With a history dating back more than a millennium, Lazgi is a distinctive kind of dance. Khorazm-born, it was inspired by the natural rituals and sentiments of love and pleasure that surrounded it. As of this year, Lazgi’s Khorazm Dance was officially recognised by Unesco as a representative of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. A thousand-year-old dance tradition is the subject of an interview with Gayane Umerova, and leader of Uzbekistan’s cultural programme for Expo 2020 Dubai.
As a representation of Uzbek culture, Lazgi dance has had an impact on the former USSR’s theatrical scene. As well as being passed down from generation to generation, Lazgi’s origins may be traced back to old paintings and literature illustrating Lazgi, as well as written descriptions of the dance.
As you pointed out, Unesco, the United Nations’ cultural agency, has acknowledged the Lazgi dance’s significance for world culture. For this reason, Unesco has spent a great deal of time analysing archives and doing research in order to uncover proof. Lazgi, as a live art form, has changed over time, giving rise to several variations that employ a wide range of instruments, produce a wide range of shapes, and draw on an equally wide range of concepts. Together, these variations symbolise our rich and diversified cultural legacy in Lazgi.
Even as Uzbek customs and traditions evolve, Lazgi remains relevant by capturing these changes while allowing its performers the freedom to express themselves authentically, while teaching the next generation about our past and present and creating our future without forgetting who we are. Even during Uzbekistan’s time as part of the Soviet Union, the Lazgi dance drew the attention of many eminent academics and historians. These people put quite a lot of time and effort into their study of this subject.
What is the relationship between love and the soul in this dance?
Lazgi dance embodies Uzbekistan’s passion for arts in two complementary ways. This is the deepest attachment that everyone has to their homeland and cultural heritage. It also reflects the very core of who we are as a people, what we hold dear in our heritage and culture, and how we feel about those things. As such, it embodies the spirit of our nation, allowing dancers to portray the richness of our past and how we view it.
The Lazgi dance is a physical reflection of how and when our culture and civilization have changed through time. Because of this, we are able to pass that knowledge on to younger generations, and we can design a better future without losing sight of who we are as a nation.