Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The performance "Lazgi - a dance of soul and love" was shown at the Bolshoi Theater named after Alisher Navoi as part of the International Festival of Theater and Ballet.

On 12 December 2019, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage included the "Khorezm dance - Lazgi" in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO recognizes the importance of protecting certain forms of cultural production and knowledge of local realities and cultural norms from the damaging effects of globalization. This is necessary to promote intercultural dialogue and preserve traditional characteristics and cultural diversity. Lazgi meets all these criteria, embodying the wealth of history, culture, national character and unique way of life of Khorezm.

Originated on the land of Khorezm, the Lazgi dance embodies human creativity, reflecting through movements the sounds and phenomena of the surrounding nature, feelings of love and happiness. Today "Lazgi" is popular in all regions of Uzbekistan. The Khorezm dance "Lazgi" is one of the key forms of self-expression of the people and is passed down from generation to generation through the creation of new versions of the dance performance.

“Uzbek dance is the embodiment of the Uzbek people. Expressiveness, complexity, grace and, of course, facial expressions make the tradition of Uzbek dance unique, not like all the others. Khorezmian Lazgi is distinguished by a bright temperament, this is one of the oldest dance schools, which was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. This status obliges us to take measures to preserve and spread the dance. The ballet performance under the direction of Raimondo Rebeca will become a new, fresh look at Lazgi in the modern world,” said Saida Mirziyoyeva, Deputy Chairman of the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan.

The history of the Lazgi dance has three thousand years, it is shrouded in secrets and myths, and this makes the dance magical and mysterious. The dance embodies ancient folk wisdom, and its name - "Lazgi" - means "Soul and love". It is these features that the main choreographer Raul Raimondo Rebeck, a graduate of the ballet school of the Berlin National Opera, tried to preserve. During his career he has collaborated with many renowned choreographers, including productions by Roland Petit, Maurice Béjart, Hans van Manen, Stefan Toss and Jiri Kilian. The name of the great Rudolf Nureyev also stands out in this list. Since 2012 Rebeck has been the staff choreographer of the Dortmund Ballet and since 2014 he has been the director of NRW Juniorballet Dortmund. Rebec's experience and his unconventional view of choreography made him the first choice for the role of the main choreographer of the performance.

“Our country is the most important key point of the Silk Road, which has led to the inevitable mixing of numerous ancient cultures, languages, philosophies and religions. Despite the diversity, the Uzbek Lazgi dance carried through the centuries its individual style and palette of unique movements, which was emphasized in the new ballet production by Raimondo Rebeck. It will help to look at the dance from unexpected angles, give it a completely unknown character and form. After the premiere, the performance is waiting for a tour around Europe,” said Gayane Umerova, executive director of the Fund for the Development of Culture and Art of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

On 5 September 2021, the premiere of the ballet "Lazgi - Dance of Soul and Love" took place for the first time in Tashkent under the auspices of UNESCO and was highly appreciated by the audience and recognized by the professional community. Two months later - on 27 November 2021 - the ballet was presented at the Dubai Opera. The international audience was presented with a new interpretation of the Khorezmian dance with a demonstration of the original traditions of the Uzbek people.

The production of "Lazgi - a dance of soul and love" brought the ballet of Uzbekistan to a new level. For the first time, the cultural heritage and history of one of the most popular dances in Uzbekistan were presented on the stage of the Dubai Opera, a multi-format center for the performing arts.

During 2022, the ballet will be presented on other stages of the world.