Rakhimzhanova A.B.
“Centre for educational programmes”
The branch of Autonomous
Educational Organization “Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools”
The origin of Dance “Kara zhorga”
In the last few years dance “Kara zhorga”
has become very popular not only in Kazakhstan but all over the world. It was
registered in Guinness book of World records when 13 288 peoples including
Kazakhs, Chinese, Mongols danced at one time in Chingil (Qinghe Xian) which is a sub-prefecture-level city of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in the
People's Republic of China. Kazakhstani people owing to Kazakhs who came back
to their historical motherland from other countries among them China, Germany,
Mongolia etc. have had chance to dance “Kara zhorga” so in other words local
people have regained their forgotten cultural heritage. As some ethnographers
state the history of dance “Kara zhorga” traces back to long before XII
century. Exploring the origin of this dance, first of all, we should focus on
the words in its name. In Kazakh language the word “Kara” means “Common people”
and there are a lot of specific set-expressions containing this word which
demonstrate worldview, way of life and philosophy of Kazakhs such as “Kara
olen” (Kazakh poetry), “Kara shanyrak” (one’s own home) etc. “Zhorga” is one of
the names for horse and one of Chinese dance researchers Wan Zhiya in his
article “The history of Kazakh dance and its peculiarities” expresses own
thought about “Kara zhorga” in the following way: “Since Kazakhs were nomads
horse played important role in their life. Whether they wrangled or had wars or
moved from one place to another they were always with their horses. They prayed
to “Kambar Ata” (Holy Horse Totem).Kazakh national dance “Kara zhorga” is
widely spread in regions of Europe and Asia densely populated with Kazakhs. The
dance reflects different features of Kazakh life and all kind of emotions such
as love, friendship, happiness and grief.” [1]
Thus “Kara zhorga” means
triumphant traditional dance of people as racing of stud and their playing.
Even the presence of word “Kara” in the name of this dance shows as its deep
history, because words “kara”, “khan” were used in written documents from early
Saka and Hun periods. The author of the book “Uyisunnama” Sultan Zhanbolatov
claims that in steppes (regions where Uyisuns (nomadic central Asian people) lived) 2500
years ago dance was considered to be ritual of cult to sexual organs. Since at
that time manufacturing powers were very poorly developed, group of people to
stay alive had to fight against great nature. Primitive inhabitants wished
prosperity for ethnos, dreamt about increase of population that is why they
promulgated sexual relationship between man and woman and worshiped to it. [3]
These ritual dances were
pictured on many petroglyphs. In some time people even went to pray to these
petroglyphs. Collection of petroglyphs in mountains Barlyk (Shagantogai) and
Kyzylkiya (in V century B.C.) can be the best example for this. On rocks
depicted individual, pair and group dances of man and woman. All of them are
nude and demonstrate their parts of body. It is noticeable that through
different motions each one attempts to attract the opposite sex.
It is
very interesting to note that health professionals claim about use of “Kara
zhorga” for health. If Russian dances are distinguished with leg motions,
Uzbek, Uyghur dances with neck and hand movements, Mongol dances with movement
of shoulder blades, and then Kazakh dances are notable for movements of all the
body joints. In the last two years in China “Kara zhorga” has become gymnastics
of dynamic break for children at school. There is no age restriction for “Kara
zhorga” dancers. During great holidays and celebrations such as Nauryz meiramy
all people including youth and old men dance “Kara zhorga”.
“Kara zhorga” is the dance of
common people and alpha of Kazakh dance. That is why we should be proud of it
and consider “Kara zhorga” as our ancient and valuable cultural heritage.
Bibliography:
1. «Îáùåñòâåííàÿ ïîçèöèÿ» (ïðîåêò «DAT» ¹ 08 (136) 15 àқïàí 2012 æûë.³
2. http://52.astana-mektep.kz/index.php
3. http://www.qazaquni.kz/5141.html#more 28/12/2010