Interview with Azad Kaan
Writer: Amanda Bro
Posted in Ofelia 2020
Do you try to convey a message with your dancing?
OF COURSE, dance is for me the hidden language of my soul and pain. Everything what I can not tell to friends and people I shout out from my body with dancing.
“Dance is for me the hidden language of my soul and pain.”
— Azad Kaan
What background do you have as a dancer, teacher and performer?
My background is classical Turkish bellydance, Turkish Folklore, Ballett, Jazz, Modern. I studied at Iwanson Academy and graduated as a proffessionel choreographer and stage dancer for contemporary dance arts. Additionnally I did several professional bellydance educations.
What do you think of fusion categories? (Ex tribal, latin, etc.)
If the fusions are made well, I love them. I love to see the bodywork and the synthesis of two different styles, but when you break the style I do not like it.
“Many young dancers do not dance because of art. The likes and views in social media are unfortunatelly more important.”
— Azad Kaan
What is your thoughts on Bellydance as an art-form?
We have been several years ago on a very good way to let accept bellydance as an art in Europe.
Although the dancers of today were well, the way how they work and figth for attention is killing the whole gard oreperation. Many young dancers do not dance because of art. The likes and views in social media are unfortunatelly more important.
Every dancer looks the same and do bot focus on musicality…they go over the music and show just their amazing bodywork.
Do you have any good advice for both beginners and more experienced dancers?
Watch well your teacher, listen carefully and copy your teacher to understand his or her body language. Analyse the moves and be sure with the execution of the moves.
What is your experience being a male bellydancer? (And do you have any good advice for males wanting to begin or already dance?)
In the beginning in Europe it was very difficult to get respected….for years I was fighting in order to convince the people. Turkey is more relaxed and I have more followers in Turkey…In Middle East I get more respected..but this is what mostly made to me…for that you have take care how to represent yourself.
What’s your biggest/best memory from being a dancer?
I have a lot…which one should I count.
Always the reaction of my workshop participants are the biggest memories for me.
In the +90 documentary you mention some hard years of not fitting in – What made you continue dancing?
The communication…and the respect in many areas which I got.
Also in +90 documentary you talk about dancing being your vehicle rather than your aim – What’s the difference?
Before dancing, beeing a dancer had been my goal, BUT today it is my vehicle…My goal is to reach people as much as possible…People who I can influence and change in their mind is something good.
Do you have a “fun-fact” of you that you would like to share?
I am very crazy, when I want….full of surprises and always unexpected.
Azad Kaan in Tyrkish Media
The 17th of January 2020 a really interesting video was published by +90 on youtube.
The video is among other things about the difficulties of being a male bellydancer.
+90 is the country code for Turkey as well as an youtube account making really interesting videos.
You can get English/Danish subtitles in the settings-wheel.