Leeds, September 3, 2025
On weekdays, Sakina Mukhtarli works as a health and safety manager at the Leeds City Council. But on weekends she takes on a different role: teaching children the rhythms and elegance of Azerbaijani folk dances.
Mukhtarli, who grew up in Baku in a family steeped in music and literature, says her love for dance started early. “My uncle would play, and I would dance to his music,” she recalled. “Later my mother enrolled me and my sister in the ensemble Jujalarim, where I first stepped on stage.”
After moving to the UK in 2019 and later settling in Leeds with her husband, a musician and dancer, she began organizing weekend classes for children. Most of her pupils are young Azerbaijanis born in England, but she has also taught classes in London and Cambridge with participants from Britain, Russia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Spain, and Greece.
“Some children find the dances difficult and too energetic at first,” Mukhtarli said to Media.Az, “but by the end of the class they are smiling and proud of what they’ve learned.”
The costumes and movements often spark curiosity among local audiences. “After performances, people come up to ask about our national dress and traditions,” she said. “That interest gives us energy to continue.”
Mukhtarli admits that homesickness remains a challenge. “No place can replace your homeland,” she said. But teaching dance has helped her stay connected, and she believes that Azerbaijanis abroad should take an active role in promoting their culture.
“Our state supports cultural projects abroad, but we too must organize events, exhibitions, music and dance days,” she noted. “Dance is our living history — it should never be forgotten.”
Even when only one child turns up for class, Mukhtarli says she teaches with the same enthusiasm. “Because even one student can carry that knowledge forward,” she explained.
For her, every rehearsal is more than a lesson in choreography. It is a statement of identity: “Wherever we live, Azerbaijan is always in our hearts.”
