Biography - Dinara Arslanova-Faizova

About dancer

Dinara Arslanova-Faizova was born in 1966 in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in the creative family of famous artists Urie Kermenchikli and Memet Arslanov. She grew up in a creative atmosphere, absorbing all the nuances of Crimean Tatar folk art.

At the age of 13, she entered Uzbek choreographic school, the folk stage dance class. During the years of study, she received good choreographic practice, performing with the well-known state dance ensembles of Uzbekistan: "Bakhor", "Shodlik".

After graduating from choreographic school, she was invited to work in the Crimean Tatar state song and dance ensemble "Khaitarma" at Uzbek State Philharmonic. Working in the Khaitarma ensemble, in 1986, she entered Tashkent State Institute of Culture, the Directing Department.

In 1987, at the invitation of Rustem Faizov, she went to work in the newly-created Crimean Tatar pop ensemble "Efsane" at Uzbek State Philharmonic.

In 1990, when all the people began to return to their historical homeland, Dinara, together with her husband Rustem Faizov and the Efsane ensemble, moved to Crimea. Despite the difficulties in the arrangement, the ensemble performed concerts in their native land, raising the spirit of the people.

In 1991, the artist started teaching choreography at a school of arts in Simferopol.

In 1995, when the Khaitarma ensemble under the state program moved to Crimea, to the city of Yevpatoria, Dinara Faizova renewed her creative collaboration with this group, and at the same time, she created the Efsane children's ensemble, teaching Crimean Tatar dances to the younger generation.

In a very short period of time, her ensemble received the title - "Children's exemplary ensemble", participating in concerts, numerous contests and international festivals in Ukraine and European countries (Germany, Hungary, Romania).

In 2003 Dinara Arslanova-Faizova was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

In 2006 the artist with her children's ensemble "Efsane" was invited to an international festival in the USA, Missouri. After the festival, the whole family flew to New York and gave a concert in the Crimean Tatar community of America, where they received an offer to work. The artist began teaching choreography at two prestigious dance schools in New York, created a children’s and youth’s group at the Crimean Tatar community of America, which she called "Kyrym Efsanesi"; she passed down all her experience and flavor of national dance. Performing at concerts and festivals in America, she with her ensemble twice represented Crimean Tatar art at the UN.

At the moment, Dinara Arslanova-Faizova is the chairman of the cultural center of the Crimean Tatar community in New York. She does social work, prepares concert performances, and promotes Crimean Tatar culture in the United States.