BAU Folk Dance Group Becomes World Champion

Representing Türkiye at the world dance competition held in South Korea, considered the largest intercontinental dance organization, the Bahçeşehir University (BAU) Folk Dance Group became world champion in two categories.

Organized by the International Federation of Dance Festivals (FIDAF) and the Government of South Korea, the 16th edition of the world dance competition was held in Cheonan, South Korea. At the competition, the largest intercontinental dance organization, the BAU Folk Dance Group, competing with 20 dancers and 1 instructor, became world champion in 2 categories. The Black Sea team, competing in the Street Dance category, ranked first among 32 teams. Then the Zeybek team, competing against 16 countries in the Stage Dance category, also took first place with its outstanding performance. Kosovo ranked second and Mexico third in the dance competition.

"WE ARE HAPPY TO BE AMBASSADORS OF OUR UNIVERSITY AND OUR CULTURE TO THE WORLD"

Stating that they proudly represented Türkiye at the world's largest dance organization, Okan Gürbüz, Founding President of the BAU Folk Dance Group, said: "Since the day we established our team, we have continued our journey with our belief in Anatolian culture and its richness. Our team, which became world champion in 6 categories in Lithuania in 2015, has now renewed its title by winning first place at the largest intercontinental dance organization. This competition is very valuable for us in two ways. First, we represented our traditional culture in its purest form and in all its beauty. Because over the last 10-15 years in particular, our traditional dances have been severely distorted, and the world has started to know us that way. We strive to change this perception every year. Second, as one of the world's distinguished educational institutions, we brought the importance we place on education and its added value into our culture. Being the ambassador and representative of our university and our culture to the world is a special source of pride."

Gürbüz concluded:

"In such organizations, we strive to represent our country with quality and in a manner worthy of our culture and history. We also eliminate the misconceptions international communities have about Turks and Türkiye. After seeing our discipline, order and warm relations, all participating countries develop positive views about our country."