Lazgi — the Dance of Soul and Love
Created by an international team, the ballet “Lazgi — the Dance of Soul and Love” conquers audiences from different countries.
Lazgi is one of the most ancient national Uzbek dances, originated in the territory of the Khorezm region. It is very incendiary, energetic and temperamental. It is characterized by sensuality and emotionality. Lazgi means “trembling”, and the dancer’s whole body vibrates, starting from the tips of his fingers, every muscle works, which creates an extraordinary visual effect.
According to legend, the Lazgi shows the process of reviving a person. The soul penetrates into his body, and it wakes up to life. But life is impossible without love. This deep philosophical concept was brilliantly embodied on stage by the author of the libretto and choreographer Raimondo Rebeck — choreographer of the Dortmund Ballet, artistic director of NRW Juniorballet Dortmund.
Yoko Seyama acted as the production designer and author of the concept of light design. The musical arrangement and compositions were performed by Davidson Jaconello. The author of the idea Saida Mirziyoyeva — chairwoman of the Art and Culture Development Foundation. The premiere of the ballet took place on September 5, 2021 in Tashkent under the auspices of UNESCO.
The plot of the ballet is a story about the Soul and Love that came from the Past, go together in the Present and rush into the Future as the common meaning of life. There are difficulties on their way. After all, the modern business world with its technological progress is trying to unify people, deprive them of their individuality, put material goods in the first place. And you can’t give in to this. It is necessary to remember your history, your national roots and customs. The culmination of the action is the display of culture in all its beauty, diversity, with its traditions and palette of colors.
Raimondo Rebeck managed to combine choreographic plasticity with elements of national dance in an amazing way, creating a real ballet masterpiece, which was embodied on the stage by the troupe of the Alisher Navoi State Academic Theater of Uzbekistan. And which has already been appreciated by the international public. In November 2021, as part of the cultural program of Uzbekistan at the World EXPO 2020 Exhibition, the performance was presented at the site of the multi-format performing arts center Dubai Opera. Representatives of more than 190 countries were able to see it. Thus, the ballet “Lazgi — the Dance of Soul and Love” took its rightful place in the ballet repertoire, marking another of the possible interpretations of Uzbek folklore.
In December 2019, UNESCO included the Lazgi dance in the list of the intangible cultural heritage of mankind.
