AYNA-A powerful exploration of ritual and the search for love, acceptance, and connection
Brighton, May 10 (Hibya)—Mirroring choreographer Ceyda Tanc’s dual heritage, AYNA weaves Turkish folk dance traditions with modern British social dance, reflecting on the power of dance to unite us. With hypnotic rhythm and striking synchronicity, an all-female cast references the meditative movements of whirling dervishes, traditionally practised by men.
Set in a nightclub with a live DJ, Asta Hiroki, blending Eastern and Western sounds and a digital community cast, this unmissable performance celebrates dance, togetherness, and the universal desire for belonging. A powerful exploration of ritual and the search for love, acceptance, and connection – whether human, physical, or spiritual.
Led by British-Turkish Choreographer, Ceyda Tanc, the company’s athletic contemporary dance work is influenced by traditional Turkish folk dance. Their distinctive aesthetic subverts virtuoso movements of male Turkish folk dancers with an all-female cast, expressing captivating forms, unified strength and a strong yet sensual energy.
Ceyda’s work seeks to challenge traditional gender representation in dance and promote the intersection of cultures in modern Britain. She draws on themes of ritual, ceremony, and community to create unapologetically feminist work.
Composer and DJ Asta Hiroki is a long-term collaborator of Ceyda Tanc Dance. He is a nu jazz/electronica music producer and visual artist in Paris, France. A staple of tastemaker radio stations, including BBC6Music (Tom Ravenscroft, Cerys Matthews, Don Letts, Iggy Pop, Deb Grant, Huey Morgan), alongside BBC Radio 1 (DJ Jaguar), BBC3, KCRW, and KEXP. In 2025, he is set to release a full-length collaboration album with Tristan de Liège via Folded Music and his next solo album.
Ceyda Tanc Dance is a contemporary dance company led by British-Turkish Choreographer Ceyda Tanc. The company produces aesthetically driven contemporary dance works with the influence of traditional Turkish folk dance, the dance style of Ceyda’s heritage. Ceyda’s work seeks to challenge traditional gender representation in dance and promote the intersection of cultures as a medium for social change. She draws on themes of ritual, ceremony and community to create work that is unapologetically feminist.
The company’s distinctive style references the virtuoso movements of male Turkish folk dancers with an all-female company. Combining athletic contemporary dance with folk and global styles, they express captivating forms, unified strength and a strong yet sensual energy.