Yore Folk Dance Ensemble Mission

Yore was founded by several folkdance instructors to teach the basics of Turkish ethnic dances from different regions of Turkey. After starting its practices in Berkeley, another branch was opened in Stanford University to expand its services better around the Bay Area. One of the main goals of the ensemble is to train enough dancers in the Bay Area so that several small troupes can sustain their training activities independently in the long run.
 
Yore is a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization since November 2005. Yore Folk Dance Ensemble has become a rapidly expanding Turkish ethnic dance group in California with its emphasis on teaching dance enthusiast with a limited dance background by relying on the motivation and leadership of highly qualified and experienced folk dance performers as instructors and peers.
Since its foundation in October 2001, Yore has trained more than 80 dancers, participated in numerous local and international festivals, and organized a major show performing ethnic dances from various regions of Turkey, including some dances that were presented in the Bay Area for the first time.
 
The need for the representation of Turkish culture in the Bay Area cannot be overstated. There are more than 20,ooo Turkish Americans in the California whose knowledge about their culture is diminishing from generation to generation. As a part of our celebrated diversity in the Bay Area, Turkish Americans are desperately seeking for sources to learn more about the Turkish culture.
 
We would like to conclude by expressing our warmest thanks to you for your support and donations to Yore and the Northern California community it serves.