Reformist princess and court philosopher: Two faces of Central Asia’s future

A rising dynast and a seasoned technocrat highlight diverging strategies of elite renewal in Central Asia.

Saida Mirziyoyeva, in a red dress, seated beside Yerlan Karin at a performance of Lazgi: Dance of Soul and Love in Almaty.

Two notable audience members, seated side by side, drew some attention during a ballet performance in Almaty, Kazakhstan, earlier this month.

The ballet – Lazgi: Dance of Soul and Love – was a sleek, son et lumière fusion of contempor…