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Special Workshop: Just $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
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In this workshop you will explore the rich and elegant choreographic vocabulary of Central Asia, formed under the influence of peoples who lived along the Silk Route. While practicing an Uzbek dance sequence, explore a unique choreographic language that is a “meld” of many cultural contributions, and learn the meaning behind dance movements and the poetic power of gesture. No experience necessary.
About the dance form: Grown out of ancient ritualistic rhythmic pantomimes and mystical dances, later performed at family celebrations and harvest festivals, traditional Central Asian dances were further polished in the opulent and culturally exuberant courts of Bukhara, Kokand, Khiva and Samarkand. During the past century, the dance as an art form was systematized, formalized and recorded by national chorographers. In Uzbekistan, traditional dance is recognized as a national treasure, which makes it comparable to the dance of India, Indonesia, Burma, Cambodia, and Spain. The dance features intricate hand movements, precise step patterns, and facial expressions, all of which possess a deep meaning spanning the centuries.
Elena Serebryanik Bell is a performer, instructor, and choreographer of Central Asian dance. A native of Uzbekistan, she received her training at the Tashkent Theater Arts Institute. Elena presents rich and enchanting dance, music, and literary traditions of her native Central Asia. Her repertoire consists of dances from Central Asia: Uzbekistan,Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and other countries of the region, once known as part of the Great Silk Road. Performing at festivals and concerts, teaching workshops, and conducting educational presentations at schools and universities, she gives Western audiences a chance to experience the elegance and splendor of an ancient culture.
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About the teacher: