Uzbek folk dance added to UN heritage list

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan

A local dance from the central Asian nation of Uzbekistan has been added to UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the country’s deputy prime minister said on Friday.

Aziz Abdukhakimov said the Lazgi dance was inscribed Thursday at the 14th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Bogota, Colombia.

Initially associated with the country’s northwestern Khorezm (Xorazm) region, the dance later spread nationwide.

Abdukhakimov stressed that the Lazgi dance was added to the list in recognition of its rich historical background and uniqueness.

Uzbekistan also hopes to add Bakhshi, the art of bards reciting folk epics.

Uzbekistan has several treasures on the UNESCO list, including the southeastern Boysun district, Shahmaqom music, the traditional Uzbek palov dish, Askiya (the art of wit), and Katta Ashula, a type of traditional song.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar