Mission Statement

The Music and Dance in the Turkic World Study Group is dedicated to the practice, documentation,

preservation, and dissemination of the traditional music and dance found across the vast Turkic

World — stretching from South Siberia to the Mediterranean and extending into global diasporas.

This cultural sphere encompasses the artistic heritage of numerous communities, including Altai,

Azerbaijanis, Balkars, Bashkirs, Chuvashes, Crimean Karaites, Dolgans, Gagauz, Karachays,

Karakalpaks, Kazakhs, Khakas, Krymchaks, Kyrgyz, Nogais, Qashqai, Shors, Tatars, Turkmens,

Turks, Tuvans, Uyghurs, Uzbeks, and Yakuts, as well as historic states such as the Bulgars,

Göktürks, Khazars, Kipchaks, Seljuks, Timurids, and others. In an era of globalization and

shifting identities, the careful study of Turkic music and dance illuminates performance practices,

deepens cultural understanding, and supports the continuity of this rich and diverse heritage.