I can’t seem to get out of this rabbit hole of traditional dances from around the world. Today’s helping comes from the Xinjiang region of China with a traditional Uyghur dance. I have been doing a lot of reading about what is going on in China lately, which means I’ve been reading a lot about the Uyghurs. And since they’re currently being subjected to a cultural genocide, I decided to do some research into what that culture actually is. Turns out, there is a lot of Uyghur culture to discover, and sadly, it’s all in danger of being wiped out.
It’s hard to fathom when watching videos like this one. From the outfits to the music to the movements, everything about this performance feels steeped in centuries of history. And it’s beautiful. The vibrant colours, the way they incorporate the guitars into the dance, the lighting design on the floor. I love everything about it. I can only hope that videos are not all we have left of this culture 20 years from now.
Suggestions for artists I should check out? Please contact me with your ideas. I hope you enjoyed your daily helping of art!
