Elements
Orteke, traditional performing art in Kazakhstan: dance, puppet and music
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Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright Manage No EE00002504 Country Kazakhstan ICH Domain Performing Arts Social practices, rituals, festive events Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe Traditional craft skills Address Orteke performance is practiced by a number of professional and non-professional artists in almost all Kazakhstan regions and is well represented at theaters and concert-halls of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Aktobe and Atyrau. The origin of the perfomnace is linked to the traditional nomadic beliefs in teke (Siberian or Altay Ibex/Capra sibirica). A cult of a dancing goat and associated rituals exist in close to Kazakhstan nomadic areas - Kyrgyzstan, Russian Altai, Siberia and some other.
| Description | It is an indigenous Kazakh performing art that combines theater, music, and puppetry. Some people say orteke is a street theatre, others might claim it is a musical instrument, some would see it as a decorative art, and children perceive it as a toy and use for entertainment. Orteke represents a simultaneous ensemble of music performance on Kazakh traditional two-stringed instrument dombyra and a hopping dance of a wooden puppet. Fixed on a surface of a traditional drum (daulpaz) by a metal rod a flexible wooden figure of teke (a mountain goat) is connected to the fingers of a musician by one or several threads. Flexible head and joints of a puppet are connected to the pulling string. As the musician strikes his/her fingers playing dombyra, the puppet starts hopping in sync with the beat set by an artist. The figure turns alive making amusing dancing movements and tapping a rhythmic beat on a firm skin surface of a drum.Some masters of genre can play with 3 and more puppets at the same time. Sound of dombra, audience public in anticipation, leather surface as flat as the steppe itself, and a small wooden figure of a mountain goat, tied to the puppeteer musician by a single thread, began to beat out the rhythm with its tiny hooves. This action, fascinating with its magical simplicity, is known among the Kazakh people as "Orteke", which is fancied by both children and adults. |
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| Social and cultural significance | Since the ancient time the phenomenon of puppet performance symbolizes and constitutes one of the main pillars of traditional folk art. Some puppets have become internationally recognized trademarks and national symbols like: Pierrot and Buratino in Italy, Karagoz in Turkey, Petrushka buffoonery in Russia, Maskharabos in Uzbekistan. Orteke is an important part of the region’s folk heritage and national identity. It fills in the gaps in public perception and understanding of traditional culture of ancient nomads and contributes to the formation of the cultural identity of the younger generation. Orteke does not necessarily represent the hunting process or wounded animals. In fact, in the traditional Turkic culture, hunting for such animals was strictly limited and even prohibited.There was a ritual of asking for the forgiveness before killing them. Orteke still remains as mysterious art, and it needs revitalization and further promotion since it represents a wide platform for traditional Kazakh culture, where one can understand the spirit of Kazakh people and syncretic nomadic art of Central Asia. Its philosophic nature enriches Kazakh and world craftsmanship and music performance traditions and plays the role of national symbol and trademark of modern Kazakhstan. Finally, it serves as a communication tool between parents and children. Hence, Orteke also reveals intergenerational communications. Moreover, it has an educational meaning where adults teach the youth basic techniques of playing or constructing Orteke. Therefore, it is not solely a musical performance, but a theatrical art and an educational exercise. |
| Transmission method | The Orteke survival started in the first half of 20th century. However, for many years Orteke was beyond the vision of scholars, government officials and general public. Nowadays transmission of its knowledge and skills is conducted in the element-related communities and bearers and it is maintained by Ustaz-Shakird (master-apprentice) traditional system of teaching arts. Orteke performing masters organize target student groups on Orteke skills training. Kokil Musical College in Almaty established a researchteam on learning and practicing the art of performing Orteke. Craftsmen transmit skills and knowledges to their students in workshops using the same Ustaz-Shakird traditional system. Both Orteke music performance and puppet craftsmanship were proposed for incorporation to study programs and curricula of Kazakhstan art education system. The biennial Orteke international festivals (in 2007-2018) and puppet art regional competitions provided a good platform for learning and sharing of skills and experience between puppet artists from Kazakhstan, Bashkortostan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Belarus. |
| Community | The names of concerned communities are: TURAN Kazakhstan Traditional and Folk Music Band; KOKIL Musical College, Amaty City Educational Center on Handicrafts at Kazakh National Pedagogical University named after Abai, Almaty City; State Puppet Theater, Almaty City |
| Type of UNESCO List | Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List | 2022 |