July 25, 2007 Hosting Artists at Home
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Fakhriddin Alinazarovich performed traditional dance at the event. We have invited him to participate in the TDI project, asking him to allow us to videotape his work and interview him about his experiences as a dancer. He has invited several musicians to come and accompany his presentation at our homebase in Khorog. We are also delighted to have one of our dance teachers, the many talented Mahingul Nazarshoeva as a guest for the event.
Having an event take place in our own house was both easier and more difficult. It was a luxury to set up recording equipment in advance, and decide on placement for the performance, rather than scrambling within the confines of the Pamiri houses during our visits in the field. And the downside? We discover a renewed sense of appreciation for the work and coordination it takes to host and feed a party of visitors in a traditional Pamiri house. Hosting would absolutely be incomplete without providing a full meal and many cups of tea.
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As Fakhriddin and the musicians arrive we have an interesting discussion. Many of the musicians that have come to help him out today as accompanists are prominent professional touring artists. They are now increasingly in demand internationally. There are considerations for their participation in a video taping session, due to various contractual obligations. A lively and revealing discussion of the parameters of the TDI project, intellectual property issues, and the local arts management environment ensues. The entire discussion is very interesting and positive, and certainly deserving of further investigation. It is also interesting to me personally that the Badakhshani musicians have some degree of artistic representation, and are aware of the issues, however this same sensibility rarely extends to dance. Either on the part of presenters/arts management or the dancers themselves. This is not a local phenomenon by any means, as we see examples of this contradiction throughout the performing arts industry worldwide. All is eventually ironed out to everyone’s satisfaction and Fakhriddin presents two formal choreographies that we videotape, with the musical accompanists providing a supporting role, Mahingul on percussion.
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