Central Asian Dance Camp

Seattle area folks! You can get a signed copy today or tomorrow for $25.95.
OR have a non-signed copy shipped from UK for $41.08.

More good news!

Millstones of Dance History
Rating on Amazon today!
(My chapter is “Silk Road: Commerce, Conquest, and College”)

238,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#4 in Popular Dance (Books)
#8 in Folk & Regional Dance
#36 in Classical Dancing

Copies of my book have arrived in Seattle! Women's Dance Traditions of Uzbekistan
In addition to “invitation only signing,” people can attend Delilah’s Yard Sale in Fremont on Saturday August 24th.
DM for details.

Lovely summer memory, the 1990 Seattle visit from the Uzbekistan Folklore Ensemble. This was true citizen diplomacy, a result of the non-currency cultural exchange that began with the 1989 Seattle-Soviet Theatre Arts Exchange that I led to Uzbekistan. For the first time, the Soviets allowed home-stays with local families, creating life-long friendships. Seattle volunteers arranged homestays for the dancers, translation services, receptions, gifts, tours, a visit to the Day Break Star Indian Cultural Center and even got a designated bus to take them around. We raised money with a HUGE two-day yard sale at Delilah's house in the University District.
The highlight was their stunning, sold-out concert at Meany Hall, giving Americans their first experience of Uzbek dance and music.

Exciting news for my co-contributors to the of Dance History anthology - Tria Blu Wakpa and Kate Mattingly - edited by Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company: we are now ranked on Amazon as #4 in Folk & Regional Dance and #4 in Popular Dance and #20 in Classical Dancing!

SNEAK PREVIEW
Silk Road Dance Company

Here are just a few of the items for sale. Several Bollywood and Arabic costumes, along with other surprises and some complete matching sets for troupes.

Silk Road Dance Company


Set of 4 “kokoshniks” for Russian folk dance. $20 for the set

Silk Road Dance Company
Closet Clearance
Four Ukrainian headdresses with long ribbons. and 4 sets of faux coral bead necklaces that “read” well from stage.
If interested, send DM

COLORS OF THE SILK ROAD
Family Festival at the The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum
10am to 4pm FREE ADMISSION

SRDC Dance Performances
12 p.m. Uzbek and Tajik dances
1 p.m. Afghan and Kurdish dances
2 p.m. Afghan and Kurdish dances
3 p.m. Dragon dance

About the Silk Road Dance Company
The award-winning, critically acclaimed Silk Road Dance Company 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.

COSTUME CLOSET CLEARANCE
Begins soon! Watch for updates.
PHOTO: This entire set of costumes is for sale.
Send DM if interested.

When East met West! As part of the 1989 and 1990 Seattle-Soviet Theater Arts Exchange, we hosted the Uzbekistan Folklore Ensemble during the Goodwill Games. One highlight was a visit to Seattle's Day Break Star Indian Cultural Center.

Silk Road Dance Company performs at one of the most joyous and original weddings we have ever had the pleasure to ornament.

YES! There will be books available at my Seattle events. Watch for updates.

Yes, he is in the book Women's Dance Traditions of Uzbekistan.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
"This is an extensively researched and well-written book about a subject little known in the Western World. Laurel Gray has interwoven the history of this region with its cultural legacy and highlighted the lives of many Uzbek women who contributed to this field. The scope of the book is impressive as it includes the influences of Korean, Arab and Armenian cultures and folklore traditions upon Uzbek dance. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the fascinating culture of Uzbekistan and Central Asia."

WHAT GRAY CATS (no relation) ARE SAYING:
"You don't have to be a woman or familiar with Uzbek dance to enjoy reading this book. However, if you are a dancer, this is a MUST HAVE for your library! It may even spark your interest is visiting Uzbekistan."

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
"So excited to get this book! I am engrossed reading all the layers of women’s dance history!"

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
"As an Uzbek, I enjoyed reading this book, because it took me to the customs, traditions and quarters of my grandmothers. I loved how a story about a dance brought together history, geography, prominent people and customs."

Asian Dance Book Tour Continues!

Dance Book Tour Continues! Women's Dance Traditions of Uzbekistan Dance Book Tour Continues! Women's Dance Traditions of Uzbekistan Dance Book Tour Continues! Women's Dance Traditions of Uzbekistan: Legacy of the Silk Road by Laurel Victoria Gray Off to a Great Star

And this fellow was reading a very familiar map.

And visited these folks as well …

Visited familiar friends last week.

Brown performing Silk Road Dance Company Afghan dance choreography by People's Artist of Uzbekistan, Viloyat Akilova.

My proposed paper, "Legacy of Embodied Knowledge Along the Persianate Silk Road: Sogdian Whirl Connections in Extant Dance Traditions," as been accepted by the
Central Eurasian Studies Society for the 2024 Conference.

COSTUME CLOSET CLEARANCE continued
Silk Road Dance Company
Four matching “shaliteh” skirts also suitable for modern Persian. Hand sewn trim on hem.
Never worn. Set of four for $100.
Only seen as set.

COSTUME CLOSET CLEARANCE continued
Silk Road Dance Company
Set of four hand sewn turquoise velvet hats with “jewels” with peach/coral veils. $100 for set.
Not sold separately.