Lezginka, the Merited State Academy Dance Company of Daghestan, was founded in 1958. For more than 20 years its organizer and leader was People’s Artist of Russia, Tankho Izrailov. This is what Rasul Gamzatov, famous poet, once wrote about the emergence of the Lezginka Ensemble: “With the birth of the Lezginka Ensemble each of us experienced a feeling that comes with the birth of a long-expected child. And a healthy, handsome and talented child it was.”

The Lezginka Ensemble offers an extensive program of fiery, temperamental dances of the numerous peoples inhabiting this Mountain Country. Its entire choreographic and music works convey the might and noble endeavors of the Daghestan people that are treading the highroad of national development in the multinational family of the people of Russia.

Its dances express boundless love for one’s native land, its heroic past and wonderful present, they reflect the power of human love, the people’s heroic struggle for their happiness and pride for their country. The program comprises traditional dances and their modern arrangement. The concert is organized with great artistic taste and offers a broad variety of dances. The stage interpretation of traditional folklore motifs, the artists’ high performing mastery and emotional pitch, along with the novelty of the subjects of the dances, leave an indelible impression.

Each concert is a festival of dance, elegance and beauty. The Lezginka Ensemble with its artistic director and choreographer, Zulumkhan Khanghereiev, People’s Artist and winner of State Prize of the Republic of Daghestan, have created a program that brings forth the people’s culture, traditions and high performing mastership in all their brilliance. The repertoire always involves the careful studying of unique national traditions and folklore.

The Lezginka Dance Ensemble has performed with invariable success in the cities of Russia, in many European and Asian countries. Their upcoming return to the United States will be something special NOT to be missed!


WHAT THE CRITICS AND PRESENTERS SAY:

“Its dances and music is kin to those of nearby Georgia, but Lezginka makes the fiery Georgian folkways seem cool and contemplative.”
- George Jackson, The Washington Post

“…The troupe has a superb discipline of style and technique. This makes possible, and never detracts from a spontaneous, savage vigor that jolts and audience like a thunderbolt. Its dances are fresh, with patterns different from those indigenous to other Russian groups previously seen in America.”
- C.J. Luten, The Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“The Lezginka routines are not simply spectacular, they are wild – so consistently wild they sometimes make the Cossacks seem tame."
- Peter Knepp, The Patriot Ledger (Boston)

“The Lezginka opened the new season at Clowes Hall with a dazzling display of traditional folk songs and dances, awesome acrobatics, sumptuous costumes and riveting drum and saber work said to reflect the fiery temperament of the Daghestan people.”
- Betsy Light, The Indianapolis Star

“Fire, passion, athletics, energy, elegance, charm, all of the elements that come to mind when one thinks stereotypically of ethnic dance, were present in live abundance last night…The performance showed us people who are warm, courageous, merry, romantic, elegant and graceful.”
- Karen Wilson, Chattanooga News