If there’s one thing that I love about Uzbekistan, it’s the huge amount of compassion that people have for one another. Every day, you can witness it vicariously by the amount of civility that people give one another. And then there are other times when the compassion reaches out from the most unexpected places that make one pause.

Recently, I learned about one of the better kept secrets of Tashkent and I’d like to share it with you. The Visage Movement Theater was founded in 1982 by Lilia Sevastyanova as conventional dance company, but in 2003 she was inspired to invite people with disabilities to perform. Since then, the company has grown to approximately 40 dancers and many of them suffer from cerebral palsy, mental retardation, Down’s syndrome, blindness, and deafness.

Visage doesn’t have a permanent stage, and all of its performances are free-of-charge. Most theater companies receive funding from the government, but this one receives none. Instead, Ms. Sevastyanova must search for other sources of funding, whether it’s from a foundation, the Orthodox Church in Tashkent, foreign embassies, or local business people.

Their next show in Tashkent will be in December 2013 when they’ll perform “Out of the Depths I Cried for Thee” at the Academic Russian Theater. If you are in Tashkent at that time, please provide your support for this truly inspiring performance.

Our team at Roxana Tour will provide you with all the help you need to see the show!

Posted by Greg Stephenson