In the Republic of Kalmykia, culture and nature intertwine in the most extraordinary way. Peter Scott journeyed out into the vast steppes to witness this unique harmony with his own eyes.
Peter met with the ensemble of the Oiraty Theatre, which performs traditional folk dances. Th chicherdyk dance is wonderfully energetic and inspired by nature – the choreography is reminiscent of the thunder of horse hooves, while the dancers’ costumes are as vivid as the bright tulips for which the Republic is famous.
The singing also has a character all its own. The Kalmyks have mastered the art of throat singing – a performance style that mimics the call of the saiga antelope, which is found only in this part of the world. Many centuries ago, Kalmyk warriors began incorporating a similar sound into their battle cries, and nomadic peoples would even use it to calculate distances. For instance, if it took three renditions of a one-hour song to reach the next village, then the journey was said to be ‘three songs long’.
What is the Black Lands nature reserve proud of, what is the Pink Lake’s secret, and is it true that camels love vanilla ice cream? Find out in the latest episode of Inland Visions!
