Raqs Gülistan means dancers of the rose garden. It is composed of the Arabic word Raqs (pronounced Raks) which means dance, and the Turkish word Gülistan which means rose garden. This name was chosen to represent the cultural roots of the dances we perform, coming from both the Arabic speaking nations of North Africa and The Levant, as well as both the European and Anatolian regions of Turkey. Each dancer in the group is celebrated as an individual rose in a beautiful garden.

The Gülistan of Sa'di is also the name of a book of poetry by the Persian poet Sheikh Muslih-uddin Sa'di written in 1258 CE. It is a collection of poems and stories that are still hugely influential around the world today.

"Human Beings are members of a whole

In creation of one essence and soul

If one member is inflicted with pain

Other members uneasy will remain

If you have no sympathy for human pain

The name of human you can not pertain"