Umut Karayer calls for increased folk dance participation in Muğla

Umut Karayer, the Muğla Provincial Representative of the Turkish Folk Dance Federation, has called on local coaches to increase participation in folk dance competitions. Speaking at the opening of the 2027-2028 Coach Visa Seminar in Muğla, Karayer noted that while the quality of local competitions regarding stage, sound systems, and organization is high, the number of participating teams is insufficient.

Karayer emphasized that folk dances are vital for carrying cultural heritage and social memory to future generations. He highlighted various projects undertaken during the presidency of Hüseyin Güler, including the World Folk Dance Competition, the ‘Horon Bizimdur’ event, Guinness World Record attempts, and the ‘Hazine’ and ‘Hazine Masal’ projects.

In his address, Karayer stated, “Unfortunately, the number of teams participating in competitions is not worthy of Muğla or the organization we have created. It is in your hands to fix this situation.” He invited coaches to collaborate on solving these issues and to focus on field preparation, registration processes, and team motivation to increase local visibility and competition.