In September of this year, Astana will be swept away by a musical wave of nostalgic and new hits by Kairat Baekenov! As a composer and performer, Kairat has become a stimulus and creative springboard for a large number of talented performers in the capital. At the dawn of the 2000s, the music scene was shaken by the incredibly successful album of the trio 'Baiterek' called 'Sen'; lyrics, music, arrangements, and performance style—all these familiar components of his work sounded new, fresh, and daring, all thanks to Kairat's innovative vision. The album quickly topped both local and national charts of radio stations and music channels. People started talking about Kairat Baekenov as one of the most sought-after composers of today. Afterward, a whole lineup of new names emerged on the domestic scene: Dos, Medet Shaikelov, the Aspan Duo, the Dabyl Duo, and many others. The hits were released hot off the press straight to the airwaves and
They conquered all new categories of listeners from 25 to 60; people listened to Kairat's creations with delight. Musical collaborations with Marzhan Arapbayeva, Kurmash Mahanov, and many other stars of the country draw close attention from national producers and directors to the capital's industry. Kairat's success is rightly considered the starting point of the professional rise of the cultural level of the new capital. At the same time, the music group "Format" was formed, with Kairat Baekenov as the frontman, regularly performing at various prestigious events. There is a true story behind the band's name: back then, numerous artistic boards of radio stations and music channels would often justify their refusal to play a song on air with the phrase "it's not the format." Whether as a joke or with a hidden message, Kairat named the group "Format" to leave no room for argument.
musical editor. He gave his first solo concert, “Kairat Baekenov — that's me,” more than ten years ago, and by musical standards, that was long before the big hit “Mahabbat.” And then, as you remember, there was a whole string of successful hits and that memorable performance at Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Astana. Kairat has spent his entire creative career in Astana, a city that is completely in love with his work. And in return, Kairat is leaving an unforgettable mark in the history of Astana, and his contribution to the country’s culture is truly hard to overestimate. Many important milestones in his development as an artist will be highlighted in his anniversary concert, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the group.
В сентябре этого года, Астану захлестнёт музыкальная волна ностальгических и новых хитов Кайрата Баекенова! Являясь композитором и исполнителем, Кайрат стал стимулом и творческим трамплином для большого количества талантливых исполнителей столицы. На заре «нулевых» эстраду сотрясает невероятно успешный альбом трио «Байтерек» под названием «Сен», слова, музыка, аранжировки и манера подачи, все эти привычные для творчества компоненты зазвучали по-новому, свежо и смело и всё это благодаря новаторскому видению Кайрата. Альбом быстро возглавил как локальные, так и республиканские хит парады радиостанций и музыкальных каналов. О Кайрате Баекенове заговорили как об одном из самых востребованных композиторов современности.
После последовала целая плеяда новых имён на отечественной сцене, Дос, Медет Шайкелов, Дуэт Аспан, Дуэт Дабыл и многие другие. Хиты выходили с пылу жару сразу в эфиры и покоряли все новые категории слушателей от 25 до 60 люди с упоением слушали творения Кайрата. Музыкальные коллоборации с Маржан Арапбаевой, Курмашем Махановым и многими другими звёздами страны, привлекают к столичной индустрии пристальное внимание страновых продюсеров и режиссеров. Успех Кайрата по праву считается отправной точкой профессионального рассвета культурного уровня новой столицы.
Вместе с тем, формируется и музыкальная группа «Формат» выступая фронтменом которой, Кайрат Баекенов проводит регулярные выступления на самых различных форматах престижных мероприятий. Существует правдивая легенда о названии коллектива, в ту пору многочисленные художественные советы радиостанций и музыкальных каналов не редко оправдывали свой отказ ставить песню в эфире, фразой «это не формат». То ли в шутку то ли со скрытым посылом, Кайрат назвал группу «Формат» что бы лишить аргументов любого музыкального редактора.
Свой первый сольный концерт «Кайрат Баекенов это -я», он дал больше десяти лет назад, и если считать музыкальными мерками, то задолго до масштабного хита «Махаббат». Ну а далее, как вы помните был целый конвейер успешных хитов и то памятное выступление на концерте Дженнифер Лопес в Астане. Всю свою творческую биографию Кайрат провёл в Астане, в городе, который влюблён в его творчество беззаветно. И отвечая ему взаимностью Кайрат делает свой след неизгладимым именно в истории Астаны, ну а его вклад в культуру страны переоценить поистине сложно. О многом из важных вех его становления как артиста и пойдёт речь в его юбилейном концерте посвящённом 20-ти летию коллектива.

The wedding podcast is quickly finding its place in contemporary celebration programmes. The format began gaining attention in Kazakhstan at the end of summer, while the quieter autumn season gave organisers time to refine the idea for the year ahead. The DanceHub.kz team has already tested it twice and is ready to explain how it works. The podcast corner works best near the entrance to the banquet hall, close to the photo zone and welcome buffet. Recording inside the hall is more difficult: equipment is being checked, lighting and sound are being adjusted, and the service team is completing its final preparations. It is simply too noisy for a relaxed conversation. A small table, three microphones and a neat backdrop are enough to create the studio. Guests arrive, take commemorative photographs, enjoy the buffet and are then invited to record a short story about the newlyweds.

In the first part of our organiser's advice, we explained why a wedding welcome buffet deserves careful attention. Its appearance and presentation shape the first impression of the evening. Now it is time to consider the final touch: the tradition known as Keter Ayaq or Zhol Ayaq. This small ritual takes place at the end of the celebration. Sometimes it uses the same table that held the welcome buffet earlier in the evening. In an alcohol-free celebration, the tradition can be reinterpreted while preserving its most important purpose: seeing guests off with warmth, care and hospitality. The bride has thrown her bouquet, the band has taken the stage, and the second dance interval reflects the newlyweds' own musical taste. The first interval may have featured familiar favourites for the parents' friends and older guests, while the later programme becomes younger and more energetic.

Imagine being invited to a wedding and asked to buy a ticket for 20,000-25,000 tenge. The price includes your seat, the menu, drinks, a host and live entertainment. There is just one surprising detail: you know neither the people at your table nor the names of the newlyweds. The bride and groom may not have met before the evening either. This is the idea behind “NOT a Wedding”, a themed party already appearing in selected cities across Europe and the CIS. From the outside, it looks like a real celebration, complete with a welcome buffet, decorations, dinner, toasts and dancing. Its purpose, however, is not marriage. It is designed for conversation, new connections and an unusual cultural experience. Modern city life offers too few natural and comfortable ways for adults to meet. Social media helps people stay connected, but it cannot always replace a face-to-face conversation. “NOT a Wedding” provides a familiar structure in which strangers can introduce themselves, exchange experiences and spend an evening together without the awkwardness of formal networking.

A successful New Year corporate event begins long before December. Large companies often start planning in August, when HR managers research the market, compare suppliers and define the first requirements for the evening. Beginning early gives the team the freedom to choose rather than settle for whatever remains available at the end of the season. It is possible to source a venue, host, performers, decorators and technical crew independently, but doing so requires considerable time and experience. Companies therefore often entrust the project to a professional event agency responsible not only for suppliers but also for the overall logic of the occasion. An event agency is more than an intermediary between a client and performers. It acts as project coordinator, script team, venue administrator and crisis manager on the day itself.

The Kazakh National Academy of Choreography has concluded an intensive programme for a delegation from Tokyo's Yoshiko Takagi Ballet School. Twenty-two students and four teachers travelled to Astana to explore Kazakhstan's approach to choreographic education, work with the Academy's leading teachers and exchange professional experience. The Japanese guests followed a focused educational programme. Young dancers took part in masterclasses in classical and folk-stage dance and worked on classical variations drawn from the world's ballet repertoire. Each class offered more than technical practice. It also allowed the students to view familiar elements through a different teaching tradition. For young artists, this kind of exchange broadens their professional outlook and encourages closer attention to every detail of stagecraft.