Ashgabat, 10 May 2025 – The cultural stage of Ashgabat became the venue for the world premiere of the choreographic and digital show RITUALS—a unique artistic project blending the ancient traditions of Turkmenistan with contemporary dance and digital arts. The event marked an important milestone in the development of cultural ties between Europe and Turkmenistan.

The performance was the result of collaboration between French choreographer Jean-Marc Matos, Italian dancer and choreographer Margherita Bergamo, the State Dance Ensemble of Turkmenistan, and the State Dance Ensemble “Mengli.” RITUALS presented an artistic dialogue between European and Turkmen cultures.

The first part of the performance featured the traditional dance Kushtdepdi, inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It was performed by the folkloric ensemble Akjayar from Balkan velayat, where this ritual dance originates.

An Ambitious European Project

This project emerged through collaboration after the 2023 performance of Jean-Marc Matos' choreographic and digital piece Myselves in Ashgabat, held as part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of EU–Turkmenistan diplomatic relations. The participating artists were deeply impressed by the richness of Turkmen culture and particularly inspired by the Kushtdepdi dance. That spark of inspiration laid the foundation for RITUALS—a project at the intersection of tradition and modernity.

The project was organised in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassies of France and Italy, and the Goethe-Institut in Kazakhstan, and was implemented by the French Institute in Turkmenistan. It was supported by EUNIC—the network of EU national cultural institutes—within the European Spaces of Culture programme. This programme experiments with and promotes innovative models of cultural cooperation between EUNIC members, EU delegations, and local partners in non-EU countries. RITUALS became the first European cultural project in Turkmenistan to be selected as one of the most forward-thinking initiatives of 2025.

A Dialogue Between Cultures

The implementation of the project coincided with several significant milestones—including the first EU–Central Asia Summit in April, where President Serdar Berdimuhamedov reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to strengthening cultural and educational cooperation with the European Union. The project also aligned with an important diplomatic occasion—the official visit to Paris of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, held the same week.

The project received additional support from the French-German Cultural Fund and the French Institute in Paris, highlighting the active engagement of European cultural communities in promoting intercultural exchange.

In her opening remarks the Ambassador of the European Union to Turkmenistan, H.E. Ms Beata Peksa highlighted the following: 

“As we celebrating our Europe Day, we also embrace the spirit of cultural exchange and mutual understanding that lies at the heart of peaceful coexistence between nations. Tonight’s vibrant event beautifully embodies this spirit, showcasing the power of art, and in particular dance, to bridge cultures and foster deeper connections between Europe and Turkmenistan”. 

The performance RITUALS, an artistic dialogue between Europe and Turkmenistan, embodied the spirit of mutual respect and understanding. The world premiere took place on Saturday, 10 May 2025, at 19:00 at the Mukam Palace of the National Cultural Centre in Ashgabat. The event drew an audience of 700 people, who gathered to witness this remarkable fusion of tradition and innovation. Entry was free and open to the public, offering a unique opportunity for all to experience this outstanding cultural collaboration.