Lazgi, the dance of Khorezm

In Khiva and the villages of Khorezm, no wedding or celebration is complete without Lazgi. When the music begins, guests of all ages, women and men, children and grandparents, get up to dance. Lazgi is the most famous of Uzbekistan’s regional dances and a symbol of Khorezm’s identity, along with its walled city, its melons and its distinctive cuisine.

The origins of Lazgi are ancient and uncertain. Some researchers link it to pre-Islamic rituals connected with nature, fire or the sun; others believe it took its present form in the 19th century. The name is often explained as related to words for the people of the Caucasus (Lezgins), or to words meaning "trembling" or "awakening"; there is no agreement.

The dance is usually described as telling a story: the awakening of the body and soul, the birth of life and love, and finally joy and celebration. The slow, trembling start represents awakening; the fast part, the full joy of life.

Lazgi begins with the dancer standing still, moving only the fingers and wrists in quick, trembling gestures, then the shoulders and arms, as if coming to life. Gradually the music quickens, and the dancer moves across the floor with spins, jumps and expressive arm movements, finishing in a whirl of energy. Women’s Lazgi is graceful and flirtatious, with expressive hands and eyes; men’s Lazgi is more vigorous, with jumps and squats.

There are several forms, including khorazmcha (classical), dutor Lazgi (accompanied by the dutar), surnay Lazgi (with the loud surnay pipe), saz Lazgi and comic or theatrical versions.

Lazgi is accompanied by lively music on the doira (frame drum), surnay (shawm), dutar (two-stringed lute), garmon (accordion) and sometimes the balaban. The rhythm accelerates throughout the dance.

Female dancers wear bright atlas silk dresses, often in red, green or gold, with embroidered waistcoats, jewellery and sometimes small bells on the hands. A traditional Khorezm hat or headscarf completes the costume. See ikat silk.

In December 2019, UNESCO inscribed "Khorazm dance, Lazgi" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising its importance as a living tradition passed from generation to generation in families and communities.

Following the UNESCO listing, Khiva began to host the Lazgi International Dance Festival, usually held every two years in late spring, with dance groups from Uzbekistan and abroad performing in Ichan-Kala and around the city. The open-air performances among the walls and minarets are spectacular. Dates change; check our festivals calendar and plan hotels early.

Visitors are often invited to join in, and locals are delighted when foreigners try. Start with the hands: raise them to shoulder height and let the fingers and wrists tremble in time with the drum. Then add small steps and turns, following the dancers around you. Nobody expects perfection; the spirit of Lazgi is joy. Some cultural centres and guesthouses in Khiva can arrange a short lesson with a local dancer; ask in advance.

• Khiva: folklore performances are held in Ichan-Kala, especially in the evenings in high season, in madrasah courtyards and restaurants. Ask your hotel. See Khiva.
• Weddings: if you are lucky enough to be invited to a Khorezm wedding, you will see real Lazgi, and you will be asked to dance. See Uzbek wedding traditions.
• Festivals and concerts in Tashkent and other cities.

Our team is based in Khiva and can tell you where performances are held during your stay. See our Khiva itinerary.