The twin brothers Omur and Emir Asanbekov, better known as the Oma & Ema Twins, began their journey in the dance world thanks to inspiring films like Step Up. Their dance career started in the underground halls of Bishkek, and soon they reached the semifinals of world championships, including the World of Dance stage in Los Angeles. In an interview with 24.kg, they share their experiences and talk about how they found each other in dance and their path to success.
— How do you differentiate between each other?
Oma: Probably by our hair.
Ema: Yes, sometimes people confuse us, sometimes they don’t. If we wear the same clothes, we get mixed up more often. But close friends can already tell us apart.
— How did dance enter your life?
Oma: It all started with inspiration from movies.
Ema: At that time, we were heavily influenced by the film Step Up. We watched it and realized that there are talented dancers in Kyrgyzstan too.
Oma: We started finding dance communities, meeting other dancers, and dancing together.
— Who started dancing first?
Ema: We started at the same time.
Oma: Yes, there wasn’t a moment when one started first and the other later. We have always been together.
— So you became a duo right away?
OMA & EMA during one of their performances
Ema: Yes, it happened naturally. At that time, there was a real wave of dance: movies, teams, performances. We realized we weren’t the only ones.
— How did you start your dance career?
Oma: We started with choreography, prepared numbers, and shows.
Ema: Our first team was called Will B. We performed; it was more of a show than art.
Oma: Then we ended up in another studio where the atmosphere was completely different. There, they didn’t dance to prepared numbers but improvised.
Improvisation is when movements come from within, without prior planning.
Ema
Oma: This atmosphere, the people, the battles, and the improvisation captivated us, and from that moment, we realized we had found our calling.
— What is the strength of your duo?
Ema: In our passion, desire, and love for dance. We enjoy creating something together.
Oma: There are solo dancers and team dancers, but there aren’t many duos. We’ve always been interested in creating duo performances.
Ema: We can be harmonious even if we don’t move synchronously.
There are moments when one of us improvises, and the other picks it up without words.
Oma
Ema: It’s not always easy to explain. We can feel each other without preparation.
— Do you have a special connection?
Ema: Yes, we do, but sometimes we still make preparations.
Oma: We don’t want people to think that everything happens by chance. We are genuinely interested in what we do.
— Do you have a ritual before going on stage?
Oma: Yes, it’s faith in God and the sacred.
Ema: We understand that we shouldn’t attribute all achievements solely to ourselves. It’s not just our merit, but also that of the Almighty.
— Where have you performed already?
Ema: We started with local battles, gaining experience and becoming known.
Oma: Then we went to Russia for more than four years to share knowledge and learn.
Ema: After that, we won the selection in Kyrgyzstan, which gave us the opportunity to go to Paris. That was an important moment, after which we started getting invited to other countries.
Oma: That’s how America and Los Angeles entered our lives, where we performed on the World of Dance stage—a world-renowned dance platform.
Ema: And most importantly, we continue to be invited to perform. We travel and share our knowledge.
— How does the audience abroad differ from ours?
Ema: Abroad, people are less restrained and judge less.
There’s no pressure on men and women regarding what is acceptable and what is not. Creativity is perceived more freely.
Oma
Ema: We’ve seen very different people dance, including girls in hijabs, which surprises no one. It’s just creativity.
— Do you feel support in Kyrgyzstan?
Ema: There is support, but it’s divided in half—some support us, others do not.
Oma: We used to react to this more emotionally; now we are calmer about it.
— What does the dance industry in Kyrgyzstan lack?
Oma: More collaborations with other fields. Dance should connect with music, art, and other directions.
Ema: Dancers also need to broaden their perspectives, showing dance as an art form, not just hip-hop.
It’s important for people to understand that there’s potential in dance, not just a pragmatic approach.
Oma
Ema: We have proven that if we succeeded, others can too. The main thing is to try and not be afraid.
— Is anything changing for the better in Kyrgyzstan?
Oma: Yes, changes are already noticeable. The dance culture is starting to receive support.
Ema: The Ministry of Culture is beginning to pay attention to this, and that’s a good sign.
— What competition has been the most memorable for you?
Oma: Fusion Concept in Paris. It’s truly a special place.
Ema: Every performance feels like a part of a movie, and it was in France that we felt something incredible.
Oma: In Kyrgyzstan, we feel at home, among familiar faces. But in France, the attitude towards dance is completely different—it is truly valued.
Ema: There, people can just come up and say, “You’re awesome.” We lack that in Kyrgyzstan.
Oma: Our people are often restrained, and that hinders the dancer's personality from unfolding. We need kind words and support to develop.
Ema: In France, even the most famous dancers remain very humble. That’s inspiring.
— Have there been moments when you met your idols?
Oma: Yes, and it was incredible. We grew up inspired by these people, and then we found ourselves on the same stage.
Ema: One of the dancers we looked up to even gave us tips backstage. It was very powerful.
— What do you feel during a battle?
Oma: The first battle at Fusion Concept was incredible. I was in the flow; everything around disappeared, only the music remained.
Ema: When you immerse yourself in dance, it’s a very strong feeling.
— What would you say to those who consider dance a trivial pursuit?
Ema: Many people here think that dance is just TikTok.
Oma: In reality, dance is an art that requires athleticism and creativity.
About significant victories
Oma: At Fusion Concept, we won against strong dancers.
Ema: For example, we won against Slim Boogie and Yaya, who are from Los Angeles. It wasn’t easy.
— Do you currently have a busy international schedule?
Oma: Yes, just recently we participated in the world championship Juste Debout 2×2.
Ema: Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but we reached the semifinals.
Oma: Then we went to a championship in Italy.
Ema: And fortunately, we won there. After that, we went to Amsterdam, where we again reached the semifinals.
Oma: Our goal is to represent Kyrgyzstan and show that hip-hop culture is not just entertainment but an important part of our art.
— You mentioned disqualification at a competition. What happened?
Ema: This happened in Italy. There’s a rule about the number of prepared movements.
Oma: In one of the rounds, I just started dancing, and he picked me up, but the host decided it was a prepared move.
Ema: That was my mistake, but we knew the rules and made only one prepared move in the second round.
Oma: However, the host considered it a second prepared move and stopped us.
Ema: The judges were unhappy, and the atmosphere worsened. After that, many dancers left.
Oma: What happened, happened. We continue to move forward to new victories.
Ema: We had every chance of success, and we are confident in our abilities.
— Do you consider yourselves the best in Kyrgyzstan?
Oma: We don’t strive for that status.
Ema: It’s more important for us to develop and represent Kyrgyzstan with dignity.
— What would you like to say to young dancers in Kyrgyzstan?
Oma: You have prospects, and they are huge. Don’t be afraid to try and develop.
Ema: If we succeeded, then you can too. The main thing is to love what you do.
Oma: Even if you didn’t win, you can inspire someone with your performance.
About 24.kg
OMA & EMA are a dance duo from Kyrgyzstan, known as the Oma Ema Twins. Their style includes street dance, freestyle, and hip-hop battles.
Among their achievements are reaching the semifinals at the Fusion Concept Festival world championship in Paris, victories in the national selection of Fusion Concept Kyrgyzstan, as well as three-time championships at Fusion Concept Bishkek Qualifier and other awards in international tournaments. They have performed in France, Kazakhstan, Russia, and the USA, participated in World of Dance in Los Angeles, and the show "Dancing" on TNT.
