Azerbaijani Uzundere dance / Uzundərə rəqsi

In the picturesque places of Karabakh in Azerbaijan, between the towns of Agdam and Goytepe, there is a gorge named "Uzundərə" ("uzun" - long; "dərə" - gorge in Azeri). According to the legends ,the Uzundere dance takes its name from this gorge. According to other legends, during wedding ceremonies, the bride-to-be would pass through this long gorge to join her future husband. The family and the entourage of the latter would start dancing while waiting for the young woman. Little by little, the melody of the "long gorge", the Uzundere, as well as a dance bearing the same name were created. Depending on the region, this dance was practiced only by men or only by women.
Today, the Uzundere dance is mostly performed by a woman and is a perfect representation of female dance heritage of Azerbaijan with its fluid and tender gestures, emphasizing the dancer’s grace, beauty and swan-like movements.
Notes:
Choreography by Mr. Farmayil Pashayev, Honored Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Gandja city, Azerbaijan.
Event: Amina's Karavane 2023 Edition, Bülach (Zürich), Switzerland
Videos: eyleo.ch Videographer based in Switzerland