Shamakhi Dancers
Encyclopedia
The Shamakhi dancers were the principal dancers of the entertainment groups that existed in Shamakhi
(Azerbaijan
) up to the late nineteenth century. These groups worked similarly to tawaif
s.
Russia
n painter Grigory Gagarin
who lived in the Caucasus
in 1840–1855 depicted the Shamakhi dancers in a series of paintings, in which he referred to them as bayaderki (баядерки; sg. bayaderka – баядерка; originally the Portuguese term balliadera borrowed into Russian and other European languages via French (bayadère) and initially used to refer to the devadasi
.)
The extant documents regarding the Shamakhi dancers, and dances, are very limited. In literature, Shamakhi dancers are referred to in Comte de Gobineau's novel The dancing girl of Shamakha and other Asiatic tales.
The Dancer of Shamakha recounts the life of Armenian dancer Armen Ohanian
, her education as a dancer, her childhood in Russia, and her travels in Iran and Egypt. It was published in French as La Danseuse de Shamakha in 1918 and translated into English in 1923 by Rose Wilder. After moving to Europe, Ohanian danced traditional dances for audiences, gave lectures on poetry, and was an active member in intellectual and political circles. She eventually moved to Mexico. She is the author of some 15 publications including autobiographical volumes and books on culture and politics.
Shamakhi
Shamakhi or Shamakhy is a rayon of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and a town in the rayon. It is the historical center of the region of Shirvan.The town is west of Baku. It has more than 20,000 inhabitants, among them Azerbaijanis and Russians...
(Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
) up to the late nineteenth century. These groups worked similarly to tawaif
Tawaif
A tawaif was a courtesan who catered to the nobility of South Asia, particularly during the era of the Mughal Empire.The tawaifs contributed to music, dance, theatre, film, and the Urdu literary tradition.-History:...
s.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n painter Grigory Gagarin
Grigory Gagarin
Prince Grigory Grigorievich Gagarin was a Russian painter, Major General and administrator.-Noble youth:Grigory Gagarin was born in Saint Petersburg to the noble Rurikid princely Gagarin family. His father, Prince Grigory Ivanovich Gagarin , was a Russian diplomat in France and later the...
who lived in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
in 1840–1855 depicted the Shamakhi dancers in a series of paintings, in which he referred to them as bayaderki (баядерки; sg. bayaderka – баядерка; originally the Portuguese term balliadera borrowed into Russian and other European languages via French (bayadère) and initially used to refer to the devadasi
Devadasi
In Hinduism, the devadasi tradition is a religious tradition in which girls are "married" and dedicated to a deity or to a temple and includes performance aspects such as those that take place in the temple as well as in the courtly and mujuvani [telegu] or home context. Dance and music were...
.)
The extant documents regarding the Shamakhi dancers, and dances, are very limited. In literature, Shamakhi dancers are referred to in Comte de Gobineau's novel The dancing girl of Shamakha and other Asiatic tales.
The Dancer of Shamakha recounts the life of Armenian dancer Armen Ohanian
Armen Ohanian
Armen Ohanian , born Sophia Pirboudaghian was an Armenian dancer, actress, writer, and translator.-Biography:Armen Ohanian was born in Shamakha, then part of the Russian Empire to an upper-class Armenian family. A devastating earthquake caused her family to move to Baku, where she attended a...
, her education as a dancer, her childhood in Russia, and her travels in Iran and Egypt. It was published in French as La Danseuse de Shamakha in 1918 and translated into English in 1923 by Rose Wilder. After moving to Europe, Ohanian danced traditional dances for audiences, gave lectures on poetry, and was an active member in intellectual and political circles. She eventually moved to Mexico. She is the author of some 15 publications including autobiographical volumes and books on culture and politics.
External links
- Some Azerbaijani dances:
— The traditional dance Land of Fire, performed in SeoulSeoulSeoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, 2007: http://www.youtube.com/v/lxhaYUrapok&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (3 min 56 sec).
— The dance Magharas, performed in Seoul, 2007: http://www.youtube.com/v/p3uj3Kw8UvE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (5 min 30 sec).
— Nelbeki, a traditional Azarbaijani wedding dance, performed in Seoul, 2007: http://www.youtube.com/v/QkMAkdadgeY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (5 min 16 sec).
— The Yalli dance: http://www.youtube.com/v/G_bh6FIjCmw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (4 min 17 sec).
— A traditional group dance http://www.youtube.com/v/Xi-vKeEdvuc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (4 min 22 sec).
— A group dance: http://www.youtube.com/v/_xQqZXDO8Nc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (3 min 24 sec).
— A collection of group and solo dances: http://www.youtube.com/v/RD06Sl1Qo1U&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (8 min 48 sec).
— Some solo dances: http://www.youtube.com/v/zQJp6e6XaRk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (3 min 30 sec); http://www.youtube.com/v/hQhS81qLxzw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (2 min 38 sec); http://www.youtube.com/v/bMFpNXsSgD4&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (3 min 17 sec). - Sandirak, a traditional Caucasian dance, Moscow, 2007: http://www.youtube.com/v/trwcUq44SUU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (8 min 03 sec).
- A Caucasian dance: http://www.youtube.com/v/lDVJodDyE94&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1 (4 min 24 sec).