Dancing in Uzbekistan: The Sunniest Dance on Earth

Dancing in Uzbekistan

The Sunniest Dance on Earth

In the spiritual alphabet of humanity "c" is for connection, "k" is for kindness and "z" is for zest. That's how the folks at Spirituality and Practice understand things, and we at the Cobb Institute agree. Any sustainable society worth developing needs its sunny dances - that is, its intangible cultural heritages that nurture connection, kindness, and joy for living. Let the world offer a huge thanks to Uzbekistan and its Lazgi dances for doing just this. We process theologians cannot help but think that even the Consciousness of the universe, even the holy one, is made more alive by the vibrant rhythms, the facial mimics, the humor and the joy. Yes, surely God, too, enjoys a good sunny dance.

- Jay McDaniel, August 24, 2021

Lazgi is the dance with a feel-good factor, making you feel a joie de vivre or zest for life. There is an opinion that the meaning of the ancient word ‘lazgi’ is ‘tremble,’ which describes a very energetic movement of the body along with the vibrant musical rhythms and expressive facial mimics. Nowadays, Surnay Lazgi is very popular for its uplifting spirit, ideal for happy occasions and celebrations as it is shown in this video by Dilnoza Artikova, the winner of the national award ‘Nihol’ and one of the best performers of Khorezm Lazgi.

- Rosa Vercoe, Khorezm Lazgi: The Sunniest Dance on Earth

Khorezm Lazgi: The Sunniest Dance on Earth

More images from Uzbekistan

Dilorom Mamedova, Khorezmian dancer, oil painting, 2019, 100 x 70

Source: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan

Sustainability and Intangible Cultural Heritages

Color, community, noise, culture, traditions, roots, essence, memory, flexibility, connections, family, liveliness, creativity, skills, ancestry – these are among things that people associate with what UNESCO calls "intangible cultural heritages." Such heritages are part of the "color" of the world most of us hope for - a world where communities flourish that are creative, compassionate, participatory, diverse, humane to animals, and good for the earth. In the world of process thought we call them "compassionate communities" and think of them as the building blocks of what we call "ecological civilizations." Compassionate communities and ecological civilizations are "sustainable," not simply because they live within the limits of the earth to absorb waste and supply resources, and not simply because they employ geen technologies and infrastructures, but because they sustain, and offer sustenance from, intangible cultural heritages.

One example of such a heritage is the Khorazm dance from Uzbekistan. It is called the Lazgi dance and is sometimes described as one of the sunniest dance on earth. "During the dance, all the musicians, singers and dance performers act in a harmonized way, and the lyrics of the songs are mainly devoted to glorifying love and kindness." Such heritages are the prehensive glue that hold people together in a given society and that, in a way, also hold God together. At least so process theologians believe. After all, the many cultures of the world are part of very body of God. They enrich the life of the Consciousness of the universe way living cells and movements of cells enrich our own consciousness. Of course, like God, such heritages are in process. They are not merely past; they are also present, recreating themselves in new circumstances. They are part of what process philosophers call the creative advance into novelty. To safeguard these heritages is not to isolate them and asssume they are, or ought to be, stangant. It is to make space for their recreationm by those who love them, This is what western modernity too often disallows. It tries to reduce intangible cultural heritages to mere relics. No, says process philosophy. Let them dance.

- Jay McDaniel, August 23, 3021

Nine forms of Lazgi

"The movements of Khorazm dance, Lazgi encapsulate human creativity by reflecting the sounds and phenomena of surrounding nature, feelings of love and happiness. Initially associated with the Khorazm Region, Khorazm dance, Lazgi has since become widespread in Uzbekistan. Paintings of the dance can be found in the archaeological site of Tuproqqala, in the Khorazm Region, testifying to its centuries-old roots. Informed by the social life and activities of the local communities, Lazgi dance represents real life in all its movements. During the dance, all the musicians, singers and dance performers act in a harmonized way, and the lyrics of the songs are mainly devoted to glorifying love and kindness. Two types of dance exist: the ‘scenery’ dance and the interpretive improvised form. While the scenery dance represents these feelings through concrete movements, its interpretation focuses on improvisation as the rhythm and dance movements become more dynamic with changeable actions. The melody and dance of Lazgi are so attractive that spectators start dancing voluntarily. Khorazm Dance, Lazgi is a key form of self-expression and is transmitted across the generations through the creation of new versions of performances. It is performed during national holidays and folk festivities in scenery forms, as well as in the daily-based interpretation form during community and family events."

- UNESCO https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/khorazm-dance-lazgi-01364

Khorezm Region of Uzbekistan

"Khorezm is the oldest and truly unique region of Uzbekistan. The first records of Khorezm are noted in the book of Zoroastrians “Avesta”, that’s why this region is considered one of the cradles of human civilization. At the beginning of the 1st Millennium AD, a powerful state of the Khorezmshahs was formed here, which later fell from the invasion of the army of Genghis Khan."

Five Domains of Intangible Cultural Heritages

Traditional Craftsmanship
Oral Traditions and Expressions
Performing Arts
Social Practices, Rituals, and Festive Events
Knowledge and Practices on Nature and the Universe

Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO)

The “intangible cultural heritage” means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity. (UNESCO)

“Safeguarding” means measures aimed at ensuring the viability of the intangible cultural heritage, including the identification, documentation, research, preservation, protection, promotion, enhancement, transmission, particularly through formal and non-formal education, as well as the revitalization of the various aspects of such heritage. (UNESCO)

Learning about Intangible Cultural Heritages
as part of Ecological Education

Interactive Map for Intangible Cultural Heritages Around the World