Kara-Zhorga dance reproduces a picture of a traditional horse competition called bayge. "... Traditionally village residents gather for a feast (called “toy” in Kazakh). Young and cheerful horsemen step out from the crowd and start dancing - bending their bodies slightly forward, harshly swinging with their whips and eagerly entering in rhythmic competition. Young horsemen move in circles, lines and diagonals, out run each other, demonstrating agility of a leap or an intricate hop. The dance imitates horserace – rhythmically sharp-cut hops from one foot to another and big leaps with curving of a body compose major dance technique. A sharp-cut, rough and springy folk tune of Kara-Zhorga dance and the movement that coincides with the horserace rhythm, gracefully merge into a single image of bold horsemen – called “zhigit” in Kazakh, who master equestrian skills with their finger tips” (Sarynova, 1976: 37).
“Kara Zhorga” means black pacer and the title of a dance depicts horsemen prancing on their horses. It refers to those dances that have their historical basis connecting modern Kazakhstani people with ancient traditions of their ancestors. Since ancient times handsome looking and skilful pacers were regarded as a pride of Kazakh horsemen. Dance movements were reflected in scientific material of A.Ismailova and D.Abirova “Kazakhstan Folk Dances” published in 1961 in Alma-Ata (Almaty) at “Oner” publishing house.
Overall the dance shows the agility skills and cheerful enthusiasm of a horseman who fully masters the art of riding a horse.