National Dance Ensemble Sabo (صبا) – Uzbekistan

On February 16, ensembles from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will be rocking the stage of the Royal Opera House Muscat, followed the next evening at the same time by troupes from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The four countries’ performers will be presenting their picturesque repertoire of music, songs and dances and give their audience a glimpse of the rich cultural diversity of this part of the world.

The Bukhara Folklore Group will open the first show on February 16 with the State Ensemble Uzbekistan by presenting some dancing and singing routines, reflecting the main aspects of the Uzbek musical traditions.

Rich legacy

The programme includes a number of folk songs and folk dances associated with happiness and harvesting, and some of the most favoured Uzbek songs. The evening still holds more, as it includes performances by two ensembles from Kazakhstan; the Sazgen Sazy Orchestra and the National Dance Ensemble Saltanat.

They will present a collection of choral and solo singing, accompanied by music from various traditional instruments. As traditional costumes are an integral part of any folklore performance, we expect to see Kazakh dancers shining in amazingly bright-coloured costumes, which reflect various regions of this vast Republic, known for its wide variety of races, traditions, and costumes.

The second evening on February 17 is dedicated to the ensembles of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz Folklore-Ethnographic ensemble Kambarkan opens the evening with a number of folklore songs and ballads presented either in choral or solo singing.

Kyrgyz folk singers

Salamat Sadykova, one of the most famous Kyrgyz folk singers, will also give a solo performance. Then, the Kyrgyz Republic will present folk dances by the dance ensemble Ak Maral, which will perform traditional dances with varying themes such as love, romance, loving nature, dreams, and beauty of the green mountains.

Later in the evening, the Tajik ensemble will present one extended performance of singing, dancing, taking the audiences to faraway lands of bliss, joy, and rhythm.

Prof. Dr Issam El Mallah, adviser to the Board of Directors for Programming & Events, commented:

Despite the beauty and charm of Central Asian music and songs and the richness and diversity of their folk dances, the wonders of this part of the world are still unknown to many. Based on our commitment to expose our audience to the artistic riches and aesthetic wealth of these countries, we invited many ensembles to the Royal Opera House Muscat to entertain the audience with their fanciful shows, dances, and music.

Our decision to present the music and songs of these four Asian countries stems from the Royal Opera House Muscat’s mission of acting as a cultural and artistic bridge connecting different nations.