AUCA organized Flash Mob dedicated to Kyrgyz Independence Day and First annual World Nomad Games

September 3, 2014

This past weekend on Sunday, the 31^st of August, the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) organized a Flash Mob held in Ala-Too Square at 17:30 to commemorate not only Kyrgyz Independence Day, but also the first annual World Nomad Games to be held at Issyk-Kul from September 9^th to 14^th. Students from AUCA and the State Academy of Management under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic (SAMKPR) were the main participants in the event, but some AUCA administration staff and several government officials joined them as well.

The heat bearing down on the crowds at Ala-Too Square was matched in intensity only by the fervor of those attending and dancing, with barely any room left for more observers. As the dance began and the cameras began snapping, it was clear that the event was creating connections; both the participants and myriad onlookers were sharing something beyond the superficial. The five-minute burst of artistic and cultural expression belied the exhaustive planning and organization that was required to produce the event.

Aisulu Sulaimanova, Director of Development at AUCA and the main coordinator of the flash mob, told us that the impetus for a flash mob was a desire to “contribute to and support efforts of the Kyrgyz Government in hosting such an important first time event and draw attention of the youth and general public to the World Nomad Games” located in a place where it could “showcase different cultural elements to nomad lifestyle – traditional dance – and engage with crowds of people”. Hence the location on Ala-Too square in the center of Bishkek; but of course the logistics behind organizing a large-scale event in the center of the city required large-scale coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Bishkek, the Office of the President, the Secretariat, and the National Institute for Strategic Research among others. 

David Malana, one of the choreographers of the flash mob and former Peace Corps volunteer, believes that dance “is a way of connecting with [his] students”. In this way, AUCA is connecting with the Bishkek and community and beyond through the event, emblematic of AUCA’s “commitment to engaging not only in student lives, but in all aspects of the life of our country”, as Aisulu Sulaimanova explains. David has previously organized dance performances and has even provided entertainment for the 50^th anniversary of the Peace Corps, which was held in Bishek’s Philharmonia Concert Hall (in the region of Talas in Kyrgyzstan he has become known as ‘Dave the Dancing Volunteer’). Dedicated to the World Nomad Games, the choreography of the Flash Mob will was created to mirror traditional nomadic dance and movements.

The inspirations for the Flash Mob were the dances of various nomad groups who were themselves the catalysts for the creation of the World Nomad Games. It was decided that instead of performing the traditional Kyrgyz ‘kara jorgo’ dance, especially because several flash mobs of ‘kara jorgo’ have been performed in the recent past, this event would be unique in its representation of a broad swathe of nomadic culture and dance. David and Aidai Asanbekova, a dance instructor in Talas, learned their respective portions of the dance and taught them to others who in turn taught them to the student volunteers. Ultimately, it was the student volunteers who were the most important in organizing the students and helping them to rehearse for the event; and a special thanks goes out to those involved. “The student volunteers took to the dancing without any problems,” said David, “as recently, flash mobs have become more popular and they have past personal experience.”

The head of those student volunteers, Asakeev Nurlan, AUCA sophomore, said that beyond the flash mob promoting the World Nomad Games and Kyrgyz Independence Day it also had a special effect on the freshmen students who participated. “Thanks to the flash mob, all of the freshmen became friends”, said Nurlan, highlighting the social benefits of collective dance. The event also brought light to the fact that Kyrgyzstan is a multi-ethnic country, one that is only increasing its integration and increasing its caliber of cultural exchange; becoming a more connected country that will continue to have harmony between all the nations and groups within its borders.

And that is one of the most important facets of the flash mob and the World Nomad Games. The display of multiculturalism and unity that is evident to participants and observers alike is perhaps the greatest benefit of these large-scale events. The entire proceedings were an extension of AUCA’s philosophy of constructive engagement with the community, and fostering an environment of co-operation between both students and citizens of our country.

Make sure to check out the World Nomad Games next week from the 9^th to 14th, and we hope everyone enjoyed Kyrgyz Independence Day on Sunday and particularly the celebrations at Ala-Too Square!

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