Central Asian Dance Camp: Instructors

As Western influences threaten traditional elements in the newly independent Republic of Uzbekistan, the exceptional talents of Qizlarhon Dustmuhamedova have become even more precious. While sparkling technique and superb lyricism may have helped win her the coveted title of People's Artist of Uzbekistan, it is Qizlarhon's command of subtle nuances which make her performances so memorable. Her name translated means something like "queen of all the girls" but when it comes to traditional elegance and femininity, Qizlarhon is queen of the dance.

Qizlarhon began her dance training while still in childhood and started her professional career in 1965. Noted for her traditional styling and versatility, Qizlarhon's impressive repertoire includes all three of the Uzbek regional styles in addition to Tadjik, Afghan, Persian and Japanese choreographies. An accomplished actress, Qizlarhon expresses the emotions and thoughts behind her gestures, as well as sheer technical brilliance.

As a featured soloist with various Uzbek performance groups, Qizlarhon has toured extensively including concerts in England, Japan, France, Germany, Switzerland and many Arab nations. She first visited the United States in 1979 with artists from the Bakhor Ensemble, a trip which included a performance in Seattle — Tashkent's sister city. Qizlarhon's artistry earned her an invitation from the Seattle Tashkent Sister City Association to return to the United States in 1982 to perform and teach, providing a rare opportunity for American dancers to study with an Uzbek artist.

The Uzbek Dance and Culture Society arranged the 1989 Artists of Uzbekistan tour which included concerts in California, Texas, New York, Minnesota, and Washington D.C. The latter performance was sponsored through the Smithsonian in conjunction with an exhibition on Timurid arts. Alexandra Tomalonis, Washington Post dance critic, characterized Qizlarhon as "a vivacious woman whose dancing changed from demure to robust, mournful to happy, in the blink of an eye."

Qizlarhon returned to American shores again in 1990 as a soloist with the Uzbekistan Folklore Ensemble. The West coast tour of the company, organized by the Uzbek Dance and Culture Society and the Seattle Soviet Theatre Arts Exchange, won standing ovations from capacity crowd audiences. Dance critic Carole Beers, writing for the Seattle Times, found Qizlarhon's "refined, ultra-feminine dancing" to be "particularly memorable."

Since 1998, Qizlarhon has visited the United States annually as the featured guest teacher of the Central Asian Dance Camp. Her gifts as a performer and instructor her have won appreciative new enthusiasts for her elegant, traditional dances.