Heroic or erotic characteristics?

Have you ever danced national azeri dances?
Most Azerbaijani youth like to spend their spare time in the clubs. Here they want to get together and do some fun. One of these fun things is dances. In the clubs the young people learn national azeri and foreign (modern) dances.

Azerbaijani dances, like literature and music, are well-known all over the world. Azerbaijani national dances play an important role among world dances. . Well-known Azerbaijani dances include Uzundere, Vagzali, Terekeme (Nomadic Man), Papaq, Innabi, Cutcu, Yalli, etc. The men’s dance brightly symbolizes courage, bravery and youthful enthusiasm.

The Yalli propagates unanimity, unity and collectiveness. This dance is performed by a group of people and whoever doesn’t dance properly is “fined” by the chieftain who makes him sing a song or dance another dance. Vagzali is played when the bride is seen off from her family’s house to the house of the bridegroom and her departure is reflected in this dance.

Gangi (martial music) calls all people to unity, friendship and invincibility.

Uzundere is a kind of a long dance, which traditionally used to be performed when the bride and bridegroom were on the road.

The dancer performing the Banovsha (Violet) lives with his feelings, showing how the violet grows from the ground, blooms and fades. This dance shows the gazelle’s (lyrical poem ) gracefulness and elegance. It is performed by men and women.

Mirzabeyi is traditionally played at wedding parties and performed by men and women with handkerchiefs in their hands.

Innabi is the name of a fruit. It is a girl’s dance and performed by one or two girls. The dancers show reflects the spirit of a woman and graces as well as coquetry.

Tarakame is a dance of a nomadic people. Those who are dancing extend their arms and go forward with their heads up. This dance is filled with the feelings of freedom and expansiveness. Both men and women perform it.

Azerbaijan’s national dance shows the characteristics of the azeri nation. These dances differ from other dances with its quick temp and optimism. And this talks about nation’s braveness. It is shown in our national dances as well. And national clothes were saved only in our national dances. For example, we can see it in girls or boys dances. Girls dance very gracefully and boys bravely.

Azeri youth shows our national dances in the wedding. Even azeri youth held competitions in the parties to define who could dance best and more than others. And at the end winner gets prize as awards. Actually, it is not easy to be winner in the competitions, as our dance requires to be quick and flexible. If you want to learn azeri national dances you should try harder. But it must not discourage you from dance. Because, by learning these dances you could feel like a real Caucasian. And it should stimulate you.

I interviewed several azeri young people concerning the differences between national and modern dances. One of my respondents was 19 years old. Agil prefers modern dances. About differences, he noted that our national music was created on hero shepherd who feeds the sheep. And there are more erotic characteristics in modern dances. Another respondent Fidan, 21 year old, noted that Caucasian dances differ from other nations. This difference connected with their lifestyle.

Traditionally the common part of Azerbaijani dances is that they mainly about friendship, invincibility and courage. And so our dance is quick, graceful and emotional.

We are going to hold a party today. Everybody expects this party impatiently. I think this party will be more interesting because we are going to show our national dances in this party. Meanwhile, it is expected to have modern dances as well. I wanted to know the thought of people who will present in this event. The first respondent was Giedre who is from Lithuania. At first I asked from Giedre what she expected from this party. Giedre answered that she expected much fun and good atmosphere. The second question of mine was that whether she saw or ever danced Azerbaijani national dances. She answered that she wanted to use the advantages of this party and dance Azerbaijani dance. I asked from her what national dance Lithuanian had. And she answered that “Kepurine” was a national dance of Lithuanian. It is danced with a hat. Continuing her speech she noted that at the parties usually prefers modern dances.

My other respondent was Ilkin and he shortly said that the party would perfect and all would enjoy of it. And finally Ilkin promised that he would show Azerbaijani national dance to the guests from Lithuania and Austria.

I think this party is a good opportunity for us to show Azerbaijani national dances to foreigners.
Be ready!!! We will show and teach you our national dances soon. Meanwhile, we expect from you that you will teach us your national dances.

Lamia Mammadova
E-mail address: mulatka6091@yahoo.com.tr