The traditional Serbian dance Kolo has been included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The decision was made on Thursday by the intergovernmental committee on protection of intangible cultural heritage at the 12th regular session held in South Korea, Tanjug reports.
On this occasion, the Serbian Ministry of Culture stressed that the inclusion of the traditional dance in UNESCO’s list represented “a great success for Serbia’s culture” and would “to a large degree contribute to this segment of our cultural heritage becoming more recognizable and visible around the world.”
In its rationale, UNESCO says the following: “Kolo is a traditional, collective folk dance performed by dancers who are interlinked to form a chain, usually moving in a circular line holding hands with their arms down. It is performed to the accompaniment of music at private and public gatherings and involves all members of the local community. Cultural-artistic societies and folk dance troupes are also important bearers and practitioners of the element.
Kolo has an important integrative social function, fostering collective identities at different levels in the communities. It is a symbol of national identity and bears the hallmark of local and regional communal identities. Performances during celebrations of the most important events in individuals’ and communities’ lives make this element very present and sustainable at all levels.”
(B92, UNESCO, 07.12.2017)
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