“Kara Zhorga” Dance
Kara zhorga is a type of traditional Kazakh dance. A figurative dance that depicted the gait or movement of a horse. Common dances are divided into such types as ritual, household, fun (based on jokes) and public dances. Kara zhorga dance belongs to the type of public dance, where a large number of people are present.
For Kazakhs engaged in nomadic cattle breeding, the horse occupied a special place in their lives. Both on a peaceful day and in war, the horse was considered a companion, friend and transport. According to folk legend, the origin of the kara zhorga dance dates back to the time when the horse was first domesticated. According to another legend, the dance used to be called "Kambar ata". Kambar was a horse trainer, a horse critic who knew the language of horses, a herdsman who first domesticated a wild horse. One day a black stallion went missing, and Kambar and his companions searched for the black stallion for three months. He was so attached to the stallion that he began to show the black stallion's movements. His friends told him that he portrayed the movements of the black stallion so perfectly. From that moment on, the Kara zhorga dance spread widely among the people. Judging by this legend, Kazakh people believed that if a herdsman herding horses danced "Kara zhorga", his cattle would be safe from wolf attacks and prosperity would reign in the family.
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