Kushtdepdi rite of singing and dancing
Inscribed in 2017 (12.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The Kushtdepdi rite of singing and dancing is a performing art involving creative poeticizing focused on good feelings and wishes. It involves singing with vocal improvisation and dancing with movements of the hands, gestures and footsteps in accordance with the tune of the song. The rite serves as a tool for conveying good wishes and is an inseparable part of ceremonies and national celebrations. The bearers and practitioners are the master singers and dancers experienced in the art and able to pass on the vocal techniques and the skills of the dance. The element serves as a bridge between generations based on shared spiritual and cultural values. The bearers and practitioners are actively involved in safeguarding the element, and community members ensure the viability of the element through performances at ceremonies and social gatherings that foster social cohesion and mutual understanding. Community members also partake in compiling introductory teaching resources on the practice and regular field expeditions are organized to gather information about it. Knowledge and skills relating to the practice are traditionally transmitted from master singers to amateurs through informal oral learning and practical training, but specialized music schools and cultural centres also help amateurs develop their skills through formal training.
