The Committee

1. Takes note that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has nominated Kopachkata, a social dance from the village of Dramche, Pijanec for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

Kopachkata is a traditional social dance from the region of Pijanec in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Men of Dramche dance Kopachkata at gatherings, weddings and public and religious holidays. The dancers form a semicircle, hold each other’s belts with crossed arms, and walk then dance small, swift steps. As the dance quickens the left foot is switched over the right, then the dancers jump to the right leg and stand firmly on it while the left repeatedly hits the ground. The dance leader, last dancer and middle dancer are the key performers, the last holding the left and right parts of the semicircle together. The leader and last dancer both hold handkerchiefs to signal changes in the dance. Young dancers may take last place in the semicircle, which allows them to watch the dancing technique of the elders. As they improve, they move closer to the front, and may eventually perform a leading role. Kopachkata is best performed with two drums but may use four or five, and is also accompanied by fiddle, tambura or bagpipe, usually played by Roma musicians. The Kopachkata dance has become a regional symbol of cultural identity, and is instrumental in promoting intercultural dialogue between Macedonian and Roma ethnic communities.

2. Decides that, from the information provided in file 00736, the nomination satisfies the criteria for inscription on the Representative List, as follows:

R.1:   Kopachkata is a dance tradition encompassing social practices, rituals and festive events; over time it has become a symbol of identity of the Pijanec region, transmitted from generation to generation;

R.5:   Upon the initiative of the Kopachkata troupe, Kopachkata was included in 2010 in the National Registry for Spiritual Cultural Heritage under the responsibility of the Cultural Heritage Protection Office;

3. Further decides that the information provided in the file is not sufficient to allow the Committee to determine whether the criteria for inscription on the Representative List are satisfied, as follows:

R.2:   Additional information is needed addressing how inscription on the Representative List would promote greater visibility of the intangible cultural heritage in general and awareness of its significance; references to the need for urgent safeguarding of the element give rise to questions whether its inscription would serve the purposes of the Representative List;

R.3:   The submitting State is encouraged to provide information concerning safeguarding measures for Kopachkata specifically rather than intangible cultural heritage in general; it is particularly important to describe in what ways the proposed measures would ensure that the viability of the practice would not as an unintended result be jeopardized by inscription and the resulting visibility and public attention;

R.4:   Additional information is required as regards the participation of the Dramche community at large in the preparation of the nomination, and fuller evidence should be provided of the community’s free, prior and informed consent;

4. Decides to refer the nomination of Kopachkata, a social dance from the village of Dramche, Pijanec to the submitting State Party and invites it to resubmit the nomination to the Committee for examination during a following cycle.