Silk Road Dance Company, cultural understanding through Beauty and Delight
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Adige Dance: A Cool Mountain BreezeKnown as the ''mountain of tongues'' to Arab geographers, the Caucasus has long been home to over 100 different cultures and languages, including the Adige people. Adige dance reveals the characteristic elegance of the North Caucasus style.
Choreography: Mujgan Ergal Costume Design: Laurel Victoria Gray |
Dancer of Shamakha
This choreography is based on the eponymous work by Armen Ohanian, who describes her life at the beginning of the twentieth century in the Caucasus and Persia. The town of Shamakha, now part of Azerbaijan, was famous silk, wine, and dancing girls.
Choreography and costume design: Laurel Victoria Gray |
Azerbaijani Tea Glass Dance
In the East, serving tea is a ritual gesture of hospitality. Here the delicate tea glasses become part of a challenging dance reflecting the skill of the performers who balance them during their performance.
Solo choreography elements: Mujgan Ergil. Choreography and Costume Design: Laurel Victoria Gray |
Samaya
The Georgian dance Samaya dates back to pre-Christian times and was traditionally performed in groups of three women. According to Georgian dance scholar Avtandil Tataradze, Samaya was danced to offer thanks to the Moon Goddess, Nana, for the birth of the first girl child into a family. Samaya derives its name from the Georgian word ''sami,'' meaning ''three.''
Choreography and Costume Design: Laurel Victoria Gray |
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