A growing number of young people in Albania are fascinated by a centuries-old dance known as the k'cimi of Tropoja. What is this dance, which UNESCO has added to one of its lists of humanity's intangible cultural heritage?
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00:00This is Bayramtsuri, a small town in the district of Tropoja, which is located in the mountains
00:07of northeastern Albania.
00:09These young people are performing the traditional dance known as Ktimi of Tropoja.
00:15Seventy-five-year-old Skander Haklaj is a choreographer.
00:19The dance is very close to his heart and his mission is to keep it alive and pass it on
00:23to younger generations.
00:24Haklaj's passion for this traditional Albanian dance began when he was just five years old.
00:40He says that the Ktimi of Tropoja keeps him rooted in his culture and community.
00:45The dance is associated with springtime celebrations, mountain landscapes and the flight of the
01:04eagle, a symbol of strength, endurance and collective identity.
01:09It is usually danced in groups of couples, with the dancers never touching.
01:13The Ktimi is performed by people of all ages, at birthdays, family gatherings and even at
01:19weddings, usually to the rhythm of a single drum.
01:43In 2024, after 12 years of effort on the Albanian side, UNESCO added the Ktimi of Tropoja to
02:05its representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
02:10According to Haklaj, it was a long and difficult process, and one that many felt would come to nothing.
02:29The inclusion on the UNESCO list has generated a lot of interest in the tradition among young
02:34people in particular.
02:35Haklaj now runs two dance schools, one in the capital, Tirana, and one in Tropoja.
02:41Haklaj is very proud that the Ktimi of Tropoja has received recognition at international
02:46level, but he says that the most difficult task still lies ahead, keeping Albania's dance
02:52heritage alive, not only at local level, but for the whole world.