva)
Dutch pianist Mike Del Ferro is a highly sought-after composer, pianist and arranger who writes and performs in an impressive array of musical genres. He has travelled the world extensively (more then 90 countries), searching for collaborations with musicians from cultures quite different to his own, and the musical results have been eye-opening, building musical bridges between cultures not normally within reach of each other. He has managed to combine elements of the revered canons of Western music interspersed with the audacity of jazz improvisation, and paying tribute to the ancient structures of Asian, South American and African traditional music.
Andrey Mongush was first introduced to throat singing at the age of 13 while helping his grandparents herd their animals. Although he attended college and earned a degree in agriculture in 1991, he won numerous singing contests at the same time. Mongush decided to continue singing, specifically studying Tuvan indigenous instruments and throat singing. He graduated in 1997 with a degree specializing in the teaching of Khöömei and the use of Tuvan instruments. After receiving national recognition for his work with middle school children he was asked to join Huun Huur Tu in May of 2003.
National Ballet Gala Perfromance (Kazakhstan)
Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Abay was opened January 13, 1934. The main activities of the Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet named after Abay is: Organization and conduct of scenically spectacular events aimed at the practical implementation of cultural policy in the field of opera and ballet. Organization of theater productions based on the highly artistic works that promote the culture of peoples of Kazakhstan. Promotion of national and world cultural heritage. In accordance with the state program to educate harmoniously developed personality attaches to the youth of the world’s masterpieces of opera and ballet classics, raising it high artistic taste. The main objective of the theater is: Further enhance the professional development of highly creative company to a level recognition of the theater as a decent team in the world’s cultural community. education of creative young people, new stars of opera and ballet successors of the rich cultural traditions , as the theater and art in Kazakhstan as a whole.
More info on tickets and venue: http://www.katara.net/english/program-tickets/#new-tab